THEODOSIA, Mo. - Tammy Richardson of Amity, Ark., capped off the 2006 Women's Bassmaster Tour season in much the same way she opened it: By winning it.
The mother of one, who won an ESPY in the Best Angler category in July, took the bass fishing tournament on Bull Shoals Lake with a total of 21 pounds, 9 ounces, or just 6 ounces more than second-place angler Mickie Wolfinbarger of Halfway, Mo.
"I really didn't think I had it," said Richardson of the win. "I had three good fish, but I heard that Mickie had four."
Richardson and Wolfinbarger were neck-in-neck all week. Richardson led by 5 ounces on Day 1, then Wolfinbarger pulled ahead by 10 ounces on Day 2.
On Day 3, Richardson's three fish weighed 1 pound more than Wolfinbarger's four bass, giving Richardson the win with a total of 21-9 to Wolfinbarger's 21-3.
Richardson, who also won the season-opener of the WBT, took home another Triton boat rig and Mercury outboard valued at $50,000. The event paid a total of about $85,000 to the top 25 finishers in the pro division.
Competing on an unfamiliar lake and learning to drop-shot were two challenges Richardson overcame to win.
"I'd never fished Bull Shoals before," said the 34-year-old pro. "This was my first time on clear, deep water - I'm not used to that. My spinning rod usually stays in the shed, but it got a workout this week."
She said that several weeks ago while practicing for the event, she realized she needed to drop-shot if she was going to hook Bull Shoals' deep-holding spotted bass. "A local man showed me how to tie a drop-shot rig. That's how I learned."
She said she used a 4-inch finesse worm made by Right Bite, an Arkansas lure manufacturer. Her go-to colors were watermelon seed, cotton candy and purple.
Wolfinbarger, meanwhile, said she had a good-size fish on Saturday that could have made the difference for her, but she failed to boat it.
Her pattern on the final day remained the same: Drop-shotting to bass chasing shad in water as deep as 80 feet.
"The fish were shallower today, about 30 to 40 feet deep," she said Saturday. She said her top bait was a shad-colored Kinami Cut Tail worm.
Finishing third was Emily Shaffer of Mount Juliet, Tenn., with 14-2. Fourth was Angie Douthit of Clewiston, Fla., with 12-6. Dianna Clark of Bumpus Mills, Tenn., finished fifth with 10-5. In sixth was Tammie Muse of North Little Rock, Ark., with 8-12.
Although Richardson had been in contention for the first Toyota Angler of the Year title, she ended three points short of the mark. Clark, meanwhile, made angling history Saturday as the first WBT Angler of the Year when her season-long points total climbed to 1,393.
Clark's fifth-place finish at Bull Shoals kept her ahead in the points race, where she's been since her second win of the season, a wire-to-wire victory at Arkansas' Lake Dardanelle in August. Clark's first win - also wire-to-wire - came in May on Lake Lewisville in Texas.
Richardson said missing the Angler of the Year title made her Saturday victory "bittersweet." Clark said she had not even done the math to see if she would win until making the trip from Bull Shoals Lake to Table Rock Lake, site of the weigh-in for the top-six WBT contenders.
"I knew I had a lot of people under me (in the points standings) who could come up through this tournament," said Clark. "I thought I could get it, though."
The conclusion of the points race also determined which 12 pros qualified for berths in the inaugural WBT championship, Feb. 22-25, 2007, on Lake Mitchell in Alabama.
In the co-angler division, Angie Everitt of Livingston, Texas, won the first-place Triton/Mercury package valued at $24,000, plus $1,000 cash. Everitt was the only co-angler who caught a keeper on Saturday and her three-day total was 5-13.
De Lynn Montez of Squires, Mo., and Bonnie Ward of Snohomish, Wash., tied for second with 5-3. In fourth was Vicki Hester of Rainbow City, Ala., with 4-3. Kathy Riley of Terry, Miss. was fifth with 3-7, and sixth was Colleen McKay of Worchester, Mass., with 3-5.
Ward, the winner in the co-angler division at the first WBT event on Neely Henry Lake, came out on top in the 2006 co-angler points standings. Also, the top 12 co-anglers in the final points standings qualified to fish in the Women's Bassmaster Tour's inaugural championship.
2006 Women's Bassmaster Tour Stop 1 BO 09/14-09/16 Bull Shoals Lake, Theodesia Mo. (BOATER) Standings Day 3 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Tammy Richardson Amity, Ark. 12 21-09 310 $51,000.00 Day 1: 4 6-05 Day 2: 5 8-05 Day 3: 3 6-15 2. Mickie Wolfinbarger Half Way, Mo. 13 21-03 300 $5,200.00 Day 1: 4 6-00 Day 2: 5 9-04 Day 3: 4 5-15 3. Emily Shaffer Mt Juliet, Tenn. 8 14-02 290 $3,680.00 Day 1: 2 3-13 Day 2: 4 7-06 Day 3: 2 2-15 4. Angie Douthit Clewiston, Fla. 7 12-06 285 $2,180.00 Day 1: 1 2-11 Day 2: 3 5-02 Day 3: 3 4-09 5. Dianna Clark Bumpus Mills, Tenn. 7 10-05 280 $1,930.00 Day 1: 1 1-00 Day 2: 5 8-08 Day 3: 1 0-13 6. Tammie Muse North Little Rock, Ark 5 8-12 276 $1,700.00 Day 1: 2 5-04 Day 2: 3 3-08 Day 3: 0 0-00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Purolator Big Bass Day 1 Teri Neal Cumming, Ga. 0-00 $1,000.00 2 Juanita Robinson Highlands, Texas 3-13 $1,000.00 3 Tammy Richardson Amity, Ark. 2-06 $1,000.00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 0 52 87-12 2 3 68 108-04 3 0 13 21-03 ---------------------------------- 3 133 217-03 2006 Women's Bassmaster Tour Stop 1 NB 09/14-09/16 Bull Shoals Lake, Theodesia Mo. (NON-BOATER) Standings Day 3 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Angie Everitt Livingston, Texas 2 5-13 305 $26,000.00 Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 4-00 Day 3: 1 1-13 2. De Lynn Montez Squires, Mo. 3 5-03 298 $2,950.00 Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 5-03 Day 3: 0 0-00 2. Bonnie Ward Snohomish, Wash. 2 5-03 298 $2,430.00 Day 1: 1 1-10 Day 2: 1 3-09 Day 3: 0 0-00 4. Vicki Hester Rainbow City, Ala. 3 4-03 285 $1,680.00 Day 1: 2 3-02 Day 2: 1 1-01 Day 3: 0 0-00 5. Kathy Riley Terry, Miss. 2 3-07 280 $1,180.00 Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 3-07 Day 3: 0 0-00 6. Colleen Mckay Worcester, Mass. 2 3-05 281 $900.00 Day 1: 2 3-05 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Purolator Big Bass Day 1 Lila Bass Austin, Texas 0-00 $500.00 2 Angela Everitt Livingston, Texas 4-00 $500.00 3 Angela Everitt Livingston, Texas 1-13 $500.00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 0 18 26-00 2 1 26 44-12 3 0 1 1-13 ---------------------------------- 1 45 72-092006 Women's Bassmaster - Womens Bassmaster Tour Stop 5 Boater Points After Bull Shoals Lake, Theodesia, Mo. Ending 09-16-2006, Day 3 ------------------------------------------- Place Name St Pts ------------------------------------------- 1 Dianna Clark Tenn. 1393 2 Tammy Richardson Ark. 1390 3 Lucy Mize Ark. 1268 4 Tammie Muse Ark. 1257 5 Sheri Glasgow Okla. 1251 6 Emily Shaffer Tenn. 1211 7 Cindy Hill Tenn. 1203 8 Lisa Sternard Tenn. 1196 9 Juanita Robinson Texas 1169 10 Robin Babb Texas 1140 11 Linda Sands Ala. 1097 12 Pam Martin-Wells Ga. 1076 13 Christie Thomas Ala. 1068 13 Cindy Van Horn Texas 1068 15 Jan Hudson Ark. 1061 16 Rhonda Pope Ga. 1047 17 Mary Hencken N.C. 1003 18 Christiana Bradley Va. 978 19 Jan Heavener Ark. 977 20 Marcia Rubin Ohio 975 21 Betty Stahl Ala. 969 22 Kris Mcclendon Texas 955 23 Kathi Hurst Miss. 950 24 Danalee Lofton Ark. 948 25 Judy Wong La. 947 26 Cheryl Lalumandier Mo. 937 27 Kathy Womack Ala. 934 28 Kelley Shepherd Colo. 925 29 Lisa Johnson Ga. 921 30 Kimberlee Striker Ala. 915 31 Penny Berryman Ark. 866 32 Cindy Caperton Tenn. 864 33 Angie Douthit Fla. 856 34 Laura Gober Ga. 842 35 Tanya Kreuzer Ariz. 839 36 Janet Parker Texas 838 37 Sue Parrish Ind. 822 38 Tommie Domingue Texas 818 39 Shelley Perry W.Va. 817 40 Conny Jenkins Mo. 806 41 Joan Davis Ind. 803 42 Tami Kashiwabara Japan 788 43 Louise Howard Ala. 781 44 Linda Walker Ark. 779 45 Rose Ellis Ala. 766 46 Deanie Tate Ark. 761 47 Wanda Malmsbury Mo. 760 48 Lori Masters Tenn. 754 49 Jonell Whitstine La. 734 50 Paula Alexander Ga. 716 51 Mary Divincenti La. 707 52 Robinette Fox Ark. 698 53 Lisa Craig Texas 696 54 Ann Wells Ill. 664 55 Susan Hand Ala. 662 56 Secret York Ky. 653 56 Laura Moore Texas 653 58 Debra Petrowski Texas 650 59 Sandra Sherred Pa. 642 60 Teri Neal Ga. 628 61 Julie Jacobson Wisc. 618 61 Michelle Armstrong N.C. 618 63 Susan Gregory Miss. 613 64 Helen Gordon Texas 599 65 Patti Campbell Texas 583 66 Sammie Denyes Fla. 574 66 Sarah Augustine La. 574 68 Sue Crochet La. 566 69 Donna Newberry Ark. 554 70 Joan Craig Ark. 546 71 Linda Owens Miss. 517 72 Toni Stoner Ga. 509 73 Brenda Davis Okla. 504 74 Debra Hengst Texas 492 75 Melanie Rockey Ga. 454 76 Kandie Candelaria Texas 450 77 Lynda Gessner Mo. 422 78 Carla Whitstine La. 382 79 Pat White Texas 381 80 Judy Antle Ky. 373 81 Sherrie Brubaker Okla. 371 81 Carolyn Poole Fla. 371 83 Becky Mckinney Fla. 365 84 Kellie Skelton N.M. 357 85 Katrina Dehaven Ariz. 355 86 Kathy Cater Texas 343 86 Cheryl Spencer Okla. 343 88 Crystal Langston Ala. 342 89 Brenda Bates Texas 329 90 Madeline Smith Ark. 315 91 Linda Redford Mo. 308 92 Karen Welty Ind. 307 93 Mickie Wolfinbarger Mo. 300 94 Darla Bardelli Ariz. 294 95 Rae Lee Texas 279 96 Amy Golden Texas 260 96 Rhonda Usery Ark. 260 98 Danielle Kremer Fla. 248 99 Tina Lefler Va. 245 100 Violette Sesco Fla. 234 101 Doris Parsons N.C. 233 102 Kristy Darby Ark. 209 103 Barbara Wetzel Ala. 203 104 Kitsy Cunningham Okla. 200 105 Audrey Mcqueen Colo. 191 106 Barbara Potts Texas 183 107 Arah Phillips Texas 182 108 Jennifer Stelly La. 177 109 Elizabeth Meisell Texas 175 110 Bonnie Katke Mo. 172 111 Jen Carroll Texas 170 112 Kathy Kirby N.C. 163 113 bonnie johnson Texas 157 114 Angela Dechau Mo. 147 115 Patsy Mcdaniel Ala. 143 116 Marguerite Palmer Miss. 135 117 Caroline Carpenter Fla. 129 118 Sherri Dodson Ala. 108 119 Marilyn Biszmaier Ky. 93 120 Deb Doyal La. 83 121 Marsha Gipson Ark. 81 122 Kathy Tibbetts Va. 0 122 Amanda Hubbard Ill. 0 122 Tammy Waller Texas 0 122 Lucie Maus Texas 0 2006 Women's Bassmaster - Womens Bassmaster Tour Stop 5 Non-Boater Points After Bull Shoals Lake, Theodesia, Mo. Ending 09-16-2006, Day 3 ------------------------------------------- Place Name St Pts ------------------------------------------- 1 Bonnie Ward Wash. 1184 2 Mary Croft Va. 1169 3 Keri Schieber Ga. 1159 4 Kim Stapp Ga. 1114 5 Heather Sullivan Ala. 1012 6 Lila Bass Texas 990 7 Sharon Rushton Mo. 986 8 Tammie Ply Ark. 985 9 Angie Everitt Texas 974 10 Summer Stephens Ga. 944 11 Colleen Mckay Mass. 936 12 Karen Williams Mo. 923 13 Susan Bowes N.Y. 897 14 Jo Dee Bucki Ala. 888 15 Linda Berry N.C. 886 16 Sharon Withers Texas 874 17 Sandi Karnes Texas 858 18 Susan Dameron Tenn. 814 19 Robertina Filburn Ky. 813 19 Diane Smith Ga. 813 21 Carol Boykin Ind. 803 22 Ronda Kirby Ind. 785 23 Carrie Bronson Fla. 777 24 Sarah Busby La. 771 25 Kay Pennington La. 762 26 Gerry Threadgill Texas 739 27 Debbie Pegoli Ohio 725 28 Kathy Riley Miss. 719 29 Jacqueline Helton Ark. 716 30 Cheryl Crafton Ind. 698 31 Elizabeth Sanders Miss. 672 32 Lesa Brown Ark. 669 33 Mary James Ark. 667 34 Patricia Atkinson Mass. 665 35 Susan Wild D.C. 660 36 Billie Jaynes Texas 652 37 Barbara Gaskins Va. 651 38 Karen Roberts Ala. 643 39 Tracy Doty Texas 640 40 Toni Mode Ore. 592 41 Bertha Cavakis Ark. 587 42 Deb Krueger Mich. 551 42 Laura Heflin Kan. 551 44 Renee Brisendine N.C. 549 45 Brenda Reeves Texas 535 46 Carilyn Hill Okla. 531 47 Terri Mackinnon Canada 501 48 Jennifer Helgren Ill. 497 49 Sherry Melton Tenn. 496 50 Bobbie Barfield Ga. 492 51 Judy Vancanneyt Miss. 489 52 Laura Elkins Texas 477 53 Diane Delagarza Texas 468 54 Cheryl Allen Texas 466 55 Donna Prado Texas 456 56 Robin Kolton Texas 452 57 Denese Freeman Okla. 430 58 Angela Mitchell Canada 429 59 Jaye Smith Mich. 410 59 Dianna Fanning Ark. 410 61 Sharon Lawson Tenn. 408 62 Robin Mcfarlane Texas 400 62 Marsha Betz Texas 400 64 Debra Cunningham Ariz. 396 65 Vicki Hester Ala. 395 66 Christena Baugh Ark. 370 66 Sharon Mcewen Pa. 370 68 Patti Harland Ala. 365 69 Maggie Robledo Texas 357 70 Cheryl Holloway La. 328 71 Kala Wright Okla. 320 71 Pam Anthony Tenn. 320 73 Monica Altman N.C. 315 74 Charlene Parks Fla. 310 75 De Lynn Montez Mo. 298 76 Pat White Texas 295 77 Lydia Smith Texas 290 78 Cathy Smith La. 280 79 Cheryl Bowden Texas 276 80 Sylvia Hudson Fla. 264 81 Sheila Merrow Maine 254 82 Pam Ridgle Texas 251 83 April Painter La. 250 84 Violette Sesco Fla. 248 84 Kali Weatherford Texas 248 86 Sharon Gentry Mo. 243 87 Vicki Henderson Ark. 241 88 Judith Hart Texas 238 88 Elaine Morris Ark. 238 90 Tina Newman Tenn. 235 90 Cheryl Scott Texas 235 92 Debra Wilson Texas 232 93 Susan Owens Va. 228 94 Tabitha Rudd Ala. 223 95 Allison Steckelberg Ga. 222 96 Shawn Conner Ind. 220 96 Karol Whitehurst Texas 220 98 Arah Phillips Texas 218 99 Donna Gilzow Ark. 215 100 Kim Petrowski Texas 211 100 Julie Garriety Texas 211 102 Dianne Kegley Ark. 210 103 Kristin Eaton Ala. 207 103 Bridget Allen Pa. 207 103 Shelia Wood Ark. 207 106 Carolyn Voyles Texas 204 107 Junie Parmer Texas 199 108 Terri Bittner Calif. 189 109 Linda Worley La. 188 110 Nancy Oliver La. 187 111 Tracy Pace Texas 185 112 Joyce Austin Ky. 184 113 Dana Davis Ala. 175 114 Dawn Ryerson Ill. 173 114 Brenda Joyce Carson Okla. 173 116 Sabrina Sivley Ala. 163 117 Cindy Hardy Ala. 158 118 Rhonda Ford Ga. 155 119 Cindy Burnham Canada 153 120 Sandy Jeane Texas 147 121 Beverly Dickson Ark. 144 121 Lillian Gutierrez Texas 144 123 Darla Mcintosh Fla. 133 124 Denise Lusk S.C. 130 124 Sugar Walker Ala. 130 126 Teresa Morris Tenn. 125 127 Shelia Campbell Fla. 123 128 Kelly Spear Ohio 119 128 Barbie Haralson Texas 119 130 Dee Barger Ala. 110 130 Jen Carroll Texas 110 132 Stacy Woodall Ga. 102 133 Linda Keithley Mo. 0 133 Sue Freeman Md. 0 133 Vanessa Seay Va. 0 133 Diana Dietzen Ind. 0 133 Anne Salonish Pa. 0 133 Vivian Estep Va. 0 133 Angie Wright Ala. 0 133 Kimberly King Va. 0 133 Norma Ussery Texas 0 133 Lisa Garcia N.H. 0 133 Robbie Hartline Mo. 0 133 Keary Shults Fla. 0 133 Laura Taylor Fla. 0 133 Angie Michaels Neb. 0 133 Tonya Pollack Fla. 0 133 Liz Lewis Texas 0 133 Patricia Levitt N.M. 0 133 Julia Reynolds Mo. 0 133 Kimberly Martin Ind. 0 133 Karen Wall Bush N.J. 0 133 Paula Tharp Okla. 0 133 Robin Washburn Ga. 0 133 Bonnie Betts Mo. 0 133 Cynthia Ward Md. 0 133 Linda Thomas Okla. 0 133 Janet Neal Texas 0 133 Mary Lipka Mo. 0 133 Melissa Bond N.M. 0 133 Pamela Putman Texas 0 133 Jennifer Horn Texas 0 133 Mary Waters Va. 0 133 Greta Gaines N.Y. 0 133 Kathy Rudy Pa. 0 133 Charlotte Frazier Texas 0 133 Karen James La. 0 133 Bonnie Erspamer Tenn. 0