Wolfinbarger snags lead from Richardson at Bull Shoals
2006 Women's Bassmaster Tour stop #5: Bull Shoals Lake, Sept. 14-16
With a catch of 9 pounds, 4 ounces for a two-day total of 15-4, Wolfinbarger had 10 ounces on Richardson, who weighed in 8 pounds, 5 ounces of bass on Friday for a two-day total of 14-10.
Wolfinbarger, a computer-design technician with the Missouri Department of Transportation, moved up from second place on Day 1. She said she drop-shotted for Kentucky spotted bass in very deep water for her five-fish limit.
"One I pulled out of 80 feet of water on 6-pound line," she said. Wolfinbarger would have had a greater lead, but was penalized 12 ounces for bringing in two expired fish.
Hailing from Halfway, Mo. — just north of Springfield — the angler tapped into somewhat of a home-lake advantage. Although Wolfinbarger fishes Bull Shoals Lake and other White River impoundments only a few times a year, she stepped up her time on Bull Shoals to prepare for her first WBT event. She fished as a member of the Missouri BASS Federation Nation team in 1997, and was the first woman who qualified for the Central Divisional BASS Federation tournament, also in 1997, she said.
Wolfinbarger and Richardson were in position to make it tough for the other four pros who also made the cut for Saturday's final day of competition. They were Emily Shaffer of Mount Juliet, Tenn., in third with 11-3; Dianna Clark of Bumpus Mills, Tenn., with 9-8; Tammie Muse of North Little Rock, Ark., with 8-12; and Angie Douthit of Clewiston, Fla., with 7-13.
The Bull Shoals tournament is the fifth and final WBT event in its inaugural year. The six pros compete on Saturday for a first-place prize of 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.
Richardson is seeking her second women's Tour victory. In April, the Best Angler ESPY winner won the inaugural WBT event on Neely Henry Lake in Alabama. Clark is going for her third win. She holds the titles from the Lake Lewisville, Texas, event in May and the Lake Dardanelle, Arkansas, event in August.
On Saturday, when points are awarded to each pro for their finishes in the Bull Shoals event, the season-long WBT points race will conclude. The Toyota Angler of the Year award will go to the angler with the most points, and the top 12 in points will be offered berths in the Women's Bassmaster Tour Championship, Feb. 22-25, 2007, on Lake Mitchell in Alabama.
In the co-angler division, the field also was cut to the top six. Qualifying to fish on Saturday were De Lynn Montez of Squires, Mo., and Bonnie Ward of Snohomish, Wash., who tied for first place with 5-3. Ward was the winner in the co-angler division at the first WBT event on Neely Henry Lake.
Also making the cut with 4-3 was Vicki Hester of Rainbow City, Ala., who fell to third from second place. She was followed by Angie Everitt of Livingston, Texas, with 4-0; and Kathy Riley of Terry, Miss., with 3-7. Day 1 leader Colleen McKay of Worchester, Mass., zeroed on Friday, but her Day 1 catch of 3-5 carried her into the final day of competition.
The first-place co-angler prize is a Triton and Mercury package valued at $24,000, plus $1,000 cash.
After fishing Bull Shoals Lake on Saturday, the 12 women anglers will trailer to Kimberling City, Mo., for a 2:30 p.m. CT weigh-in at What's Up Doc Marina, also the site of The Rock presented by TheraSeed on Table Rock Lake. It is the final event of the 2006 CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series.
Day 2 Big Bass
Angler: Juanita Robinson, Highlands, Texas, 3-13
Co-Angler: Angie Everitt, Livingston, Texas, 4-0
Launch
Sept. 14-16, 6:30 a.m. CT
Theodosia Marina Resort
Lake Road 160-25
Theodosia, MO 65761
Weigh-in
Sept. 14-15, 2:30 p.m. CT
Theodosia Marina Resort
Lake Road 160-25
Theodosia, MO 65761
Weigh-in
Sept. 16, 2:30 p.m. CT
What's Up Doc Marina
49 Lake Road
Kimberling City, MO 64686
Sponsors of the Women's Bassmaster Tour include Mercury Marine, Triton Boats, Lowrance Electronics, MotorGuide, Advance Auto Parts and Plano.
Local sponsors include the Theodosia Marina Resort
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