WEST MONROE, La. - All week Janet Parker of Little, Elm, Texas, has been saying she was "keeping it simple" out on the water, but Parker also made it look easy when she won wire-to-wire Saturday by more than 8 pounds at the second stop of the 2009 Women's Bassmaster Tour bass fishing tournament on the Ouachita River.
The first day she led by 11 ounces. The second day she stretched her lead to almost 5 pounds. With Saturday's weight of 11 pounds, 2 ounces - her best of the three days - she totaled 32-2, easily staying in front of Sheri Glasgow of Muskogee, Okla., who took second with 23-13.
Patti Campbell of Waxahachie, Texas, who on Friday moved up from 21st into third place, also finished there with 21-13.
It was the first WBT title for Parker, who's been competing in the women's circuit since its inception in 2005. Her previous best finish was in June 2008 at Tennessee's Old Hickory Lake, where she finished 14th after leading the first day.
"Last night, when I realized I had a 4-pound, 12-ounce lead, I thought maybe I could win here," Parker said. "I didn't get overconfident because maybe my fish would turn off, or someone would catch an 8-pounder - you just don't know. I did not count my chickens before they hatched."
Her wire-to-wire win was worth a $55,000 Triton/Mercury boat package, $650, and a valuable 315 points in Women's Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year race, where the eventual AOY winner will qualify for the 2010 Bassmaster Classic. Parker also received a bonus $500 that was donated to the winner by the Ouachita River Valley Association.
By "keeping it simple"on the Ouachita River, she meant she worked a Texas-rigged plastic crawfish in the same way to trigger a reaction bite, regardless of where she fished.
"I felt the key was having a weight and a magnetic bead," Parker said. "I'd let the lure fall, then hop it up, and the beads would clack together. Then I'd let it rest and hop it up again."
She fished the same rig in two markedly different areas. One was a shallow backwater, and the other a main-river ledge.
In the backwater, she picked up bass hitting baitfish at the mouth of an underwater culvert in water from 2 feet to about 8 feet deep. She also flipped to trees and brush in the same backwater.
On the main river channel, she threw her craw to bass holding in an eddy behind a ledge. Her only alteration in the rig for the main-river spot was a switch from a 3/8-ounce to a 1/2-ounce weight.
Ending in second place, Glasgow relied on a custom-made spinnerbait with a single Colorado blade, the same bait she used to win a WBT event at Arkansas' Lake Dardanelle in 2007.
"It puts out a lot of thump, a lot of vibration, your rod tip's bouncing as it pulses through the water," said Glasgow, the 2007 Toyota Tundra WBT Angler of the Year. "You can slow-roll it, and when you bring it by a piece of structure, you can stop it and let it flutter. It worked great in this muddy water."
Glasgow said she stayed in the Ouachita's backwater lakes, working flooded buckbrush and cypress trees, moving with the fish as the water level changed each day.
Winner in the co-angler division and the $25,000 Triton/Mercury boat rig was Day Two leader Linda Owens, a retired law enforcement officer from Brandon, Miss. Her three-day weight of 16 pounds, 14 ounces, was almost 5 pounds more than her closest competitor.
"This is my first win at a tournament, ever," said Owens, whose first look at the Ouachita River was on the first day of competition. She said the boat she won will replace a boat she had to give up after retirement.
Owens said she flipped and pitched to cypress trees and brush all three days, a technique that is "right up my alley." Her go-to lure was a soft-plastic creature bait with a chartreuse dip on the tail.
"For some reason, they wouldn't hit if the tail wasn't dipped," Owens said.
Other top finishers in the co-angler division included Gail Wood of Russellville, Ark., was second with 12-2. First-day leader Terri Bittner of McKinleyville, Calif., was third with 10-12.
The final two stops of the WBT regular season will be out of Little Rock, Ark., for a June 4-6 competition on the Arkansas River; and Sept. 10-12 stop at Old Hickory Lake out of Hendersonville, Tenn.
After the Old Hickory tournament, the top 20 in both the pro and co-angler points standings will advance to the Oct. 16-18 WBT Championship on the Red River out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La.
One pro will emerge from the championship as the Women's Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year. She'll win a Toyota Tundra and qualify for the 2010 Bassmaster Classic, Feb. 19-21 on Lay Lake out of Birmingham, Ala.
Pam Martin-Wells of Bainbridge, Ga., who finished in seventh place at Ouachita, retained her first-place position in the points race with 582 points. Juanita Robinson of Highlands, Texas, is second in the AOY with 556 points.
2009 Women's Bassmaster Tour - WBT #2 04/23-04/25 Ouachita River, West Monroe, La. Professionals Standings Day 3 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Janet Parker Little Elm, Texas 15 32-02 315 $55,650.00 Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 10-02 Day 3: 5 11-02 2. Sheri Glasgow Muskogee, Okla. 15 23-13 295 $3,575.00 Day 1: 5 6-13 Day 2: 5 9-09 Day 3: 5 7-07 3. Patti Campbell Waxahachie, Texas 14 21-13 290 $2,925.00 Day 1: 4 4-02 Day 2: 5 10-03 Day 3: 5 7-08 4. Laura Gober Pendergrass, Ga. 13 20-15 285 $2,600.00 Day 1: 5 8-14 Day 2: 3 5-02 Day 3: 5 6-15 5. Juanita Robinson Highlands, Texas 12 17-12 280 $2,275.00 Day 1: 5 6-00 Day 2: 3 4-14 Day 3: 4 6-14 6. Dianna Clark Bumpus Mills, Tenn. 11 16-10 276 $1,950.00 Day 1: 3 4-10 Day 2: 4 5-07 Day 3: 4 6-09 7. Pam Martin-Wells Bainbridge, Ga. 11 16-06 272 $1,625.00 Day 1: 5 7-08 Day 2: 3 4-04 Day 3: 3 4-10 8. Debra Petrowski Arlington, Texas 10 15-13 268 $1,300.00 Day 1: 2 5-10 Day 2: 3 4-03 Day 3: 5 6-00 9. Christiana Bradley Bealeton, Va. 11 15-12 264 $1,138.00 Day 1: 1 0-10 Day 2: 5 7-03 Day 3: 5 7-15 10. Lori Masters Nashville, Tenn. 12 15-05 260 $975.00 Day 1: 5 6-00 Day 2: 3 4-01 Day 3: 4 5-04 11. Jennifer Nevans Dayton, Tenn. 10 14-15 257 $878.00 Day 1: 1 2-00 Day 2: 5 7-08 Day 3: 4 5-07 12. Karen Savik Minneapolis, Minn. 8 14-03 254 $715.00 Day 1: 2 5-06 Day 2: 4 6-09 Day 3: 2 2-04 13. Tami Kashiwabara London, Ark. 11 13-01 251 $650.00 Day 1: 3 3-03 Day 2: 5 6-04 Day 3: 3 3-10 14. Meta Burrell Fort Worth, Texas 9 12-09 248 $634.00 Day 1: 5 7-09 Day 2: 2 2-07 Day 3: 2 2-09 15. Tammy Richardson Amity, Ark. 9 12-06 245 $618.00 Day 1: 2 2-02 Day 2: 5 6-05 Day 3: 2 3-15 16. Lynda Gessner Foristell, Mo. 11 12-03 243 $601.00 Day 1: 5 5-10 Day 2: 4 4-06 Day 3: 2 2-03 17. Kali Weatherford Athens, Texas 9 10-15 241 $585.00 Day 1: 2 1-15 Day 2: 5 7-03 Day 3: 2 1-13 18. Danalee Lofton Little Rock, Ark. 4 10-03 239 $569.00 Day 1: 4 10-03 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00 19. Debra Hengst San Antonio, Texas 6 10-01 237 $553.00 Day 1: 3 6-03 Day 2: 3 3-14 Day 3: 0 0-00 20. Mary Croft Bedford, Va. 7 9-10 235 $536.00 Day 1: 3 4-01 Day 2: 2 4-00 Day 3: 2 1-09 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 10 141 194-09 2 8 128 178-15 3 6 64 93-10 ---------------------------------- 24 333 467-02 2009 WBT #2 - West Monroe, LA - WBT #2 - West Monroe, LA Boater Points After Ouachita River, West Monroe, La. Ending 04-25-2009, Day 3 ------------------------------------------- Place Name St Pts ------------------------------------------- 1 Pam Martin-Wells Ga. 582 2 Juanita Robinson Texas 556 3 Laura Gober Ga. 553 4 Sheri Glasgow Okla. 543 5 Tammy Richardson Ark. 540 6 Debra Petrowski Texas 525 7 Janet Parker Texas 512 8 Lisa Johnson Ala. 495 9 Patti Campbell Texas 489 10 Dianna Clark Tenn. 479 11 Mary Croft Va. 478 11 Emily Shaffer Tenn. 478 13 Melinda Mize Ark. 475 14 Jennifer Nevans Tenn. 468 15 Judy Wong La. 466 16 Lori Masters Tenn. 465 17 Cindy Hill Tenn. 460 18 Karen Savik Minn. 455 19 Lynda Gessner Mo. 452 20 Robin Babb Texas 451 21 Mary DiVincenti La. 442 22 Lucy Mize Ark. 436 23 Christiana Bradley Va. 435 24 Teri Neal Ga. 434 24 Paula Alexander Ga. 434 26 Debbie Kemp Texas 432 27 Tami Kashiwabara Ark. 428 28 Cheryl LaLumandier Mo. 426 29 Heather Broom N.C. 424 29 Sandi Karnes Texas 424 31 Robinette Fox Ark. 419 32 Kathy Womack Ala. 412 33 Kris McClendon Texas 410 34 Debra Hengst Texas 384 34 Jan Heavener Ark. 384 36 Christena Baugh Ark. 382 37 Laura Heflin Kan. 380 38 Meta Burrell Texas 379 39 Kali Weatherford Texas 374 40 Bridget Allen Pa. 366 41 Susan Gregory Miss. 356 41 Linda Redford Mo. 356 43 Helen Gordon Texas 354 44 Danalee Lofton Ark. 352 44 Marsha Gipson Ark. 352 46 Kathi Hurst Miss. 348 47 Keri Schieber Ga. 346 48 Michelle Armstrong N.C. 344 48 Jo Dee Lake Ala. 344 50 Terri Elkins Texas 342 51 Lisa Craig Texas 332 52 Lila Bass Texas 324 53 BJ Carson Okla. 322 54 Mary Hencken N.C. 320 55 Cindy Van Horn Texas 314 56 Secret York Ky. 302 57 Robbie Hartline Mo. 290 58 Rhonda Pope Ga. 285 59 Kim Stapp Ga. 264 60 Kim Bain-Moore Ala. 251 61 Pam Bolton Ark. 245 62 Cheryl Bowden Texas 233 63 Karen Elkins Ala. 227 64 Kat Ealey Ala. 221 65 Gina Jones Ala. 217 66 Penny Berryman Ark. 213 67 Linda Sands Ala. 195 68 Diane Phillips Texas 193 69 Kathy DiMartino Ala. 191 70 Audrey McQueen Ariz. 187 71 Betty Stahl Ala. 185 72 Barbara Wetzel Ala. 169 73 Lisa Sternard Tenn. 165 74 Kelley Shepherd Ariz. 163 74 Deb Doyal La. 163 76 Sherri Dodson Ala. 155 77 Kimberlee Striker Ala. 151 78 Pat White Texas 149 79 Patsy McDaniel Ala. 137 80 Kim Hicks Ga. 127 81 Judy VanCanneyt Ala. 125 82 Ann Swinks Ga. 119 83 Kathy Freehling Fla. 115 84 Sharon Teague S.C. 0 2009 Academy Sports + Outdoors Women's Bassmaster Tour - WBT #2 04/23-04/25 Ouachita River, West Monroe La. Co-Anglers Standings Day 3 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Linda Owens Brandon, Miss. 11 16-14 310 $25,325.00 Day 1: 2 1-13 Day 2: 5 8-07 Day 3: 4 6-10 2. Gail Wood Russellville, Ark. 7 12-02 295 $1,950.00 Day 1: 3 4-08 Day 2: 3 4-13 Day 3: 1 2-13 3. Terri Bittner Mckinleyville, Calif. 8 10-12 295 $1,625.00 Day 1: 4 6-05 Day 2: 1 1-09 Day 3: 3 2-14 4. Debbie Pegoli Loveland, Ohio 6 9-07 285 $1,300.00 Day 1: 1 0-11 Day 2: 3 4-11 Day 3: 2 4-01 5. Donna Newberry Van Buren, Ark. 6 8-07 280 $1,138.00 Day 1: 2 2-04 Day 2: 3 5-01 Day 3: 1 1-02 6. Teri Cindric Hermitage, Tenn. 6 7-12 276 $975.00 Day 1: 3 3-06 Day 2: 3 4-06 Day 3: 0 0-00 7. Kala Wright Spiro, Okla. 4 7-12 272 $813.00 Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 5-09 Day 3: 1 2-03 8. Charlotte Frazier Dallas, Texas 4 7-11 268 $650.00 Day 1: 2 3-07 Day 2: 1 1-11 Day 3: 1 2-09 9. Monica Altman Angier, N.C. 7 7-06 264 $585.00 Day 1: 1 1-06 Day 2: 5 5-01 Day 3: 1 0-15 10. Kim Martin Clayton, Ind. 4 7-03 260 $536.00 Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 5-13 Day 3: 1 1-06 11. Renee Gumbrecht Oakhurst, N.J. 5 6-07 257 $488.00 Day 1: 1 0-15 Day 2: 4 5-08 Day 3: 0 0-00 12. Katie Hogan Bon Aqua, Tenn. 4 6-06 254 $455.00 Day 1: 2 3-13 Day 2: 2 2-09 Day 3: 0 0-00 13. Donna Rutledge Orland Park, Ill. 5 6-02 251 $423.00 Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 4-00 Day 3: 2 2-02 14. Lisa Diehl Pittsburg, Pa. 6 6-01 248 $390.00 Day 1: 4 3-08 Day 2: 1 1-04 Day 3: 1 1-05 15. Barbara Gaskins Suffolk, Va. 5 5-14 245 $374.00 Day 1: 3 3-05 Day 2: 1 1-11 Day 3: 1 0-14 16. Jill Matheis Jasper, Ind. 5 5-13 243 $358.00 Day 1: 2 2-15 Day 2: 2 1-11 Day 3: 1 1-03 17. Kat Arnold Shreveport, La. 4 5-00 241 $341.00 Day 1: 2 3-02 Day 2: 1 0-14 Day 3: 1 1-00 18. Sherry Melton Monterey, Tenn. 3 4-05 239 $325.00 Day 1: 3 4-05 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00 19. Linda Walker Beebe, Ark. 2 3-12 237 $309.00 Day 1: 1 1-08 Day 2: 1 2-04 Day 3: 0 0-00 20. Barbara Ferge Somerville, Tenn. 3 3-05 235 $293.00 Day 1: 1 0-10 Day 2: 2 2-11 Day 3: 0 0-00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 0 59 66-13 2 2 82 110-01 3 0 21 31-01 ---------------------------------- 2 162 207-15 2009 WBT #2 - West Monroe, LA - WBT #2 - West Monroe, LA Non-Boater Points After Ouachita River, West Monroe, La. Ending 04-25-2009, Day 3 ------------------------------------------- Place Name St Pts ------------------------------------------- 1 Donna Newberry Ark. 585 1 Terri Bittner Calif. 585 3 Teri Cindric Tenn. 540 4 Debbie Pegoli Ohio 526 5 Gail Wood Ark. 516 6 Martha Goodfellow S.C. 512 7 Charlotte Frazier Texas 503 8 Sherry Melton Tenn. 496 9 Kala Wright Okla. 495 10 Kim Martin Ind. 493 11 Colleen McKay Mass. 491 12 Donna Rutledge Ill. 476 13 Monica Altman N.C. 471 14 Renee Gumbrecht N.J. 470 15 Linda Owens Miss. 469 15 Cheryl Buelow La. 469 17 Vicki Henderson Ark. 455 18 Trish Levitt N.M. 447 19 Kim Petrowski Texas 444 20 Katie Hogan Tenn. 439 21 Barbara Gaskins Va. 434 22 Linda Walker Ark. 432 22 Kat Arnold La. 432 24 Lesley Childers S.C. 412 25 Lisa Diehl Pa. 411 26 Sabrina Thompson Texas 410 27 Kim Mendoza Texas 404 27 Linda Berry N.C. 404 27 Bertha Cavakis Ark. 404 30 Bonnie Ward Wash. 398 31 Susan Dameron Tenn. 388 31 Nancy Oliver La. 388 33 Barbara Ferge Tenn. 386 34 Melissa Bond N.M. 380 35 Elizabeth Sanders Miss. 370 35 Jill Matheis Ind. 370 37 Susan Wild Fla. 356 37 Neva Brown Texas 356 39 Diane Smith Ga. 350 39 Karol Whitehurst Texas 350 41 Denese Freeman Okla. 348 41 Pam Chism Ark. 348 41 Christine Martin Colo. 348 44 Jane Brunner Miss. 346 45 Debra Cook Ala. 338 46 Patti James Texas 336 46 Katie Ellis Miss. 336 46 Dawn Dudek Ill. 336 46 Patty Houston Ala. 336 50 Stacy Zhelesnik N.J. 305 51 Nancy Stumpe Fla. 276 52 Linda Higginbotham Fla. 272 53 Vicki Hester Ala. 251 54 Lori Steele Okla. 248 55 Lesli Lively Texas 245 56 Michele Gunderman N.C. 243 57 Kelly Wells Ga. 237 58 Cynthia Tayloe Texas 231 59 Bunny Hicks Ga. 227 60 Cheryl Sprayberry Fla. 221 61 Torrye Vineyard Texas 217 62 Brandi Frasier Ky. 211 63 Miriam Donohoo Fla. 209 64 Laura Bean Ala. 201 64 Judy Pate La. 201 66 Jada Tidmore Ala. 199 67 Sarah Davis La. 197 68 Inez Zeagler La. 195 69 Cynthia Bryan La. 191 70 Jennifer Blackwood Ga. 181 70 DeLynn Montez Calif. 181 70 Sharron Stone Texas 181 73 Juanita Blasingame Tenn. 179 74 LaShea Raynor S.C. 175 75 Leslie Anderson Mo. 169 76 Linda Rinker Fla. 167 77 Lisa Skelley Tenn. 153 78 Nancy Dugas Ala. 143 79 Petra Ramsey Texas 141 80 Jennifer Rice Ala. 135 81 Virginia Buckner Ala. 133 82 Marilyn Biszmaier Ky. 131 83 Cassie Hall Ala. 129 84 Sugar Walker Ala. 125 85 Mona Crawford Fla. 123 86 Kimberly White Ill. 117 87 Sharon Lawson Tenn. 113 88 Gerry Threadgill Texas 0 88 Caprice Cherry La. 0 88 Leanne Snowden Mich. 0