LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Dianna Clark of Bumpus Mills, Tenn., made angling history Saturday when she became the first competitor to win two events in the 2006 Women's Bassmaster Tour season.
She won her second WBT trophy for her wire-to-wire performance at the Lake Dardanelle event, the tour's fourth stop. Clark's first victory was in May on Texas' Lewisville Lake, the circuit's second event. For each win, she earned a Triton boat rig with Mercury outboard valued at $50,000.
"I wanted to make history, and now I've done it," said an elated Clark, a Persian Gulf War veteran who decided to devote more energy to competitive fishing when she retired in 1996 from the U.S. Army as a staff sergeant. "On top of winning two, I led on all three days. I'm proud of that."
Clark took Dardanelle by a wide margin. Her three-day total of 29 pounds, 9 ounces put her 10 pounds in front of Lucy Mize of Ben Lomond, Ark., whose tournament total of 19-9 secured second place, her best BASS career finish.
The Dardanelle win propelled Clark from fifth to first place in the WBT points standings. She now has a direct line to become the first Toyota Women's Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year, an honor that includes winning a 2007 Toyota Tundra.
The Angler of the Year title for Clark isn't a done deal. After Dardanelle, four fellow competitors were within 100 points of Clark: Arkansas' Tammy Richardson, former points leader Sheri Glasgow of Oklahoma, Pam Martin-Wells of Georgia, and Mize.
The title will be determined after the final event of the 2006 WBT season, Bull Shoals Lake in Theodosia, Mo., Sept. 14-16. Points are earned at each event and accumulate throughout the season.
Clark moved closer to the AOY title this week by cracking the code of Dardanelle's very tough August fishing conditions. She ended the first day with 14-5, then caught 9-8 on Day 2 to secure the lead by more than 9 pounds.
With such a fat cushion, the 42-year-old could have relaxed Saturday. But she wasn't going to gamble, so returned to her productive grassy hot spots in Dardanelle's Shoal Bay. There, she put three largemouth bass in her livewell, adding 5-12 to her 23-13 already on the board.
She said her go-to bait all three days was a prototype jig made by B&M Baits of Alabama. The jig - made with a black head and a green-black-chartreuse skirt - was tipped with a blue-sapphire Zoom Fat Albert Twin Tail, a wide, 3 1/4-inch soft plastic.
"I don't know exactly what it was about the bait that made it work, but my co-anglers started getting bites after I gave them one," she said. "I threw it - pitched or flipped it - then let it sit and that's how all my bites came. I never got a moving bite. But you had to watch the line, there weren't any taps or bumps you could feel."
The six-woman field on Saturday was the result of the cut from the full field of 95 pros after Friday's competition. Besides Clark and Mize, the anglers who competed Saturday were Kelley Shepherd of Cortez, Colo., Kimberlee Striker of Cullman, Ala.; Laura Gober of Pendergrass, Ga.; and Paula Alexander of Lincolnton, Ga.
Alexander ended in third with 16-8. Shepherd was fourth with 15-14. Striker was fifth with 13-0. Gober finished sixth with 11-5.
On the co-angler side, the winner of a Triton/Mercury package valued at $24,000 plus $1,000 in cash was Robertina Filburn of Vine Grove, Ky. Her winning weight was 11-8. Like Clark, Filburn won wire-to-wire.
She wasn't able to bring in a fish on Saturday, and thought she didn't have a chance to win.
"My heart sunk. After leading two days, I thought I was not going to win a boat after all," said the 61-year-old retired high-school music teacher. "When we were backstage, there stood one of my co-anglers with two fat bass. But she told me, 'I don't have you beat.' I was not convinced at all."
Colleen Mckay of Worchester, Mass., was the fellow competitor with the two bass, but her 11-5 total was 3 ounces short of catching Filburn.
Elizabeth Sanders of Brandon, Miss., finished third with 11-3. Laura Elkins of Amarillo, Texas, was fourth with 9-2. Cathy Smith of Pineville, La., ended her week in fifth with 7-9.
Sharon Rushton of Kimberling City, Mo., took sixth with 6-9. Rushton was the co-angler winner of the WBT preview event in October 2005.
Presenting the winners' awards Saturday at Little Rock's Statehouse Convention Center was Susan Hutchinson, wife of Arkansas gubernatorial candidate Asa Hutchinson, a former Congressman.
In the final tournament of the five-event 2006 WBT season, the women anglers will compete on Bull Shoals Lake in Theodosia, Mo., Sept. 14-16.
After Bull Shoals, the field for the first WBT Championship will be set. The 12 pro and 12 co-angler slots for the event on Lake Mitchell in Alabama, Feb. 22-25, 2007, will be offered to the anglers who come out on top in their division's points race.
2006 Women's Bassmaster Tour Stop 5 08/24-08/26 Lake Dardanelle, Lake Dardanelle Ark. (BOATER) Standings Day 3 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Dianna Clark Bumpus Mills, Tenn. 11 29-09 315 $51,000.00 Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 3 9-08 Day 3: 3 5-12 2. Lucy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 7 19-09 295 $6,200.00 Day 1: 4 10-08 Day 2: 1 3-01 Day 3: 2 6-00 3. Paula Alexander Lincolnton, Ga. 7 16-08 290 $3,680.00 Day 1: 3 8-06 Day 2: 1 2-08 Day 3: 3 5-10 4. Kelley Shepherd Cortez, Colo. 6 15-14 285 $2,180.00 Day 1: 4 12-03 Day 2: 1 2-08 Day 3: 1 1-03 5. Kimberlee Striker Cullman, Ala. 5 13-00 280 $1,930.00 Day 1: 3 7-08 Day 2: 1 4-00 Day 3: 1 1-08 6. Laura Gober Pendergrass, Ga. 5 11-05 276 $1,700.00 Day 1: 3 6-02 Day 2: 2 5-03 Day 3: 0 0-00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Purolator Big Bass Day 1 Rose Ellis Birmingham, Ala. 5-13 $1,000.00 2 Dianna Clark Bumpus Mills, Tenn. 5-14 $1,000.00 3 Lucy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 4-00 $1,000.00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 1 95 213-09 2 0 81 179-11 3 0 10 20-01 ---------------------------------- 1 186 413-05 2006 Women's Bassmaster Tour Stop 5 NB 08/24-08/26 Lake Dardanelle, Lake Dardanelle Ark. (NON-BOATER) Standings Day 3 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Robertina Filburn Vine Grove, Ky. 5 11-08 315 $25,000.00 Day 1: 3 6-12 Day 2: 2 4-12 Day 3: 0 0-00 2. Colleen Mckay Worcester, Mass. 4 11-05 295 $4,200.00 Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 5-15 Day 3: 2 5-06 3. Elizabeth Sanders Brandon, Miss. 4 11-03 290 $2,180.00 Day 1: 1 4-15 Day 2: 2 3-01 Day 3: 1 3-03 4. Laura Elkins Amarillo, Texas 2 9-02 285 $2,180.00 Day 1: 1 5-13 Day 2: 1 3-05 Day 3: 0 0-00 5. Cathy Smith Pineville, La. 4 7-09 280 $1,180.00 Day 1: 2 3-13 Day 2: 1 1-15 Day 3: 1 1-13 6. Sharon Rushton Kimberling City, Mo. 3 6-09 276 $900.00 Day 1: 2 5-09 Day 2: 1 1-00 Day 3: 0 0-00 46. Carrie Bronson Polk City, Fla. 2 0-00 138 Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Big Bass Day 1 Laura Elkins Amarillo, Texas 5-13 $500.00 2 Colleen Mckay Worcester, Mass. 5-00 $500.00 3 Colleen Mckay Worcester, Mass. 3-05 $500.00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 1 34 79-11 2 0 37 76-07 3 0 4 10-06 ---------------------------------- 1 75 166-08 2006 Women's Bassmaster - Tour Stop 5 Boater Points After Lake Dardanelle, Lake Dardanelle, Ark. Ending 08-26-2006, Day 3 ------------------------------------------- Place Name St Pts ------------------------------------------- 1 Dianna Clark Tenn. 1113 2 Tammy Richardson Ark. 1080 3 Sheri Glasgow Okla. 1076 3 Pam Martin-Wells Ga. 1076 5 Lucy Mize Ark. 1025 6 Lisa Sternard Tenn. 1003 7 Tammie Muse Ark. 981 8 Cindy Hill Tenn. 946 9 Kelley Shepherd Colo. 925 10 Emily Shaffer Tenn. 921 11 Kimberlee Striker Ala. 915 12 Juanita Robinson Texas 905 13 Robin Babb Texas 872 14 Penny Berryman Ark. 866 15 Cindy Caperton Tenn. 864 16 Cindy van horn Texas 863 17 Linda Sands Ala. 860 18 Christie Thomas Ala. 845 19 Jan Hudson Ark. 833 20 Rhonda Pope Ga. 828 21 Shelley Perry W.Va. 817 22 Christiana Bradley Va. 796 23 Tami Kashiwabara Japan 788 24 Jan Heavener Ark. 779 25 Betty Stahl Ala. 771 26 Mary Hencken N.C. 770 27 Kathy Womack Ala. 769 28 Rose Ellis Ala. 766 29 Deanie Tate Ark. 761 30 Cheryl Lalumandier Mo. 739 31 Marcia Rubin Ohio 735 32 Jonell Whitstine La. 734 33 Danalee Lofton Ark. 723 34 Kathi Hurst Miss. 715 35 Mary Divincenti La. 707 36 Kris Mcclendon Texas 703 37 Judy Wong La. 675 38 Lisa Johnson Ga. 669 39 Ann Wells Ill. 664 40 Susan Hand Ala. 662 41 Laura Moore Texas 653 42 Debra Petrowski Texas 650 42 Tommie Domingue Texas 650 44 Sandra Sherred Pa. 642 45 Laura Gober Ga. 637 46 Tanya Kreuzer Ariz. 628 47 Susan Gregory Miss. 613 48 Janet Parker Texas 610 49 Helen Gordon Texas 599 50 Conny Jenkins Mo. 597 51 Sue Parrish Ind. 591 52 Louise Howard Ala. 590 53 Patti Campbell Texas 583 54 Linda Walker Ark. 581 55 Sammie Denyes Fla. 574 55 Sarah Augustine La. 574 57 Lori Masters Tenn. 572 58 Angie Douthit Fla. 571 59 Sue Crochet La. 566 60 Joan Davis Ind. 563 61 Wanda Malmsbury Mo. 555 62 Joan Craig Ark. 546 63 Michelle Armstrong N.C. 531 64 Robinette Fox Ark. 530 65 Paula Alexander Ga. 528 66 Linda Owens Miss. 517 67 Toni Stoner Ga. 509 68 Brenda Davis Okla. 504 69 Debra Hengst Texas 492 70 Lisa Craig Texas 483 71 Secret York Ky. 481 72 Melanie Rockey Ga. 454 73 Kandie Candelaria Texas 450 74 Julie Jacobson Wisc. 397 75 Carla Whitstine La. 382 76 Pat White Texas 381 77 Judy Antle Ky. 373 78 Sherrie Brubaker Okla. 371 78 Carolyn Poole Fla. 371 80 Teri Neal Ga. 368 81 Becky Mckinney Fla. 365 82 Kellie Skelton N.M. 357 83 Katrina Dehaven Ariz. 355 84 Kathy Cater Texas 343 84 Cheryl Spencer Okla. 343 86 Crystal Langston Ala. 342 87 Linda Redford Mo. 308 88 Donna Newberry Ark. 306 89 Darla Bardelli Ariz. 294 90 Rae Lee Texas 279 91 Amy Golden Texas 260 91 Rhonda Usery Ark. 260 93 Danielle Kremer Fla. 248 94 Violette Sesco Fla. 234 95 Doris Parsons N.C. 233 96 Kristy Darby Ark. 209 97 Lynda Gessner Mo. 206 98 Barbara Wetzel Ala. 203 99 Kitsy Cunningham Okla. 200 100 Audrey Mcqueen Colo. 191 101 Barbara Potts Texas 183 102 Elizabeth Meisell Texas 175 103 Jen Carroll Texas 170 104 Kathy Kirby N.C. 163 105 bonnie johnson Texas 157 106 Brenda Bates Texas 147 106 Angela Dechau Mo. 147 108 Patsy Mcdaniel Ala. 143 109 Marguerite Palmer Miss. 135 110 Caroline Carpenter Fla. 129 111 Madeline Smith Ark. 127 112 Sherri Dodson Ala. 108 113 Marilyn Biszmaier Ky. 93 114 Karen Welty Ind. 91 115 Deb Doyal La. 83 116 Marsha Gipson Ark. 81 117 Kathy Tibbetts Va. 0 117 Amanda Hubbard Ill. 0 117 Arah Phillips Texas 0 117 Tammy Waller Texas 0 117 Tina Lefler Va. 0 117 Lucie Maus Texas 0 117 Jennifer Stelly La. 0 2006 Women's Bassmaster - Stop 5 Non-Boater Points After Lake Dardanelle, Lake Dardanelle, Ark. Ending 08-26-2006, Day 3 ------------------------------------------- Place Name St Pts ------------------------------------------- 1 Sharon Rushton Mo. 986 2 Mary Croft Va. 938 3 Susan Bowes N.Y. 897 4 Keri Schieber Ga. 893 5 Bonnie Ward Wash. 886 5 Linda Berry N.C. 886 7 Kim Stapp Ga. 883 8 Sharon Withers La. 874 9 Sandi Karnes Texas 858 10 Susan Dameron Tenn. 814 11 Robertina Filburn Ky. 813 12 Carol Boykin Ind. 803 13 Ronda Kirby Ind. 785 14 Heather Sullivan Alaska 762 14 Kay Pennington La. 762 16 Tammie Ply Ark. 748 17 Gerry Threadgill Texas 739 18 Lila Bass Texas 736 19 Cheryl Crafton Ind. 698 20 Karen Williams Mo. 692 21 Summer Stephens Ga. 687 22 Jo Dee Bucki Ala. 674 23 Elizabeth Sanders Miss. 672 24 Angie Everitt Texas 669 24 Lesa Brown Ark. 669 26 Mary James Ark. 667 27 Colleen Mckay Mass. 655 28 Billie Jaynes Texas 652 29 Barbara Gaskins Va. 651 30 Tracy Doty Texas 640 31 Toni Mode Ore. 592 32 Bertha Cavakis Ark. 587 33 Diane Smith Ga. 573 34 Sarah Busby La. 560 35 Carrie Bronson Fla. 555 36 Deb Krueger Mich. 551 37 Renee Brisendine N.C. 549 38 Brenda Reeves Texas 535 39 Carilyn Hill Okla. 531 40 Debbie Pegoli Ohio 507 41 Bobbie Barfield Ga. 492 42 Jacqueline Helton Ark. 489 42 Judy Vancanneyt Miss. 489 44 Laura Elkins Texas 477 45 Diane Delagarza Texas 468 46 Cheryl Allen Texas 466 47 Donna Prado Texas 456 48 Robin Kolton Texas 452 49 Kathy Riley Miss. 439 50 Denese Freeman Okla. 430 51 Susan Wild D.C. 425 52 Jaye Smith Mich. 410 53 Sharon Lawson Tenn. 408 54 Patricia Atkinson Mass. 405 55 Robin Mcfarlane Texas 400 55 Marsha Betz Texas 400 57 Karen Roberts Ala. 398 58 Debra Cunningham Ariz. 396 59 Christena Baugh Ark. 370 59 Sharon Mcewen Pa. 370 61 Maggie Robledo Texas 357 62 Darla Mcintosh Fla. 331 63 Laura Heflin Kan. 329 64 Cheryl Holloway La. 328 65 Kala Wright Okla. 320 65 Pam Anthony Tenn. 320 67 Monica Altman N.C. 315 68 Charlene Parks Fla. 310 69 Pat White Texas 295 70 Lydia Smith Texas 290 71 Cathy Smith La. 280 72 Cheryl Bowden Texas 276 73 Jennifer Helgren Ill. 272 74 Sylvia Hudson Fla. 264 75 Sherry Melton Tenn. 256 76 Sheila Merrow Maine 254 77 Pam Ridgle Texas 251 78 April Painter La. 250 79 Violette Sesco Fla. 248 79 Kali Weatherford Texas 248 81 Vicki Henderson Ark. 241 82 Judith Hart Texas 238 82 Elaine Morris Ark. 238 84 Tina Newman Tenn. 235 84 Cheryl Scott Texas 235 84 Terri Mackinnon Canada 235 87 Debra Wilson Texas 232 88 Susan Owens Va. 228 89 Tabitha Rudd Ala. 223 90 Allison Steckelberg Ga. 222 91 Shawn Conner Ind. 220 91 Karol Whitehurst Texas 220 93 Arah Phillips Texas 218 94 Angela Mitchell Canada 215 94 Donna Gilzow Ark. 215 96 Kim Petrowski Texas 211 96 Julie Garriety Texas 211 98 Dianne Kegley Ark. 210 99 Kristin Eaton Ala. 207 99 Bridget Allen Pa. 207 99 Shelia Wood Ark. 207 102 Carolyn Voyles Texas 204 103 Junie Parmer Texas 199 104 Terri Bittner Calif. 189 105 Linda Worley La. 188 106 Nancy Oliver La. 187 107 Tracy Pace Texas 185 108 Joyce Austin Ky. 184 109 Dana Davis Ala. 175 110 Dawn Ryerson Ill. 173 110 Bj Carson Okla. 173 112 Sabrina Sivley Ala. 163 113 Cindy Hardy Ala. 158 114 Rhonda Ford Ga. 155 115 Cindy Burnham Canada 153 116 Sandy Jeane Texas 147 117 Beverly Dickson Ark. 144 117 Lillian Gutierrez Texas 144 119 Dianna Fanning Ark. 138 120 Denise Lusk S.C. 130 120 Sugar Walker Ala. 130 122 Teresa Morris Tenn. 125 123 Shelia Campbell Fla. 123 124 Kelly Spear Ohio 119 124 Barbie Haralson Texas 119 126 Patti Harland Ala. 115 127 Dee Barger Ala. 110 127 Vicki Hester Ala. 110 127 Jen Carroll Texas 110 130 Stacy Woodall Ga. 102 131 Sue Freeman Md. 0 131 Melissa Bond N.M. 0 131 Pamela Putman Texas 0 131 Kimberly King Va. 0 131 Norma Ussery Texas 0 131 Lisa Garcia N.H. 0 131 Robbie Hartline Mo. 0 131 Keary Shults Fla. 0 131 Laura Taylor Fla. 0 131 Angie Michaels Neb. 0 131 Tonya Pollack Fla. 0 131 Liz Lewis Texas 0 131 Angie Wright Ala. 0 131 Jennifer Horn Texas 0 131 Vivian Estep Va. 0 131 Mary Waters Va. 0 131 Greta Gaines N.Y. 0 131 Kimberly Martin Ind. 0 131 Paula Tharp Okla. 0 131 Robin Washburn Ga. 0 131 Cynthia Ward Md. 0 131 Linda Thomas Okla. 0 131 Janet Neal Texas 0 131 Anne Salonish Pa. 0 131 Karen James La. 0 131 Charlotte Frazier Texas 0 131 Diana Dietzen Ind. 0 131 Kathy Rudy Pa. 0 131 Bonnie Erspamer Tenn. 0 131 Vanessa Seay Va. 0