GADSDEN, Ala. - Two lures she nicknamed "Randall" and "Bobby" helped Pam Martin-Wells of Bainbridge, Ga., to a winning overall weight of 36 pounds, 1 ounce, Saturday at the second bass fishing tournament of the 2008 Women's Bassmaster Tour.
"Randall is a friend of mine who taught me how to swim a jig, so a 'Randall' is a jig, and Bobby is my sister, and she taught me how to use a weightless Wave Worms Tiki Stik, which I used to catch all my biggest fish Thursday, so that's a 'Bobby,' " said Martin-Wells, who netted $1,000 and a $50,000 Triton/Mercury boat rig in the three-day competition on Alabama's Neely Henry Lake.
She won by a margin of more than 9 pounds over two pros who tied for second place at 26-15: Juanita Robinson of Highlands, Texas, and Lucy Mize of Ben Lomond, Ark. Placing fourth with 26-10 was Kim Bain of Alabaster, Ala., the winner of the season opener last month on Texas' Lewisville Lake. Fifth with 25-4 was the 2007 Toyota WBT Angler of the Year, Sheri Glasgow of Muskogee, Okla., who recovered from a slow start - 33rd place on the first day - to make the top five.
This season's Angler of the Year will make history, becoming the first woman to earn a much-coveted berth in the 2009 Bassmaster Classic, Feb. 20-22 on the Red River out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La.
Bain held on to her lead in the standings, and Mize and Robinson moved into the top five. Martin-Wells racked up enough points with her win to push her from 17th place into fifth in the standings.
"This entire year with the WBT and BASS is huge with the announcement of the Classic berth," Martin-Wells said. "I was disappointed because I didn't have such a great start at Lewisville, so this win is a step in the right direction."
Saturday's victory was the third WBT win for Martin-Wells. She holds the titles to the 2005 WBT Preview event and the 2006 WBT Championship - the circuit's first - on Mitchell Lake, which like Neely Henry is a Coosa River impoundment.
Martin-Wells said much of her weight came from grass along the shallow shorelines of Neely Henry, but she used a combination of techniques.
"After I caught one fish this morning, it was on. I was culling by 6:30 this morning," she said. "But every day, the fishing's been different, even though I started in the same place each day, a 20-minute run from the launch ramp all the way to the southern end of the lake."
She took her Saturday limit in 40 minutes, after which she culled to improve her weight to 13-11.
"I started out each morning in grass," Martin-Wells said. "I had some deep patterns, but they weren't panning out because there was no current, no water moving. But today a ski boat kept running back and forth, and I thought, 'Maybe a fish will think that's current.' So I pulled over and caught a 4-pounder."
Mize was in 24th place after Day 1, but she put it together to jump into the tie for second place.
"I was fishing chunk-rock banks, riprap and retainer walls early in the day when it was overcast, all on the south end of the lake," said Mize, who holds title to the 2007 WBT stop on Kentucky and Barkley lakes. "Then I would go to a Carolina rig and a deep-diving crankbait as the day wore on, working humps and ridges."
Robinson, who won the 2007 WBT event on Texas' Lake Amistad, said lack of current during competition hours was an obstacle to beefing up the weight of her daily bags.
"I had limits early. Today I was culling by 7 in one spot," she said. "But I just didn't get a big bite. I knew I had to get to them before the sun came up, and when it did, the bass disappeared."
In the co-angler division, the winner of the first-place package of a Triton/Mercury rig valued at $25,000 plus $500 was Marilyn Biszmaier of Louisville, Ky., who led Day 2 and closed for the win with 16 pounds, 8 ounces.
Second in the co-angler competition with 16-2 was Stacy Zhelesnik of Hoboken, N.J. Lesli Lively of Palestine, Texas, had a total of 15-12 for third place.
2008 Women's Bassmaster Tour Stop 2 5/22-5/24 Neely Henry Lake, Gadsden AL (BOATER) Standings Day 3 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Pam Martin-Wells Bainbridge, GA 15 36-01 310 $51,000.00 Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 10-04 Day 3: 5 13-11 2. Juanita Robinson Highlands, TX 15 26-15292.5 $5,000.00 Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 08-09 Day 3: 5 08-04 2. Lucy Mize Ben Lomond, AR 15 26-15292.5 $5,000.00 Day 1: 5 06-06 Day 2: 5 11-10 Day 3: 5 08-15 4. Kim Bain Alabaster, AL 15 26-10 285 $4,000.00 Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 5 09-10 Day 3: 5 08-07 5. Sheri Glasgow Muskogee, OK 14 25-04 280 $3,500.00 Day 1: 5 05-10 Day 2: 4 10-08 Day 3: 5 09-02 6. Cindy Hill Smyrna, TN 14 23-06 276 $3,000.00 Day 1: 4 06-07 Day 2: 5 09-06 Day 3: 5 07-09 7. Melinda Mize-Hooper Lockesburg, AR 15 22-07 272 $2,500.00 Day 1: 5 05-08 Day 2: 5 07-08 Day 3: 5 09-07 8. Bonnie Johnson Weatherford, TX 11 22-00 268 $2,000.00 Day 1: 4 05-08 Day 2: 4 12-04 Day 3: 3 04-04 9. Barbara Wetzel Southside, AL 12 20-13 264 $1,750.00 Day 1: 4 07-06 Day 2: 5 08-04 Day 3: 3 05-03 10. Jan Heavener Sherwood, AR 15 20-08 260 $1,500.00 Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 04-08 Day 3: 5 06-12 11. Debra Petrowski Arlington, TX 15 20-06 257 $1,350.00 Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 06-00 Day 3: 5 05-07 12. Audrey McQueen Eagar, AZ 12 20-03 259 $1,100.00 Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 2 01-12 Day 3: 5 05-14 13. Cheryl LaLumandier Saint Charles, MO 15 19-00 251 $1,000.00 Day 1: 5 06-00 Day 2: 5 06-12 Day 3: 5 06-04 14. Jo DEE Lake Helena, AL 13 18-14 248 $975.00 Day 1: 5 05-10 Day 2: 5 09-12 Day 3: 3 03-08 15. Emily Shaffer Mt Juliet, TN 15 17-06 245 $950.00 Day 1: 5 06-03 Day 2: 5 05-14 Day 3: 5 05-05 16. Debra Hengst San Antonio, TX 13 17-04 243 $925.00 Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 04-15 Day 3: 3 03-14 17. Robin Babb Livingston, TX 15 17-00 241 $900.00 Day 1: 5 06-07 Day 2: 5 05-10 Day 3: 5 04-15 18. Michelle Armstrong Denver, NC 12 16-11 239 $875.00 Day 1: 5 06-10 Day 2: 5 08-00 Day 3: 2 02-01 19. Robinette Fox Hot Springs, AR 9 15-05 237 $850.00 Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 3 05-02 Day 3: 1 01-09 20. Tanya Kreuzer Mesa, AZ 11 15-00 235 $825.00 Day 1: 4 06-14 Day 2: 5 05-15 Day 3: 2 02-03 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 28 287 408-06 2 30 298 404-13 3 13 82 122-10 ---------------------------------- 71 667 935-13 2008 Gadsden, AL - Womens Bassmaster Tour Stop 2 Pro Points After Neely Henry Lake, Gadsden, Ala. Ending 05-24-2008, Day 3 ------------------------------------------- Place Name St Pts ------------------------------------------- 1 Kim Bain Ala. 590 2 Cindy Hill Tenn. 571 3 Lucy Mize Ark. 568 4 Juanita Robinson Texas 552 5 Pam Martin-Wells Ga. 551 6 Jan Heavener Ark. 540 7 Sheri Glasgow Okla. 531 8 Bonnie Johnson Texas 503 9 Patti Campbell Texas 494 9 Debra Petrowski Texas 494 11 Christiana Bradley Va. 479 12 Kat Ealey Ala. 473 13 Kathi Hurst Miss. 470 14 Emily Shaffer Tenn. 463 15 Audrey McQueen Ariz. 462 16 Helen Gordon Texas 460 17 Mary Croft Va. 459 18 Tanya Kreuzer Ariz. 458 19 Mary DiVincenti La. 452 20 Melinda Hooper Ark. 449 21 Lisa Craig Texas 440 22 Laura Elkins Texas 434 22 Jan Hudson Ark. 434 24 Sandi Karnes Texas 430 25 Judy Wong La. 429 26 Debra Hengst Texas 427 27 Judy VanCanneyt Ala. 422 27 Linda Redford Mo. 422 29 Kathy Womack Ala. 417 30 Angie Douthit Fla. 400 31 Robin Babb Texas 397 32 Kelley Shepherd Colo. 392 33 Janet Parker Texas 390 34 Penny Berryman Ark. 385 35 Shelley Perry W.Va. 384 36 Beverly Graham Texas 382 37 Tami Kashiwabara Ala. 368 37 Rhonda Pope Ga. 368 39 Tammy Richardson Ark. 363 40 Lisa Sternard Tenn. 362 40 Diane Phillips Texas 362 42 Darla Bardelli Ariz. 346 43 Debbie Kemp Texas 341 44 Lisa Johnson Ala. 338 45 Kathy Magers Texas 337 46 Karen Elkins Ala. 336 46 Teri Neal Ga. 336 48 Marcia Rubin Ohio 334 49 Secret York Ky. 333 50 Laura Gober Ga. 332 50 Cindy Van Horn Texas 332 52 Sharon Rushton Mo. 320 52 Danalee Lofton Ark. 320 54 Kali Weatherford Texas 316 55 Lynda Gessner Mo. 314 56 Sarah Augustine La. 310 57 Dianna Clark Tenn. 306 58 Linda Sands Ala. 305 59 Cheryl Spencer Okla. 304 60 Linda Berry N.C. 302 61 Christena Baugh Ark. 300 62 Mary Hencken N.C. 299 63 Pat White Texas 290 64 Cheryl Bowden Texas 288 65 Bettty Stahl Ala. 284 66 Kim Stapp Ga. 282 67 Lisa Talmadge Ala. 276 68 Barbara Wetzel Ala. 264 69 Susan Gregory Miss. 262 70 Cheryl LaLumandier Mo. 251 71 Jo Lake Ala. 248 71 Robbie Hartline Mo. 248 73 Karol Whitehurst Texas 241 74 Michelle Armstrong N.C. 239 75 Robinette Fox Ark. 237 76 Kandie Candelaria Texas 236 77 Amy Golden Texas 229 78 Laura Moore Texas 209 78 Teresa Poole Mo. 209 80 Paula Alexander Ga. 199 81 Mickie Wolfinbarger Mo. 191 82 Keri Schieber Ga. 189 83 Bridget Allen Pa. 185 84 Judy Antle Ky. 179 85 Barbara Potts Texas 172 85 Diane Delagarza Texas 172 87 Rose Ellis Ala. 170 87 Kellie Skelton N.M. 170 89 Toni Stoner Ga. 157 90 Karyn Sanchez Texas 156 91 Sammie Denyes Ala. 149 92 Lori Masters Tenn. 139 93 Kathy Cater Texas 126 94 Lila Bass Texas 124 95 Meta Burrell Texas 122 96 Laura Heflin Kan. 116 97 Marsha Gipson Ark. 103 98 Heather Broom N.C. 99 99 Kris McClendon Texas 95 100 Robin McFarlane Texas 91 101 Jennifer Nevans Tenn. 89 102 BJ Carson Okla. 0 2008 Womens Bassmaster Tour Stop 2 5/22-5/24 Neely Henry Lake, Gadsden AL. (NON_BOATER) Standings Day 3 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Marilyn Biszmaier Louisville, KY 10 16-08 310 $25,500.00 Day 1: 2 02-04 Day 2: 3 09-09 Day 3: 5 04-11 2. Stacy Zhelesnik Hoboken, NJ 10 16-02 295 $3,000.00 Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 3 03-10 Day 3: 4 07-04 3. Lesli Lively Palestine, TX 10 15-12 290 $2,500.00 Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 5 09-13 Day 3: 4 04-09 4. Diane Smith Fayetteville, GA 12 15-09 285 $2,000.00 Day 1: 5 05-09 Day 2: 2 03-07 Day 3: 5 06-09 5. Barbara Ferge Somerville, TN 10 14-07 280 $1,750.00 Day 1: 2 05-03 Day 2: 4 03-14 Day 3: 4 05-06 6. Tina Newman Soddy Daisy, TN 11 13-09 276 $1,500.00 Day 1: 5 05-02 Day 2: 3 03-05 Day 3: 3 05-02 7. Kim Martin Clayton, IN 7 11-12 272 $1,250.00 Day 1: 3 03-08 Day 2: 3 06-00 Day 3: 1 02-04 8. Virginia Buckner Scottsboro, AL 9 11-07 268 $1,000.00 Day 1: 3 03-05 Day 2: 5 07-02 Day 3: 1 01-00 9. Gail Wood Russellville, AR 9 10-13 264 $900.00 Day 1: 3 03-09 Day 2: 3 04-03 Day 3: 3 03-01 10. Linda Walker Beebe, AR 8 10-12 260 $825.00 Day 1: 4 05-10 Day 2: 4 05-02 Day 3: 0 00-00 11. Vicki Hester Rainbow City, AL 9 10-10 257 $750.00 Day 1: 2 02-08 Day 2: 5 05-10 Day 3: 2 02-08 12. Patti James Dayton, TX 10 10-05 254 $700.00 Day 1: 5 05-14 Day 2: 2 01-13 Day 3: 3 02-10 13. Lesley Childers Anderson, SC 5 09-08 251 $650.00 Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 2 05-02 Day 3: 1 01-04 14. Sharon Lawson Red Bank, TN 5 09-04 253 $600.00 Day 1: 4 07-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Day 3: 1 01-07 15. Dianne Kegley Norphlet, AR 6 09-03 245 $575.00 Day 1: 2 02-12 Day 2: 4 06-07 Day 3: 0 00-00 16. Bonnie Ward Snohomish, WA 6 08-12 243 $550.00 Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 2 01-11 Day 3: 1 01-08 17. Linda Higginbotham Palm Coast, FL 6 08-08 241 $525.00 Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 1 02-01 Day 3: 2 02-02 18. Kim McGuffey Weatherford, TX 6 08-04 239 $500.00 Day 1: 2 02-01 Day 2: 3 05-07 Day 3: 1 00-12 19. Miriam Donohoo San Mateo, FL 7 08-02 237 $475.00 Day 1: 2 02-10 Day 2: 4 04-10 Day 3: 1 00-14 20. Debra Cook Gardendale, AL 6 06-06 235 $450.00 Day 1: 3 03-07 Day 2: 3 02-15 Day 3: 0 00-00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 3 125 165-00 2 7 136 180-03 3 2 42 52-15 ---------------------------------- 12 303 398-02