2007 WOMEN'S BASSMASTER TOUR

1st STOP:  LAKE AMISTAD, DEL RIO, TEXAS:

The 2007 season is upon us and the gals are anxious to get on the water. First stop: Lake Amistad, located in Del Rio, Texas, February 8 - 10. The stories of Hawgs galore, chrystal clear water and winter temps in the mid-sixties is stirring up adrenalin. Ann prepared for weeks by studying maps, lake news via the internet and trips from her lap top via "Google earth". After a complete check of both boat and truck Ann is ready to hit the road. All was well until south of San Antonio; a sudden blow out on the truck delayed her trip temporarily. The Texas Welcome Crew was sent to change the tire at no expense; great guys, great job. Thanks Texas! Finally, Del Rio! During the first day of practice Ann explored the lake, checking depths, channels, structure, etc. Fishing from the front of the boat was a bit eerie; being able to see twenty to thirty feet down into the water made Ann feel as though she were floating in the sky above the brush and trees. Six days of practice were gone in a flash; Ann spends the off limits day before the event re-spooling reels, preparing baits and trying to get into the right frame of mind. Ann meets her co-angler at the registration and makes plans to meet the next morning. 7:00 a.m., Ladies start your engines! Ann knew where she would be fishing; midway up a main river channel in a rocky cove containing many points. The fish were moving up and down points, going from a suspending non-feeding mode in deeper water to a picky eater mode in shallower water. Most of the bass were still relatively deep, 13 - 20 feet, but they were catchable on the points compared to their lock jaw state of mind when they were out in the middle of no-where. Ann's co-angler had a plan and set the hook on several NICE bass; she lost three fish that weighed at least 16 pounds.  Light line was the secret in the super clear water; but it was a trick getting bass in the 4 - 8 pound range out of the submerged brush. That night Ann respooled again, this time with 12 pound test anxious to hit it again at daybreak. She again went up the river, into the same cove, where a couple of Ann's keeper bass came on a top water slow twitched Rapala; an unexpected thrill. Then the bite stopped? The wind laid low, the sun peeked out and the bass backed off the points. Ann went back out to the river, where there was a bit more breeze to ripple the clear water; she fished the breaks and points that fell into deeper water. The fish were still in 13 - 20 feet but were hanging closer to the channel and little more finicky. Ann made long casts which cost more fish than she landed. However, she was happy to weigh-in four bass at days end. For details about the event visit: www.bassmasters.com.

2nd Stop: Lake Dardanelle, Russellville, Arkansas

The last week of March welcomes Spring Arkansas; the weather experts says at least two weeks early. The water temperature on Lake Dardanelle ranges between 62 and 68 degrees; perfect for spawning bass. Some bass are thinking about moving up to the shallows to prepare for their spring ritual others are fanning and preparing their nests for this year's brood. Most of the bass seem to be putting on the feed in preparation for the upcoming spawn. Ann caught several bass between 1.5 and 6 pounds during the practice days preceeding the event. Most of Ann's bass came on a 5" Senko in front of the newly emerging weedline in less than three feet of water. Old lily pad stalks held the majority of bass but finding last years lily pad remains was tough.; the water depth and bottom contour had to be just right. Ann's largest fish were caught in a culvert in the very back of a weed lined cove. When the locks were open the water came through the culvert toward the main lake; when the locks closed the water went away from the main lake back into the cove on the other side of the road. The fish stacked up inside the culvert waiting for baitfish to be swept through. Ann cast a crankbait in front of the culvert, let it go through with the current then "cranked" it back. The bass couldn't resist the look-alike shad  and found itself being hauled into Ann's boat; then quickly measured and released.  Ann's hopes are high for the tournament but change is in the air. The last day of practice brought heavy rain and stiff wind; rain is in the forecast for Thursday and Saturday; the first and last day of the event. Spring is the season of change and being able to catch fish early in the year is being able to adapt and persevere.  

Day one: The culvert was covered with bank angler's but the culvert cove proved to be very productive. The scattered grass and sparce lily pad stocks held big bass ready to put on the feed. Ann caught three bass, one just over five pounds in the cove using a texas rigged senko with a 1/16th ounce weight. Most of the fish were found in less than two feet of water. Ann's other five plus pound keeper came from scattered lily pad stocks off of bridge rip rap. Ann's first day total was just over 14 pounds which put Ann in the top 25 going into day two.

Day two: The bite was a little slower as the sun broke through during the late morning hours. The fish were still shallow but a little spooky; long cats and absolute quiet were a must. The bass wanted the senko slow almost "dead sticked"; a difficult task when adrenaline is flowing. Ann managed to pick up three more keepers on day two which gave her a two fday total weight of 21 pounds 13 ounces. The final weight earned Ann a spot in the top twenty five; she would be fishing on day three.

Day three: Storms threatened to break at any time; clouds were good but storms would be of no help. Rain spit off and on throughout the day; the storms stayed to the west. Ann found her bass in the same cove she had been fishing all week. The area offered a pre-spawn bass everything it needed. Deep wter close to points and flats, scattered grass and lily pads, current from the culvert when the locks were opened and closed and a lot of baitfish. Ann stuck to her plan and stuck four more bass weighing just over ten pounds; enough to finish in 13th place and in the money. Lake Dardanelle is a beautiful place, the people of Russellville are very friendly. If you are thinking of taking a fishing vacation, Ann highly recommends springtime at Lake Dardanelle.

3rd Stop: Lake Guntersville, Alabama

Nothing like fishing in Alabama! Beautiful hills, lakes and loads of BIG bass. The W.B.T. was held May 3 - 5 immediately following the Men's Bassmaster Elite event. With only two days of practice it would be tough to develope a pattern and a back up plan. Thew shad were on the spawn during practice but by the start of the tournament the spawn was coming to an end. With miles and miles of newly emerging hydrilla finding a productive spot was difficult. Ann narrowed her search by looking for scattered grass near points and the river channel; the narrow strips of grass concentrated the fish. Ann was confident in her pattern and stuck to her plan; the first day she brought three fish to the scales weighing a total of 11 pounds 13 ounces including her big bass tipping the scales at 5-10. Day two of the event started with Ann in 10th place. As the day wound down Ann managed only one keeper, enough to finish in 30th place. The boat traffic and wind made fishing tough; hindsight says she should have switched locations but Ann feels that running and gunning is too often an angler's downfall. Ann heads to the next event in 28th place over all.

4th Stop: Kentucky Lake, Gilbertsville, Ky.

Heat and humidity greated the Gals in mid June as they hit the water in search of Kentucky Lake keepers. During practice high winds kept many anglers from trekking too far; Kentucky Lake can be treacherous when the wind gets up. Ann searched shallow water as well as deep and had a fairly good practice but she knew the big fish would come from deep ledges, 25 ft. and deeper, a technique she has not mastered. During practice Ann caught a five pound large mouth and a three pound smalley plus several other keepers just over the legal length limit. Most of Anns fish came in 8 feet of water or less, some were schoolers feeding on the abundant shad hatch. When the tournament days arrived the wind died and fishing got really tough; if only Ann had found the confidence to stick to the ledges. She managed to weigh in two bass the second day of the event weighing a total of 3 pounds 12 ounces. Ann was proud to say she has never been "skunked" in a W.B.T. event but her chance of qualifying for the Classic were all but dashed. Ann finished in 70th place putting her in 36 place overall after four events. Still..........not bad for a REALTOR from Illinois!

2006 WOMEN'S BASSMASTER TOUR

2006 was been an exciting year for women anglers; B.A.S.S. invited "Pros" and "Amatures" to participate in the first ever Women's Bassmaster Tour. Ann eagerly enrolled as a "Pro"; fishing as many events as possible. After four tournaments Ann was in 39th place, weighing in fish at each event. Ann traveled to Alabama, Texas, North Carolina and Arkansas in pursuit of her respectable showing. For more information about the Women's Bassmaster Tour visit: www.bassmaster.com.

ANN'S FISHING HISTORY

Ann has been tournament fishing since 1984; beginning with confidence building Bass ‘n Gal club events. She was honored as Angler of the Year many times leading to the coveted Tournament of Champions. She competed in Bass ‘n Gal Nationals in 1986 and ’87.

With two small children at home Ann decided the professional circuit would have to wait. In order to keep her competitive spirit alive she opted to join a local Bass Masters club. Ann earned Angler of the year two consecutive years as well as the option to compete at the State 8-“Man” Tournament several times.

Ann's consistent performance in the Illinois BFL Circuit earned her a spot in the Regional held at Alabama’s Weiss Lake in the fall of 2001.

Although her husband doesn’t share her enthusiasm for the sport; he supports her quest. She travels the Country alone, boat in tow, confident in her ability to perform the task at hand.

Ann’s second love is writing; she was an on-the-scene reporter for an Illinois based outdoor magazine for several National Bass ‘n Gal events and has had many fishing related articles published. She hopes to find time in her busy schedule to continue writing, especially to encourage women to become involved in the sport.

Ann also feels that it is essential to aid young ones, boys and girls alike, to develop a passion for fishing; teaching them the importance of respecting nature while preserving the resource for the next generation. Ann has instilled the love of fishing in her children as well as her grandchildren.

Ann’s business slogan is “Realize your dream * Unlock the Possibilities”; she sincerely believes the statement refers to more than real estate.