HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. - If you just won an ESPY, do you relax and rest on your laurels?
Not if you're Tammy Richardson of Amity, Ark., winner of the 2006 Best Angler ESPY award. Just two weeks after went to Hollywood to bring home the award, Richardson took the Day 1 lead Thursday in the Women's Bassmaster Tour bass fishing tournament on Lake Norman.
"Winning the ESPY just made me determined to fish harder," said Richardson, 34. "I want to show that the ESPY wasn't a fluke, that I can really fish."
The five fish weighing 9 pounds she brought to the scales gave her just a 10-ounce lead over second-place holder Michelle Armstrong of Denver, N.C., who weighed in four fish for 8-6.
Richardson, who made history when she won the inaugural women's event in April on Neely Henry Lake in Alabama and is in second place in the Toyota Angler of the Year race, said she tried everything to get her fish.
"Today I did what I call 'trash fishing' - throwing shallow, deep, shallow, deep," she said. "I had 10 to 15 holes and didn't spend much time at any one of them. When I had gone through them all, I circled back to try again. It was just hard to get a pattern."
Lake Norman's bass showed a streak of stubbornness to the entire field of 94 pros and their amateur partners fishing the third event of five on the 2006 WBT circuit. Just a handful of anglers brought five-fish limits to the scales. A regular on Lake Norman and local favorite to win, Armstrong called the lake "very fickle."
"I fished not so much a pattern as I did known spots," said Armstrong, who added that she often fished competitively with her husband, Troy, as a partner, "but when WBT was created, I decided to go out on my own."
Third place was a tie at 8-5, just 1 ounce behind Armstrong. Sharing it were Christie Thomas of Reform, Ala. (formerly of South Africa), and Tammie Muse of North Little Rock, Ark. With 7-14, Patti Campbell of Waxahachie, Texas, scored fifth place.
WBT contenders are fishing for points as well as pounds. Points count toward qualifying for the inaugural Women's Bassmaster Tour Championship, Feb. 22-25, 2007, on Lake Mitchell in Alabama. Only the top 12 pros and 12 co-anglers in the points standings are invited.
The pros also are amassing points with an eye on becoming the first Toyota Women's Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year. The points leader at the end of the season gets the title and a 2007 Toyota Tundra.
The Lake Norman WBT winner earns a Triton boat rig with Mercury outboard valued at $50,000. The event pays a total of about $85,000 to the top 25 finishers in the pro division.
On the co-angler side, Monica Altman of Angier, N.C., pulled into the lead with a catch of 5 pounds, 10 ounces. Trailing Altman were Cheryl Bowden of Plano, Texas, with 5-7; Heather Sullivan of Sitka, Alaska, with 5 pounds; Sharon Withers of Many, La., with 4-12; and Gerry Threadgill of Onalaska, Texas, with 4-3.
The first-place, co-angler prize is a Triton/Mercury package valued at $24,000 and $1,000 cash.
Pros and co-anglers will hit Lake Norman on Friday at 6 a.m. to determine which six pros and six co-anglers make the cut for Saturday's finale. Friday's weigh-in is scheduled to begin at 2:15 p.m. ET at Blythe Landing on Lake Norman in Huntersville.
After fishing Lake Norman on Saturday, the anglers will trailer to nearby Charlotte for a 3:15 p.m. weigh-in at the Cricket Arena.
2006 Women's Bassmaster Tour Stop 4 07/27-07/29 Lake Norman, Lake Norman N.C. (BOATER) Standings Day 1 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Tammy Richardson Amity, Ark. 5 9-00 305 Day 1: 5 9-00 2. Michelle Armstrong Denver, N.C. 4 8-06 295 Day 1: 4 8-06 3. Christie Thomas Reform, Ala. 5 8-05 288 Day 1: 5 8-05 3. Tammie Muse North Little Rock, Ark 4 8-05 288 Day 1: 4 8-05 5. Patti Campbell Waxahachie, Texas 5 7-14 280 Day 1: 5 7-14 6. Laura Gober Pendergrass, Ga. 5 7-04 276 Day 1: 5 7-04 7. Doris Parsons Maiden, N.C. 2 6-15 272 Day 1: 2 6-15 8. Debra Petrowski Arlington, Texas 4 6-13 268 Day 1: 4 6-13 9. Lisa Sternard Clarksville, Tenn. 5 6-11 264 Day 1: 5 6-11 10. Mary Hencken Belmont, N.C. 4 6-01 258 Day 1: 4 6-01 10. Dianna Clark Bumpus Mills, Tenn. 2 6-01 258 Day 1: 2 6-01 12. Judy Wong Many, La. 3 6-00 254 Day 1: 3 6-00 13. Paula Alexander Lincolnton, Ga. 3 5-13 251 Day 1: 3 5-13 14. Danielle Kremer Osteen, Fla. 3 5-05 248 Day 1: 3 5-05 15. Pam Martin-Wells Bainbridge, Ga. 3 5-02 245 Day 1: 3 5-02 16. Betty Stahl Guntersville, Ala. 3 4-11 243 Day 1: 3 4-11 17. Sheri Glasgow Muskogee, Okla. 3 4-10 240 Day 1: 3 4-10 17. Katrina Dehaven Phoenix, Ariz. 2 4-10 240 Day 1: 2 4-10 19. Kathi Hurst Ripley, Miss. 1 4-07 237 Day 1: 1 4-07 20. Cindy Caperton Madison, Tenn. 4 4-05 234 Day 1: 4 4-05 20. Tanya Kreuzer Mesa, Ariz. 3 4-05 234 Day 1: 3 4-05 22. Juanita Robinson Highlands, Texas 3 4-03 231 Day 1: 3 4-03 23. Emily Shaffer Mt Juliet, Tenn. 3 4-02 229 Day 1: 3 4-02 24. Tami Kashiwabara Nagano-Shi, Japan 2 4-00 227 Day 1: 2 4-00 25. Pat White Pleasanton, Texas 2 3-13 225 Day 1: 2 3-13 26. Rhonda Pope Waco, Ga. 2 3-09 223 Day 1: 2 3-09 27. Judy Antle Shepherdsville, Ky. 2 3-03 221 Day 1: 2 3-03 28. Sandra Sherred Pittsburgh, Pa. 2 3-02 219 Day 1: 2 3-02 29. Louise Howard Eufaula, Ala. 2 3-00 216 Day 1: 2 3-00 29. Kathy Womack Moody, Ala. 2 3-00 216 Day 1: 2 3-00 31. Sammie Denyes Baker, Fla. 2 2-15 212 Day 1: 2 2-15 31. Melanie Rockey White, Ga. 2 2-15 212 Day 1: 2 2-15 33. Sue Crochet Lake Charles, La. 2 2-12 209 Day 1: 2 2-12 34. Susan Gregory Long Beach, Miss. 1 2-11 207 Day 1: 1 2-11 35. Robin Babb Livingston, Texas 1 2-10 205 Day 1: 1 2-10 36. Jen Carroll Celina, Texas 1 2-09 203 Day 1: 1 2-09 37. Jan Heavener Sherwood, Ark. 2 2-07 200 Day 1: 2 2-07 37. Kimberlee Striker Cullman, Ala. 2 2-07 200 Day 1: 2 2-07 39. Cindy Hill Smyrna, Tenn. 2 2-05 195 Day 1: 2 2-05 39. Jan Hudson Harrison, Ark. 2 2-05 195 Day 1: 2 2-05 39. Deanie Tate Arkadelphia, Ark. 1 2-05 195 Day 1: 1 2-05 42. Cheryl Spencer Tulsa, Okla. 1 1-15 191 Day 1: 1 1-15 43. Lisa Johnson Aragon, Ga. 1 1-11 187 Day 1: 1 1-11 43. Cheryl Lalumandier Harvester, Mo. 1 1-11 187 Day 1: 1 1-11 43. Shelley Perry Hurricane, W.Va. 1 1-11 187 Day 1: 1 1-11 46. Toni Stoner Ball Ground, Ga. 1 1-07 183 Day 1: 1 1-07 47. Lucy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 1 1-06 181 Day 1: 1 1-06 48. Joan Davis West Lafayette, Ind. 1 1-02 177 Day 1: 1 1-02 48. T Domingue Livingston, Texas 1 1-02 177 Day 1: 1 1-02 48. Kathy Tibbetts Centreville, Va. 1 1-02 0 Day 1: 1 1-02 51. Kathy Kirby Catawba, N.C. 1 0-15 172 Day 1: 1 0-15 51. Danalee Lofton Little Rock, Ark. 1 0-15 172 Day 1: 1 0-15 53. Christiana Bradley Bealeton, Va. 1 0-14 169 Day 1: 1 0-14 54. Helen Gordon Flower Mound, Texas 1 0-13 167 Day 1: 1 0-13 55. Sarah Augustine Lake Charles, La. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Darla Bardelli Glendale, Ariz. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Penny Berryman Hot Springs, Ark. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Kandie Candelaria Canyon Lake, Texas 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Caroline Carpenter Summerfield, Fla. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Lisa Craig Chandler, Texas 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Joan Craig London, Ark. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Kitsy Cunningham Eufaula, Okla. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Angela Dechau Pontiac, Mo. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Mary Divincenti Clinton, La. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Angie Douthit Clewiston, Fla. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Rose Ellis Birmingham, Ala. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Robinette Fox Hot Springs, Ark. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Marsha Gipson Bigelow, Ark. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Susan Hand Muscle Shoals, Ala. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Debra Hengst San Antonio, Texas 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Conny Jenkins Knob Noster, Mo. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Crystal Langston Leighton, Ala. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Rae Lee Livingston, Texas 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Tina Lefler N Tazewell, Va. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Wanda Malmsbury Galena, Mo. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Lori Masters Nashville, Tenn. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Kris Mcclendon Spicewood, Texas 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Laura Moore Vidor, Texas 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Teri Neal Cumming, Ga. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Linda Owens Brandon, Miss. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Janet Parker Little Elm, Texas 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Sue Parrish Indianapolis, Ind. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Carolyn Poole Defuniak Springs, Fla. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Marcia Rubin Chagrin Falls, Ohio 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Linda Sands Cullman, Ala. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Violette Sesco Citrus Springs, Fla. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Kelley Shepherd Cortez, Colo. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Kellie Skelton Farmington, N.M. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Ann Wells Danville, Ill. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Karen Welty Shelbyville, Ind. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Jonell Whitstine Many, La. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Carla Whitstine Pineville, La. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Secret York Benton, Ky. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 55. Cindy van horn Fort Worth, Texas 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 -------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 5 124 208-00 ---------------------------------- 5 124 208-00 2006 Women's Bassmaster Tour Stop 4 07/27-07/29 Lake Norman, Lake Norman N.C. (NON-BOATER) Standings Day 1 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Monica Altman Angier, N.C. 2 5-10 305 Day 1: 2 5-10 2. Cheryl Bowden Plano, Texas 3 5-07 295 Day 1: 3 5-07 3. Heather Sullivan Sitka, Alaska 3 5-00 290 Day 1: 3 5-00 4. Sharon Withers Many, La. 3 4-12 285 Day 1: 3 4-12 5. Gerry Threadgill Onalaska, Texas 1 4-03 280 Day 1: 1 4-03 6. Susan Bowes Batavia, N.Y. 2 3-15 274 Day 1: 2 3-15 6. Denese Freeman Lawton, Okla. 2 3-15 274 Day 1: 2 3-15 8. Ronda Kirby Indianapolis, Ind. 3 3-14 268 Day 1: 3 3-14 9. Linda Berry Madison, N.C. 2 3-09 264 Day 1: 2 3-09 10. Bertha Cavakis Amity, Ark. 2 3-07 260 Day 1: 2 3-07 11. Tammie Ply Harrison, Ark. 2 3-00 257 Day 1: 2 3-00 12. Lesa Brown Harrison, Ark. 2 2-12 254 Day 1: 2 2-12 13. Diane Delagarza Garland, Texas 2 2-10 250 Day 1: 2 2-10 13. Jaye Smith Davison, Mich. 1 2-10 250 Day 1: 1 2-10 15. Bridget Allen Philadelphia, Pa. 2 2-04 244 Day 1: 2 2-04 15. Tracy Doty Roanoke, Texas 1 2-04 244 Day 1: 1 2-04 17. Angie Everitt Livingston, Texas 1 2-02 241 Day 1: 1 2-02 18. Kim Stapp Ringgold, Ga. 1 1-15 239 Day 1: 1 1-15 19. Arah Phillips Tyler, Texas 1 1-13 236 Day 1: 1 1-13 19. Summer Stephens Flintstone, Ga. 1 1-13 236 Day 1: 1 1-13 21. Sarah Busby Grand Lake, La. 1 1-12 232 Day 1: 1 1-12 21. Terri Mackinnon Milton, Canada 1 1-12 232 Day 1: 1 1-12 23. Sheila Merrow Freeport, Maine 1 1-10 227 Day 1: 1 1-10 23. Brenda Reeves Arlington, Texas 1 1-10 227 Day 1: 1 1-10 23. Keri Schieber Cumming, Ga. 1 1-10 227 Day 1: 1 1-10 26. Debra Cunningham Phoenix, Ariz. 1 1-09 223 Day 1: 1 1-09 27. Sylvia Hudson Jacksonville, Fla. 1 1-08 219 Day 1: 1 1-08 27. Billie Jaynes Deerpark, Texas 1 1-08 219 Day 1: 1 1-08 27. Karen Williams Stark City, Mo. 1 1-08 219 Day 1: 1 1-08 30. Carol M Boykin Indianapolis, Ind. 1 1-07 215 Day 1: 1 1-07 31. Bobbie Barfield Bainbridge, Ga. 1 1-03 212 Day 1: 1 1-03 31. Bj Carson Inola, Okla. 1 1-03 212 Day 1: 1 1-03 33. Deb Krueger Hastings, Mich. 1 0-14 209 Day 1: 1 0-14 34. Cheryl Allen Yantis, Texas 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Patricia Atkinson Millis, Mass. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Lila Bass Austin, Texas 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Renee Brisendine Eden, N.C. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Carrie Bronson Polk City, Fla. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Jo Dee Bucki Bessemer, Ala. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Cindy Burnham Ridgeway, Canada 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Shawn Conner Greenwood, Ind. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Cheryl Crafton Richmond, Ind. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Mary Croft Bedford, Va. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Susan Dameron Chattanooga, Tenn. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Beverly Dickson Little Rock, Ark. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Diana Dietzen Anderson, Ind. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Bonnie Erspamer Clarksville, Tenn. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Vivian Estep Abingdon, Va. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Robertina Filburn Vine Grove, Ky. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Charlotte Frazier Dallas, Texas 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Sue Freeman College Park, Md. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Lisa Garcia Merrimack, N.H. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Julie Garriety Grapevine, Texas 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Barbara Gaskins Suffolk, Va. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Lillian Gutierrez San Antonio, Texas 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Laura Heflin Topeka, Kan. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Jennifer Helgren Park City, Ill. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Jacqueline Helton Russellville, Ark. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Vicki Henderson Ashdown, Ark. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Vicki Hester Rainbow City, Ala. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Carilyn Hill Coweta, Okla. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Mary James Russellville, Ark. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Sandi Karnes Livingston, Texas 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Kimberly King Chesapeake, Va. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Sharon Lawson Red Bank, Tenn. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Sharon Mcewen East Mckeesport, Pa. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Robin Mcfarlane San Antonio, Texas 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Darla Mcintosh Punta Gorda, Fla. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Colleen Mckay Worcester, Mass. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Angela Mitchell Keswick, Canada 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Toni Mode Eagle Creek, Ore. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Teresa Morris Moscow, Tenn. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Susan Owens Chesapeake, Va. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Charlene Parks Myakka City, Fla. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Debbie Pegoli Loveland, Ohio 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Kay Pennington Pineville, La. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Donna Prado San Antonio, Texas 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Kathy Riley Terry, Miss. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Karen Roberts Ashland, Ala. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Kathy Rudy Latrobe, Pa. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Sharon Rushton Kimberling City, Mo. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Anne Salonish Latrobe, Pa. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Elizabeth Sanders Brandon, Miss. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Keary Shults Loxahatchee, Fla. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Diane Smith Fayetteville, Ga. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Kelly Spear Chardon, Ohio 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Allison Steckelberg Gainesville, Ga. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Laura Taylor Ft Walton Beach, Fla. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Paula Tharp Gore, Okla. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Judy Vancanneyt Iuka, Miss. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Cynthia Ward Baltimore, Md. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Bonnie Ward Snohomish, Wash. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Robin Washburn Covington, Ga. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Kali Weatherford Athens, Texas 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 34. Susan Wild Washington, D.C. 0 0-00 0 Day 1: 0 0-00 -------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 4 50 86-01 ---------------------------------- 4 50 86-01