History in the Making
Her excitement is understandable since that win vaulted her from 12th to 2nd in the points standings, just 14 points behind Kim Bain. The leader in points following the Hamilton tournament will be declared the 2008 Toyota Tundra WBT Angler of the Year and become the first WBT competitor to gain entry to a Bassmaster Classic.
"Last October, right after the 2008 schedule was released, I went to Lake Hamilton and marked spots that looked good," said Hill, providing ample evidence of her eagerness. "I wanted to see it when the water was down. I feel confident with my fishing ability that I can catch them."
Catching fish likely won't be a problem for any of the competitors at Hamilton — the lake is loaded with bass. But finding quality fish might be a challenge as anglers explore the lake's abundant cover and structure, which includes humps, points, docks and brushpiles.
Bain, meanwhile, jested that she wants to win AOY honors because the title brings with it a 2009 fully-rigged Toyota truck. "I need a truck," she said.
"I have been there once before, although at a different time of year," she added. "I'm sure that I'll have a few butterflies. It will be my first WBT Championship. But I'll treat it like any other tournament — set my own personal goals and go out there and try to achieve them."
"I'm from a country that doesn't have largemouth, so I don't have much history with particular bass techniques," she said. "Six months ago, I would have said that finesse was my best card in the deck.
"But flipping a Sweet Beaver, walking a Swamp Donkey frog and swimming a Revenge jig have been the techniques that have come up trumps for me so far on tour. I've been learning like crazy as I go along. I think that's why my Day 1 scores haven't set the world on fire."
Indeed, at Lewisville, Bain barely made the cut. But after slipping in at the 20th and final spot, she won the first tournament of the 2008 season. She then finished fourth at Neely Henry and sixth at Old Hickory before ending the season with a second place finish at Clarks Hill.
A new rule this year allows a WBT participant to drop her poorest performance, so Bain's discard was Old Hickory. Hill, meanwhile, especially benefited. She has a third at Lewisville and a sixth at Neely Henry to accompany her win at Clarks Hill. But she didn't even make the cut at Old Hickory.
Juanita Robinson slipped from second to third in the points race, following her seventh place finish at Clarks Hill. She also has a second and a third.
The 20 qualifiers include both previous anglers of the year, Dianna Clark and Sheri Glasgow, and 10 who have won WBT tournaments, with several as multiple winners.
Toyota Tundra WBT Angler of the Year: Current Standings
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Place Name Hometown Points
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1 Kim Bain Alabaster, Ala. 890
2 Cindy Hill Smyrna, Tenn. 876
3 Juanita Robinson Highlands, Texas 855
4 Pam Martin-Wells Bainbridge, Ga. 817
5 Sheri Glasgow Muskogee, Okla. 801
5 Lucy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 801
7 Angie Douthit Clewiston, Fla. 794
8 Patti Campbell Waxahachie, Texas 774
9 Jan Heavener Sherwood, Ark. 763
10 Laura Gober Pendergrass, Ga. 759
11 Lisa Sternard Clarksville, Tenn. 745
12 Bonnie Johnson Weatherford, Texas 742
13 Tammy Richardson Glenwood, Ark. 737
14 Kat Ealey Moody, Ala. 736
15 Debra Petrowski Arlington, Texas 735
16 Dianna Clark Bumpus Mills, Tenn. 730
17 Audrey McQueen Eagar, Ariz. 722
18 Kathi Hurst Ripley, Miss. 713
19 Mary DiVincenti Clinton, La. 706
20 Helen Gordon Flower Mound, Texas 703
20 Tanya Kreuzer Mesa, Ariz. 703
22 Judy Wong Many, La. 699
23 Mary Croft Bedford, Va. 698
24 Janet Parker Little Elm, Texas 691
25 Jan Hudson Harrison, Ark. 685
26 Emily Shaffer Mt Juliet, Tenn. 680
27 Christiana Bradley Bealeton, Va. 676
27 Melinda Hooper Lockesburg, Ark. 676
29 Cheryl LaLumandier Saint Charles, Mo. 672
30 Kathy Womack Trussville, Ala. 671
31 Laura Elkins Amarillo, Texas 660
31 Kelley Shepherd Cortez, Colo. 660
33 Kim Stapp Ringgold, Ga. 658
33 Bridget Allen Philadelphia, Pa. 658
35 Paula Alexander Lincolnton, Ga. 643
36 Keri Schieber Cumming, Ga. 634
37 Lisa Craig Chandler, Texas 633
38 Linda Redford Blue Eye, Mo. 631
39 Debra Hengst San Antonio, Texas 624
40 Sandi Karnes Livingston, Texas 616
41 Robinette Fox Hot Springs, Ark. 615
42 Jo Dee Lake Helena, Ala. 610
43 Cheryl Spencer Tulsa, Okla. 609
44 Penny Berryman Hot Springs, Ark. 596
45 Lori Masters Nashville, Tenn. 593
46 Lisa Johnson Centre, Ala. 592
47 Debbie Kemp Weatherford, Texas 585
48 Michelle Armstrong Denver, N.C. 573
49 Tami Kashiwabara Shelby, Ala. 572
50 Lynda Gessner Foristell, Mo. 570
50 Secret York Benton, Ky. 570
52 Susan Gregory Kiln, Miss. 569
52 Judy VanCanneyt Lexington, Ala. 569
54 Cindy Van Horn Athens, Texas 562
54 Robin Babb Livingston, Texas 562
56 Shelley Perry Hurricane, W.Va. 553
57 Judy Antle Albany, Ky. 551
58 Diane Phillips Tyler, Texas 529
59 Jennifer Nevans Dayton, Tenn. 526
60 Karol Whitehurst Winnsboro, Texas 520
61 Marcia Rubin Chagrin Falls, Ohio 518
62 Linda Berry Madison, N.C. 513
63 Heather Broom Sylva, N.C. 510
64 Mary Hencken Belmont, N.C. 507
65 Kali Weatherford Eustace, Texas 499
66 Karen Elkins Oxford, Ala. 496
67 Kathy Magers Waxahachie, Texas 495
68 Cheryl Bowden Plano, Texas 487
69 Laura Heflin Topeka, Kan. 471
70 Danalee Lofton Little Rock, Ark. 463
71 Marsha Gipson Bigelow, Ark. 461
72 Lila Bass Austin, Texas 458
73 Kris McClendon Spicewood, Texas 454
74 Pat White Pleasanton, Texas 441
75 Sharon Rushton Kimberling City, Mo. 439
76 Robbie Hartline Foristell, Mo. 420
77 Kandie Candelaria Canyon Lake, Texas 409
77 Lisa Talmadge Pell City, Ala. 409
79 Beverly Graham Chandler, Texas 382
80 Rhonda Pope Waco, Ga. 368
81 Darla Bardelli Phoenix, Ariz. 346
82 Teresa Poole Blue Springs, Mo. 340
83 Teri Neal Cumming, Ga. 336
84 Sarah Augustine New Iberia, La. 310
85 Linda Sands Cullman, Ala. 305
86 Christena Baugh Benton, Ark. 300
87 Sammie Denyes Florala, Ala. 294
88 Bettty Stahl Guntersville, Ala. 284
89 Barbara Wetzel Southside, Ala. 264
90 Robin McFarlane San Antonio, Texas 240
91 Cindy Caperton Madison, Tenn. 237
92 Amy Golden Roanoke, Texas 229
93 Laura Moore Vidor, Texas 209
94 Mickie Wolfinbarger Half Way, Mo. 191
95 Robyn Gist Cedar Hill, Tenn. 189
96 Barbara Jo Potts Fort Worth, Texas 172
96 Diane Delagarza Garland, Texas 172
98 Rose Ellis Birmingham, Ala. 170
98 Kellie Skelton Aztec, N.M. 170
100 Toni Stoner Ball Ground, Ga. 157
101 Karyn Sanchez Midlothian, Texas 156
102 Keri May Maple Valley, Wash. 152
103 Bonnie Katke Hazelwood, Mo. 127
104 Kathy Cater Conroe, Texas 126
105 Meta Burrell Fort Worth, Texas 122
106 Sue Freeman College Park, Md. 0
106 Sharon Teague Greenville, S.C. 0
106 Tammy Sawyer Brush Creek, Tenn. 0
106 Bj J Carson Inola, Okla. 0
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