Age: 45
Occupation: Commercial Foodservice Equipment
High School: Benton High School, Benton, Ark.
College: University of Arkansas at Little Rock
How Long Bass Fishing: All my life — competitively 10 years
How Started Bass Fishing: Finally talked my dad and uncle into taking me with them to catch some really good fish and not just the fish I could catch from our campsite
Career Dream: To achieve all the new goals that I set for myself each year
Career Highlights: Winning 10th place in the Anglers Choice Championship tournament and being able to walk across the stage to weigh fish in the Women's Bassmaster Tour
Favorite Bass Waters: Lake Ouachita, Ark.
Big Bass: 7-pound largemouth from Lake Ouachita on a Texas rigged watermelon seed lizard
Favorite Fishing Technique or Style: Texas rigged soft plastics, topwaters, crankbaits — anything that works
Sponsors: I would like to thank Ranger for their clothing allowance, our local O'Reilly's for batteries and Supreme Fixture Company (where I work) for letting me take the time off to fish the Women's Bassmaster Tour and to promote fishing as a sport
I started fishing the Women's Bassmaster Tour as a co-angler in 2006 and learned a lot from all the women that I fish with. It gave me the courage to fish as a professional in 2007. This year has been a different experience — some good, some not so good — but definitely a learning experience.
My only wish is that all the women would respect each other and know that competition is a good thing. Even though you may not be as good as the next, your day will come. If you stay with your goals and compete to the best of your ability, then you can be proud of your accomplishments. I am. If I weigh one fish or two, hey — I got to walk across that stage.
Experience comes with persistence. I learned that from my son who I lost last year to an accident. He was 22 years old and had his whole life in front of him. He always told me, "Mom, you should not be fishing out of the back of that boat; that is not where you want to be." He would tell me that he would not settle for the bench in any sport; he would work hard, study all the plays and do what he wanted to do, not what others were doing. I watched him play all of his sports: pitcher in baseball; quarterback in football; center in basketball. He did what he had in is heart to do. So I told him that next year I will bring my boat on Tour. I stayed with that promise. It doesn't matter if I finish in 80-something place. I am walking across that stage, learning every day and getting better. Whatever the outcome, I will enjoy each day of fishing and hopefully weigh in some fish. I love fishing!
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