ESPN Women's Tour

What's at stake

$85,340 in cash and merchandise to the top 30 pros and valuable points towards qualifying for the Women's Bassmaster Tour championship and winning the Toyota Women's Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year title. The top 30 co-anglers compete for $43,440 in cash and merchandise.

The pros said it

"I think the clouds and a front that recently came through hurt the bite a little bit. I'm finding my best bites in the sun. I am traveling all over the lake looking for spots and staying away from several that I know have fish — I am hoping those will stay." — Robinette Fox, 30, Hot Springs, Ark., who tied for 31st on Lewisville Lake in Texas in the last WBT event.

"I do a lot of homework before I get to an area — map studies, aerial photographs — and I expected to be fishing deep drop offs, points and humps here, but it's just not happening. I've made some adjustments and am now fishing a substantial shallow pattern." — Pam Martin-Wells, 43, Bainbridge, Ga., third in the Toyota Women's Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year standings.

"There's a lot of water here and a lot to learn. I like the way shoals are marked. A GPS is like a piece of gold on this lake. As for the fish, I am finding them in the main lake on points and near structure." — Cheryl Lalumandier, 55, Harvester, Mo., 47th in the Angler of the Year standings.

"There's a lot of places I would fish if water was at full pool. (Water is 3 feet low.) We also had a hot week last week and it seems to have scattered the fish. I am fishing for largemouth and they are spread out across the lake. It's a little bit of a mixed pattern out there." — Kellie Skelton, 39, Aztec, New Mexico, 43rd in the Angler of the Year standings.

The strategy

Fox: She is focused on deeper, rocky areas of the lake and is slow fishing with worms. But Fox said she also is working crankbaits in shallower water and is forming a dock pattern.

Martin Wells: Though a typical summer pattern would have her fishing deep, the lack of fish has Martin Wells relying on her strong suit and fishing shallow. She couldn't explain why she thinks the fish aren't in her original target — 20 to 40 feet deep — but she won't waste any competition time trying to figure it out.

Lalumandier: While Lalumandier also expected to fish deep, she's found success in shallow-water patterns using flukes, lizards and crankbaits. She said Tru-Tungsten weights — matched to the color of her bait — have also helped her.

Skelton: She is changing her depth depending on the lures she's using, though she would not share exactly what's in her tackle box. Skelton did say she loves to fish in the rain, which clouds the water. The forecast calls for scattered showers each day and she hopes to take advantage of what Mother Nature will bring.

Location and field

Women's Bassmaster Tour
Lake Norman
Huntersville, N.C.
July 27-29, 2006

Field
Cut to top 6 after Day 2

Launch and Weigh-in
6:15 a.m./ 2:15 p.m.
Blythe Landing
15901 NC Highway 73
Huntersville, N.C. 28078

Saturday Weigh-in
2 p.m 3:15 p.m.
Cricket Arena
2700 Independence Blvd.
Charlotte, N.C. 28205

Background

Previous BASS events
2005, CITGO Bassmaster Tour
1994, North Carolina Top 100
1994, North Carolina Top 100
1992, North Carolina Top 100

Previous winners on lake
46-6, Edwin Evers
23-4, Peter Thliveros
39-5 Michael Bingham
46-0, Stanley Mitchell

Heaviest winning sack
46-6, Edwin Evers

Lowest winning sack
23-4, Peter Thliveros

Weather

Temperature
87 degrees, thunderstorms

Lake level
3.1 feet below full pond

Local sponsors

Include the Lake Norman Convention and Visitors Bureau

Anglers

Alabama
Rose Ellis, Birmingham
Susan Hand, Russellville
Louise Howard, Eufaula
Crystal Langston, Leighton
Linda Sands, Cullman
Betty Stahl, Guntersville
Kimberlee Striker, Cullman
Kathy Womack, Moody

Arkansas
Penny Berryman, Hot Springs
Joan Craig, London
Robinette Fox, Hot Springs
Marsha Gipson, Bigelow
Jan Heavener, Sherwood
Jan Hudson, Harrison
Danalee Lofton, Little Rock
Lucy Mize, Ben Lomond
Tammie Muse, North Little Rock
Tammy Richardson, Amity
Deanie Tate, Arkadelphia

Arizona
Darla Bardelli, Glendale
Katrina Dehaven, Phoenix
Tanya Kreuzer, Mesa

Colorado
Kelley Shepherd, Cortez

Florida
Caroline Carpenter Summerfield
Sammie Denyes, Baker
Angie Douthit, Clewiston
Danielle Kremer, Osteen
Carolyn Poole, Defuniak Springs
Violette Sesco, Citrus Springs

Georgia
Paula Alexander, Lincolnton
Laura Gober, Pendergrass
Lisa Johnson, Aragon
Pam Martin-Wells Bainbridge
Teri Neal, Cumming
Rhonda Pope, Waco
Melanie Rockey, White
Toni Stoner, Ball Ground

Illinois
Ann Wells, Danville

Indiana
Joan Davis, West Lafayette
Sue Parrish, Indianapolis
Karen Welty, Shelbyville

Kentucky
Judy Antle, Shepherdsville
Secret York, Benton

Louisiana
Sarah Augustine, Lake Charles
Sue Crochet, Lake Charles
Mary Divincenti, Clinton
Carla Whitstine, Pineville
Jonell Whitstine, Many
Judy Wong, Many

Missouri
Angela Dechau, Pontiac
Conny Jenkins, Knob Noster
Cheryl Lalumandier, Harvester
Wanda Malmsbury, Lena

Mississippi
Susan Gregory, Long Beach
Kathi Hurst, Ripley
Linda Owens, Brandon

North Carolina
Michelle Armstrong, Denver
Mary Hencken, Belmont
Kathy Kirby, Catawba
Doris Parsons, Maiden

New Mexico
Kellie Skelton, Farmington

Ohio
Marcia Rubin, Chagrin Falls

Oklahoma
Kitsy Cunningham, Eufaula
Sheri Glasgow, Muskogee
Cheryl Spencer, Tulsa

Pennsylvania
Sandra Sherred, Pittsburgh

Japan
Tami Kashiwabara

Texas
Christie Thomas, Lake Kiowa

Tennessee
Cindy Caperton, Madison
Dianna Clark, Bumpus Mills
Cindy Hill, Smyrna
Lori Masters, Nashville
Emily Shaffer, Mt Juliet
Lisa Sternard, Clarksville

Texas
Robin Babb, Livingston
Brenda Bates, La Porte
Patti Campbell, Waxahachie
Kandie Candelaria, Canyon Lake
Jen Carroll, Celina
Lisa Craig, Chandler
T Domingue, Livingston
Helen Gordon, Flower Mound
Debra Hengst, San Antonio
Bonnie Johnson, Weatherford
Rae Lee, Livingston
Kris Mcclendon, Spicewood
Laura Moore, Vidor
Janet Parker, Little Elm
Debra Petrowski, Arlington
Juanita Robinson, Highlands
Cindy Van Horn, Fort Worth
Pat White, Pleasanton

Virginia
Christiana Bradley, Bealeton
Tina Lefler, N Tazewell

West Virginia
Shelley Perry, Hurricane

Co-anglers

Alabama
Jo Dee Bucki, Bessemer
Vicki Hester, Rainbow City
Karen Roberts, Ashland
Angie Wright, Huntsville

Arkansas
Heather Sullivan, Sitka
Christena Baugh, Benton
Lesa Brown, Harrison
Bertha Cavakis, Amity
Beverly Dickson, Little Rock
Jacqueline Helton Russellville
Vicki Henderson, Ashdown
Mary James, Russellville
Dianne Kegley, Norphlet
Tammie Ply, Harrison

Arizona
Debra Cunningham, Phoenix

Candad
Terri Mackinnon, Milton
Angela Mitchell, Keswick
Cindy Burnham, Ridgeway

Washington DC
Susan Wild, Washington

Florida
Carrie Bronson, Polk City
Sylvia Hudson, Jacksonville
Darla Mcintosh, Punta Gorda
Charlene Parks, Myakka City
Keary Shults, Loxahatchee
Laura Taylor, Ft Walton Beach

Georgia
Bobbie Barfield, Bainbridge
Keri Schieber, Cumming
Diane Smith, Fayetteville
Kim Stapp, Ringgold
Allison Steckelberg Gainesville
Summer Stephens, Flintstone
Robin Washburn, Covington

Illinois
Jennifer Helgren, Park City

Indiana
Carol Boyk, Indianapolis
Shawn Conner, Greenwood
Cheryl Crafton, Richmond
Diana Dietzen, Anderson
Ronda Kirby, Indianapolis

Kansas
Laura Heflin, Topeka

Kentucky
Robertina Filburn, Vine Grove

Louisiana
Sarah Busby, Grand Lake
Cheryl Holloway, Pollock
Kay Pennington, Pineville
Sharon Withers, Many

Massachusetts
Patricia Atkinson Millis
Colleen Mckay, Worcester

Maryland
Sue Freeman, College Park
Denise Saunders, Baltimore
Cynthia Ward, Baltimore

Maine
Sheila Merrow, Freeport

Michigan
Deb Krueger, Hastings
Jaye Smith, Davison

Missouri
Sharon Rushton, Kimberling City
Karen Williams, Stark City

Mississippi
Kathy Riley, Terry
Elizabeth Sanders, Brandon
Judy Vancanneyt, Luka

North Carolina
Monica Altman, Angier
Linda Berry, Madison
Renee Brisendine, Eden

New Hampshire
Lisa Garcia, Merrimack

New York
Susan Bowes, Batavia

Ohio
Debbie Pegoli, Loveland
Kelly Spear, Chardon

Oklahoma
Bj Carson, Inola
Denese Freeman, Lawton
Carilyn Hill, Coweta
Paula Tharp, Gore

Oregon
Toni Mode, Eagle Creek

Pennsylvania
Bridget Allen, Philadelphia
Sharon Mcewen, East Mckeesport
Kathy Rudy, Latrobe
Anne Salonish, Latrobe

Tennessee
Pam Anthony, Memphis
Susan Dameron, Chattanooga
Bonnie Erspamer, Clarksville
Sharon Lawson, Red Bank
Teresa Morris, Moscow

Texas
Cheryl Allen, Yantis
Lila Bass, Austin
Cheryl Bowden, Plano
Diane Delagarza, rland
Tracy Doty, Roanoke
Angie Everitt, Livingston
Charlotte Frazier, Dallas
Julie Garriety, Grapevine
Lillian Gutierrez, San Antonio
Barbie Haralson, Broaddus
Billie Jaynes, Deerpark
Sandi Karnes, Livingston
Robin Mcfarlane, San Antonio
Arah Phillips, Tyler
Donna Prado, San Antonio
Brenda Reeves, Arlington
Gerry Threadgill Onalaska
Kali Weatherford, Keller

Virginia
Mary Croft, Bedford
Vivian Estep, Abingdon
Barbara Gaskins, Suffolk
Kimberly King, Chesapeake
Susan Owens, Chesapeake
Mary Waters, Chesapeake

Washington
Bonnie Ward, Snohomish

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