ESPN Women's Tour

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Wheeler Lake, Decatur, Ala.
March 18-20, 2010

The women of the WBT have never faced off on Lake Wheeler, but the reservoir has a long history with BASS. In 1974, Wheeler was the site of the fourth Bassmaster Classic and Tommy Martin won it with a three-day catch weighing 33-7.

More recently, Wheeler has hosted several big events, including a 2009 Elite Series tournament won by Tommy Biffle with a three-day catch tallying 50 pounds, 13 ounces.

The bass should be mostly prespawn when the women's competition begins in March, and, if the weather is warming, there should be big catches available in the shallows on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and flipping jigs. If a cold front hits at the wrong time, though, things could be tough and deep water will be the place to look.

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Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Lufkin, Texas
April 22-24, 2010

No other fishing destination in the world has hosted as many BASS tournaments as Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Texas. The WBT event in April will mark the 33rd time BASS has held a professional event here.

In the spring, lipless crankbaits in "Rayburn Red" take a lot of big bass. The fish should be a mix of prespawn, spawn and postspawn when the ladies hit the water.

BASS legends like Bill Dance, Denny Brauer, Rick Clunn, Shaw Grigsby and Kevin VanDam have all won here. One talented WBT angler will add her name to that list.

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Belton Lake, Temple, Texas
June 10-12, 2010

It's ladies first when it comes to BASS and Belton Lake. In 2010, the WBT will host the first BASS professional level event there.

Covering 12,300 surface acres, Belton was built in 1954. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass inhabit the reservoir in good numbers. The lake largemouth record weighed an even 13 pounds and was caught in 2006. The smallmouth record weighed 6.43 pounds and was taken in 1999.

Though the bass fishing may be best earlier in the spring, plenty of fish will be caught in June, too. Look for them on main-lake points and in heavy cover near deep water. Early morning topwaters should be productive. As the sun gets up, crankbaits and soft plastics will likely take over.

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Ouachita River, Monroe-West Monroe, La.
September 16-18, 2010

In 2009, the Ouachita River gave WBT pro Janet Parker her first career victory as she outpaced the rest of the field by nearly 10 pounds. It's been the site of several other important professional events over the years, including the 2004 Bassmaster Open Championship.

While Parker won there in the spring, the 2010 event will be in the late summer and early fall — a classic transition period. Backwaters and main channel structure will both be in the mix, as will a variety of lure types.

Weather will be a big factor, too. Will the area receive a lot of summertime rainfall, keeping the backwaters viable? Or will a dry summer put every fish out in the channel, within reach of deep crankbaits and Carolina rigs?

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Academy Sports + Outdoors
Bassmaster Women's Tour Championship
October 15-17, 2010
Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Lufkin, Texas

For the first time in WBT history, the championship site will be one that the women have fished earlier in the same season. Will that offer an advantage to the anglers who did well there in the season opener?

Not necessarily. After all, seven months will have passed between the season opener and the championship. In bass terms, that's a very long time, and in terms of bass patterns, it's the difference between night and day.

The spawn will be long gone in October. Successful anglers will likely be targeting bass in the backs of creeks and coves in the fall. Secondary points, shallow running crankbaits, spinnerbaits and flipping jigs should all take bass at this time.

And for one talented angler who takes home the Toyota Tundra WBT Angler of the Year trophy, a trip to New Orleans and the 2011 Bassmaster Classic will be won.

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