The Bainbridge, Ga., pro moved into position Friday to collect on that debt by taking the lead with 25 pounds, 9 ounces, on Day Two of the 2009 Women's Bassmaster Tour bass fishing tournament.
"I've been fishing this lake for 22 years, and finished in second place here a bunch of times," said Martin-Wells, who won the 2008 WBT event on Neely Henry by a margin of more than 9 pounds, her third WBT win. "This lake still owes me."
Tammy Richardson of Amity, Ark., could say the same. She won on Neely Henry in April 2006, the first event of the WBT's inaugural season, but finished 61st in the event Martin-Wells won. On Friday, Richardson brought 15-11 to the scales - the day's heaviest bag - and catapulted herself from 28th to second place with a 22-15 total.
"I couldn't quite figure out the fish yesterday," said Richardson, a three-time WBT winner. "Today I made a little change. I figured something out. If I'd done it yesterday, I'd be sitting a lot better than I am now."
The changing lake level - down several feet Thursday, back up about a foot Friday after heavy rains - plus a fast-running current and fickle weather patterns challenged the anglers. Saturday's weather forecast has them wondering how their patterns will hold. Air temperatures are expected to drop and heavy rain is probable.
"As far as the weather goes, it's been a mixed bag every day we've been here anyway," Martin-Wells said. "My fish have been holding; I just have to move around a little bit to find them. If I can catch 10 to 12 pounds tomorrow, I'm going to be happy. I'm not saying that will win it, but I'd be consistent."
First-day leader Emily Shaffer of Mount Juliet, Tenn., slipped to third place with a two-day total of 22 pounds, 0 ounces. Melinda Mize of Ben Lomond, Ark., brought in 11-7 to pull herself up from 15th place into fourth with 21-1. One-time WBT winner Laura Gober of Pendergrass, Ga., moved into fifth place with 20-2.
In the co-angler division, Day One leader Donna Newberry of Van Buren, Ark., easily stayed in first place with a two-day total of 20-1. Terri Bittner of McKinleyville, Calif., and Colleen McKay of Worchester, Mass. made the move into the top three. Bittner had a two-day total of 17-12, and McKay logged 16-10.
The top 20 co-anglers will compete Saturday for their division's first prize of $500 cash and a Triton/Mercury rig valued at $25,000. Saturday's launch will be at 6:30 a.m. at Coosa Landing, 200 Lake St. in Gadsden. The weigh-in will begin at 2:45 p.m. at Academy Sports + Outdoors, 200 Albert Rains Blvd., Gadsden. WBT events are free and open to the public.
After the Neely Henry event, WBT anglers have three more regular-season tournaments. At that point, the top 20 pros and top 20 co-anglers in the standings will advance to the Oct. 16-18 WBT Championship on the Red River out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La. - the same venue as the 2009 Bassmaster Classic.
One pro will emerge from the championship as the 2009 Toyota Tundra WBT Angler of the Year and become just the second woman to qualify for a Bassmaster Classic. She'll earn a berth in the 2010 Bassmaster Classic, set for Feb. 19-21 on Lay Lake out of Birmingham, Ala.
2009 WBT #1 - Gadsden, AL 3/26-3/28 Neely Henry Lake, Gadsden AL. (BOATER) Standings Day 1 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Emily Shaffer Mount Juliet, TN 5 14-08 305 Day 1: 5 14-08 2. Kim Stapp Ringgold, GA 5 12-10 295 Day 1: 5 12-10 3. Gina Jones Alexandria, AL 5 12-08 290 Day 1: 5 12-08 4. Penny Berryman Hot Springs, AR 5 12-04 285 Day 1: 5 12-04 4. Cheryl LaLumandier Saint Charles, MO 5 12-04 285 Day 1: 5 12-04 4. Pam Martin-Wells Bainbridge, GA 5 12-04 285 Day 1: 5 12-04 7. Laura Gober Pendergrass, GA 5 12-03 272 Day 1: 5 12-03 8. Juanita Robinson Highlands, TX 5 11-00 268 Day 1: 5 11-00 9. Lisa Johnson Centre, AL 5 10-11 264 Day 1: 5 10-11 10. Kris McClendon Spicewood, TX 4 10-06 260 Day 1: 4 10-06 11. Heather Broom Sylva, NC 5 10-02 257 Day 1: 5 10-02 11. Robinette Fox Hot Springs, AR 5 10-02 257 Day 1: 5 10-02 13. Lucy Mize Ben Lomond, AR 5 09-11 251 Day 1: 5 09-11 14. Kim Bain-Moore Alabaster, AL 5 09-11 248 Day 1: 5 09-11 15. Pam Bolton Jonesboro, AR 5 09-10 245 Day 1: 5 09-10 15. Mary Croft Bedford, VA 5 09-10 245 Day 1: 5 09-10 15. Melinda Mize Ben Lomond, AR 5 09-10 245 Day 1: 5 09-10 18. Tami Kashiwabara Shelby JAPAN 5 09-08 239 Day 1: 5 09-08 19. Cheryl Bowden Plano, TX 5 08-12 237 Day 1: 5 08-12 20. Sheri Glasgow Muskogee, OK 5 08-11 235 Day 1: 5 08-11 21. Sandi Karnes Livingston, TX 5 08-10 233 Day 1: 5 08-10 22. Judy Wong Many, LA 5 08-06 231 Day 1: 5 08-06 23. Robin Babb Livingston, TX 5 08-05 229 Day 1: 5 08-05 24. Dianna Clark Bumpus Mills, TN 5 08-02 227 Day 1: 5 08-02 25. Kat Ealey Moody, AL 5 07-15 225 Day 1: 5 07-15 26. Linda Sands Cullman, AL 5 07-14 223 Day 1: 5 07-14 27. Karen Elkins Oxford, AL 5 07-06 221 Day 1: 5 07-06 28. Tammy Richardson Amity, AR 5 07-04 219 Day 1: 5 07-04 29. Rhonda Pope Waco, GA 4 07-03 217 Day 1: 4 07-03 30. Kelley Shepherd Congress, AZ 5 07-01 215 Day 1: 5 07-01 31. Paula Alexander Lincolnton, GA 5 07-00 213 Day 1: 5 07-00 32. Debbie Kemp Emory, TX 4 06-15 211 Day 1: 4 06-15 33. Mary DiVincenti Clinton, LA 5 06-14 209 Day 1: 5 06-14 33. Cindy Hill Smyrna, TN 5 06-14 209 Day 1: 5 06-14 35. Kathy Womack Trussville, AL 3 06-11 205 Day 1: 3 06-11 36. Patti Campbell Waxahachie, TX 5 06-06 203 Day 1: 5 06-06 37. Karen Savik Minneapolis, MN 3 06-05 201 Day 1: 3 06-05 38. Barbara Wetzel Southside, AL 4 06-03 199 Day 1: 4 06-03 39. Susan Gregory Kiln, MS 5 06-02 197 Day 1: 5 06-02 39. Debra Petrowski Arlington, TX 5 06-02 197 Day 1: 5 06-02 41. Janet DAWN Parker Little Elm, TX 1 06-01 193 Day 1: 1 06-01 42. Lynda Gessner Foristell, MO 5 05-12 191 Day 1: 5 05-12 43. Bridget Allen Philadelphia, PA 4 05-06 189 Day 1: 4 05-06 44. Kimberlee Striker Cullman, AL 4 05-03 187 Day 1: 4 05-03 45. Kali Weatherford Athens, TX 3 05-03 185 Day 1: 3 05-03 46. Christiana Bradley Bealeton, VA 4 05-01 183 Day 1: 4 05-01 46. BJ Carson Inola, OK 4 05-01 183 Day 1: 4 05-01 48. Jennifer Nevans Dayton, TN 5 04-15 179 Day 1: 5 04-15 49. Betty Stahl Guntersville, AL 4 04-14 177 Day 1: 4 04-14 50. Jan Heavener Sherwood, AR 4 04-10 175 Day 1: 4 04-10 51. Judy VanCanneyt Lexington, AL 3 04-07 173 Day 1: 3 04-07 52. Kathi Hurst Ripley, MS 3 04-06 171 Day 1: 3 04-06 53. Kathy DiMartino Guntersville, AL 3 04-04 169 Day 1: 3 04-04 54. Keri Schieber Cumming, GA 3 04-02 167 Day 1: 3 04-02 55. Diane Phillips Tyler, TX 3 04-00 165 Day 1: 3 04-00 56. Debra Hengst San Antonio, TX 3 03-15 163 Day 1: 3 03-15 57. Ann Swinks Lilburn, GA 1 03-12 161 Day 1: 1 03-12 58. Helen Gordon Flower Mound, TX 2 03-11 159 Day 1: 2 03-11 59. Pat White Pleasanton, TX 2 03-04 157 Day 1: 2 03-04 60. Meta Burrell Fort Worth, TX 2 02-13 155 Day 1: 2 02-13 61. Teri Neal Cumming, GA 2 02-11 153 Day 1: 2 02-11 62. Robbie Hartline Foristell, MO 2 02-09 151 Day 1: 2 02-09 63. Christena Baugh Benton, AR 2 02-08 149 Day 1: 2 02-08 64. Lisa Sternard Clarksville, TN 2 02-05 147 Day 1: 2 02-05 65. Laura Heflin Topeka, KS 2 02-04 145 Day 1: 2 02-04 66. Cindy Van Horn Athens, TX 2 02-02 143 Day 1: 2 02-02 67. Sherri Dodson Ashville, AL 1 01-15 141 Day 1: 1 01-15 68. Mary Hencken Belmont, NC 1 01-14 139 Day 1: 1 01-14 69. Lila Bass Austin, TX 1 01-12 137 Day 1: 1 01-12 70. Marsha Gipson Bigelow, AR 1 01-08 135 Day 1: 1 01-08 71. Kim Hicks Tallapoosa, GA 1 01-07 133 Day 1: 1 01-07 72. Terri Elkins Red Oak, TX 1 01-06 131 Day 1: 1 01-06 73. Kathy Freehling Interlachen, FL 1 01-03 129 Day 1: 1 01-03 74. Secret York Benton, KY 1 01-00 127 Day 1: 1 01-00 75. Jo Dee DEE Lake Helena, AL 1 00-15 125 Day 1: 1 00-15 76. Michelle Armstrong Denver, NC 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 76. Lisa Craig Chandler, TX 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 76. Danalee Lofton Little Rock, AR 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 76. Lori Masters Nashville, TN 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 76. Patsy McDaniel Gordo, AL 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 76. Linda Redford Blue Eye, MO 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 76. Sharon Teague Greenville, SC 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 36 276 477-14 ---------------------------------- 36 276 477-14 2009 WBT #1 - Gadsden, AL 3/26-3/28 Neely Henry Lake, Gadsden AL. (NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Donna Newberry Van Buren, AR 5 12-02 305 Day 1: 5 12-02 2. Nancy Stumpe Palatka, FL 5 10-14 295 Day 1: 5 10-14 3. Lesli Lively Grapeland, TX 5 09-09 290 Day 1: 5 09-09 4. Kelly Wells Grovetown, GA 5 09-04 285 Day 1: 5 09-04 5. Cheryl Buelow Pollock, LA 5 09-00 280 Day 1: 5 09-00 6. Bunny Hicks Rossville, GA 4 08-13 276 Day 1: 4 08-13 7. Trish Levitt Albuquerque, NM 5 08-05 272 Day 1: 5 08-05 7. Colleen McKay Worcester, MA 5 08-05 272 Day 1: 5 08-05 9. Linda Berry Madison, NC 3 08-04 264 Day 1: 3 08-04 10. Stacy Zhelesnik Hoboken, NJ 5 08-01 260 Day 1: 5 08-01 11. Miriam Donohoo San Mateo, FL 4 08-00 257 Day 1: 4 08-00 12. Susan Dameron Chattanooga, TN 5 07-15 254 Day 1: 5 07-15 13. Sabrina Thompson Humble, TX 5 07-13 251 Day 1: 5 07-13 14. Laura Bean Oxford, AL 3 07-13 248 Day 1: 3 07-13 15. Vicki Hester Rainbow City, AL 5 07-10 245 Day 1: 5 07-10 16. Martha Goodfellow Simpsonville, SC 5 07-05 243 Day 1: 5 07-05 17. Debbie Pegoli Loveland, OH 5 07-03 241 Day 1: 5 07-03 18. Kim Mendoza Garland, TX 5 07-00 239 Day 1: 5 07-00 19. Torrye Vineyard Yantis, TX 5 06-15 237 Day 1: 5 06-15 20. Linda Higginbotham Palm Coast, FL 5 06-12 235 Day 1: 5 06-12 21. Lori Steele Tulsa, OK 3 06-12 233 Day 1: 3 06-12 22. Bertha Cavakis Amity, AR 4 06-11 231 Day 1: 4 06-11 23. Kim Petrowski Arlington, TX 4 06-09 229 Day 1: 4 06-09 24. Susan Wild St Petersburg, FL 5 06-06 227 Day 1: 5 06-06 25. Gail Wood Russellville, AR 5 06-02 225 Day 1: 5 06-02 26. Terri Bittner McKinleyville, CA 5 06-01 223 Day 1: 5 06-01 27. Vicki Henderson Ashdown, AR 3 05-09 221 Day 1: 3 05-09 28. Jada Tidmore Union Grove, AL 3 05-08 219 Day 1: 3 05-08 29. Teri Cindric Hermitage, TN 2 05-06 217 Day 1: 2 05-06 30. Katie Hogan Bon Aqua, TN 5 05-02 215 Day 1: 5 05-02 31. Bonnie Ward Snohomish, WA 4 05-02 213 Day 1: 4 05-02 32. Patti James Dayton, TX 5 05-01 211 Day 1: 5 05-01 33. Jennifer Blackwood Lincolnton, GA 4 04-12 209 Day 1: 4 04-12 34. Sherry Melton Monterey, TN 4 04-09 207 Day 1: 4 04-09 35. LaShea Raynor Lexington, SC 3 04-08 205 Day 1: 3 04-08 36. Linda Owens Brandon, MS 2 04-04 203 Day 1: 2 04-04 37. Linda Rinker Palm Coast, FL 3 04-03 201 Day 1: 3 04-03 38. Karol Whitehurst Winnsboro, TX 2 04-03 199 Day 1: 2 04-03 39. Elizabeth Sanders Brandon, MS 3 04-01 197 Day 1: 3 04-01 40. Nancy Dugas Huntsville, AL 3 03-15 195 Day 1: 3 03-15 41. Renee Gumbrecht Oakhurst, NJ 2 03-14 193 Day 1: 2 03-14 42. Petra Ramsey El Paso, TX 1 03-14 191 Day 1: 1 03-14 43. Denese Freeman Lawton, OK 3 03-09 189 Day 1: 3 03-09 43. Donna Rutledge Orland Park, IL 3 03-09 189 Day 1: 3 03-09 45. Cynthia Tayloe Lufkin, TX 1 03-09 185 Day 1: 1 03-09 46. Linda Walker Beebe, AR 2 03-07 183 Day 1: 2 03-07 47. Jennifer Rice Grant, AL 3 03-02 181 Day 1: 3 03-02 48. Debra Cook Gardendale, AL 2 03-02 179 Day 1: 2 03-02 48. Lisa Diehl Pittsburg, PA 2 03-02 179 Day 1: 2 03-02 48. Charlotte Frazier Dallas, TX 2 03-02 179 Day 1: 2 03-02 51. Brandi Frasier Madisonville, KY 2 03-01 173 Day 1: 2 03-01 52. Kim Martin Clayton, IN 3 03-00 171 Day 1: 3 03-00 53. Leslie Anderson Saint Louis, MO 3 02-15 169 Day 1: 3 02-15 54. Virginia Buckner Scottsboro, AL 2 02-12 167 Day 1: 2 02-12 55. Melissa Bond Albuquerque, NM 2 02-11 165 Day 1: 2 02-11 56. Barbara Gaskins Suffolk, VA 2 02-10 163 Day 1: 2 02-10 57. Kala Wright Spiro, OK 2 02-09 161 Day 1: 2 02-09 58. Jill Matheis Jasper, IN 2 02-05 159 Day 1: 2 02-05 59. Katie Ellis Gulfport, MS 1 02-05 157 Day 1: 1 02-05 60. Nancy Oliver Arnaudville, LA 1 02-04 155 Day 1: 1 02-04 61. Jane Brunner Byhalia, MS 1 01-12 153 Day 1: 1 01-12 62. Juanita Blasingame Kingston, TN 1 01-08 151 Day 1: 1 01-08 63. Diane Smith Fayetteville, GA 1 01-06 149 Day 1: 1 01-06 64. Barbara Ferge Somerville, TN 1 01-05 147 Day 1: 1 01-05 65. Monica Altman Angier, NC 1 01-04 145 Day 1: 1 01-04 66. Marilyn Biszmaier Louisville, KY 1 01-02 143 Day 1: 1 01-02 66. Michele Gunderman Gastonia, NC 1 01-02 143 Day 1: 1 01-02 66. Lisa Skelley Jackson, TN 1 01-02 143 Day 1: 1 01-02 69. Lesley Childers Anderson, SC 1 01-00 137 Day 1: 1 01-00 69. Patty Houston Prattville, AL 1 01-00 137 Day 1: 1 01-00 71. Neva Brown Lufkin, TX 1 00-15 133 Day 1: 1 00-15 71. Sugar Walker Titus, AL 1 00-15 133 Day 1: 1 00-15 73. Kat Arnold Shreveport, LA 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 73. Pam Chism Cabot, AR 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 73. Mona Crawford Welaka, FL 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 73. Sarah Davis Livingston, LA 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 73. Dawn Dudek Posen, IL 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 73. Cassie Hall Alabaster, AL 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 73. Sharon Lawson Red Bank, TN 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 73. Christine Martin Commerce City, CO 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 73. Leanne Snowden Suttons Bay, MI 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 73. Kimberly White Glen Carbon, IL 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 21 219 347-00 ---------------------------------- 21 219 347-00