CELEBRATION, Fla. - The Women's Bassmaster Tour will make its sophomore debut in 2007 with five stand-alone events designed to challenge the very best women anglers from around the world.
In 2007, the Tour will visit fisheries in Texas, Arkansas, Alabama, Kentucky, and Louisiana from February through September. The winner of each WBT event takes home a fully rigged Triton boat valued at $50,000 and the total payout for pros and co-anglers will be more than $640,000 for the season.
"The Women's Bassmaster Tour debut was a banner year and now, we're looking forward to another full-field season of competition on some of the best lakes in the country with these anglers," said Deb Wilkinson, Women's Bassmaster Tour tournament manager.
Women kick off the season Feb. 8-10 on Lake Amistad in Del Rio, Texas. BASS fans are well-versed on Amistad, as the 2006 Bassmaster Elite Series season launched there and produced near-record catches.
On March 29-31, women anglers will revisit Lake Dardanelle in Russellville, Ark. In 2006, Women's Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year Dianna Clark won a WBT event there with 29 pounds, 9 ounces, beating her nearest competitor by 10 pounds. This is the only repeat location in the WBT schedule.
On May 3-5, anglers will hit the mid-season when they travel to Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Ala. The Elite Series also will visit Guntersville in 2007 and this popular fishery gave up a winning weight of 59 pounds, 15 ounces to angler Rick Clunn when it hosted the 1976 Bassmaster Classic.
The fourth event puts anglers on Kentucky Lake in Gilbertsville, Ky., on June 14-16. The last BASS event there was won by Morizo Shimizu with 66-9.
Athletes will end the regular season Sept. 20-22 on the Red River in Shreveport, La. The Red River last hosted a large BASS event in 2005, when Sean Hoernke of Texas beat out Gary Klein and Takahiro Omori with 36-2 during a Bassmaster Open.
"I know BASS is putting us on great fisheries in 2007 and I'm excited and ready to get started," said Clark, the reigning women's Toyota Angler of the Year. "To succeed on this tour, you need to stay consistent and focus on catching fish. That is the mission."
Also in 2007, there'll be one additional tournament for the top 12 pros and co-anglers from 2006. The Women's Bassmaster Tour Championship is scheduled for February on Lake Mitchell in Alabama, in conjunction with the 2007 Bassmaster Classic. The anglers will weigh-in on the final day of their three-day tournament at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Center before the Classic. The winner receives a Triton boat valued at $50,000 plus $10,000 cash.
Limited registration for the 2007 WBT begins Nov. 19 and general registration opens Dec. 3. Entry fees are $650 for pros and $350 for co-anglers. Interested anglers can visit www.Bassmaster.com for more information or call 1-877-BASS-USA.
2007 Women's Bassmaster Tour #1 Feb. 8-10 Lake Amistad Del Rio, Texas #2 March 29-31 Lake Dardanelle Russellville, Ark. #3 May 3-5 Lake Guntersville Guntersville, Ala. #4 June 14-16 Kentucky Lake Gilbertsville, Ky. #5 Sept. 20-22 Red River Shreveport, La. 2006 Women's Bassmaster Tour Championship February Lake Mitchell Birmingham, Ala.