Martin-Wells Leads WBT Bass Fishing Tournament on Neely Henry Lake

Leader Pam Martin-Wells
Photo courtesy BASS Communications

GADSDEN, Ala. - Despite the fact she has a history of success on Neely Henry Lake, Pam Martin-Wells figures the Coosa River impoundment still owes her.

The Bainbridge, Ga., pro moved into position Friday to collect on that debt by taking the lead with 25 pounds, 9 ounces, on Day Two of the 2009 Academy Sports + Outdoors Women's Bassmaster Tour season opener.

"I've been fishing this lake for 22 years, and finished in second place here a bunch of times," said Martin-Wells, who won the 2008 WBT event on Neely Henry by a margin of more than 9 pounds, her third WBT win. "This lake still owes me."

Tammy Richardson of Amity, Ark., could say the same. She won on Neely Henry in April 2006, the first event of the WBT's inaugural season, but finished 61st in the event Martin-Wells won. On Friday, Richardson brought 15-11 to the scales - the day's heaviest bag - and catapulted herself from 28th to second place with a 22-15 total.

"I couldn't quite figure out the fish yesterday," said Richardson, a three-time WBT winner. "Today I made a little change. I figured something out. If I'd done it yesterday, I'd be sitting a lot better than I am now."

The changing lake level - down several feet Thursday, back up about a foot Friday after heavy rains - plus a fast-running current and fickle weather patterns challenged the anglers. Saturday's weather forecast has them wondering how their patterns will hold. Air temperatures are expected to drop and heavy rain is probable.

"As far as the weather goes, it's been a mixed bag every day we've been here anyway," Martin-Wells said. "My fish have been holding; I just have to move around a little bit to find them. If I can catch 10 to 12 pounds tomorrow, I'm going to be happy. I'm not saying that will win it, but I'd be consistent."

First-day leader Emily Shaffer of Mount Juliet, Tenn., slipped to third place with a two-day total of 22 pounds, 0 ounces. Melinda Mize of Ben Lomond, Ark., brought in 11-7 to pull herself up from 15th place into fourth with 21-1. One-time WBT winner Laura Gober of Pendergrass, Ga., moved into fifth place with 20-2.

In the co-angler division, Day One leader Donna Newberry of Van Buren, Ark., easily stayed in first place with a two-day total of 20-1. Terri Bittner of McKinleyville, Calif., and Colleen McKay of Worchester, Mass. made the move into the top three. Bittner had a two-day total of 17-12, and McKay logged 16-10.

The top 20 co-anglers will compete Saturday for their division's first prize of $500 cash and a Triton/Mercury rig valued at $25,000. Saturday's launch will be at 6:30 a.m. at Coosa Landing, 200 Lake St. in Gadsden. The weigh-in will begin at 2:45 p.m. at Academy Sports + Outdoors, 200 Albert Rains Blvd., Gadsden. WBT events are free and open to the public.

After the Neely Henry event, WBT anglers have three more regular-season tournaments. At that point, the top 20 pros and top 20 co-anglers in the standings will advance to the Oct. 16-18 Academy Sports + Outdoors WBT Championship on the Red River out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La. - the same venue as the 2009 Bassmaster Classic.

One pro will emerge from the championship as the 2009 Toyota Tundra WBT Angler of the Year and become just the second woman to qualify for a Bassmaster Classic. She'll earn a berth in the 2010 Bassmaster Classic, set for Feb. 19-21 on Lay Lake out of Birmingham, Ala.

2009 WBT #1 - Gadsden, AL 3/26-3/28
Neely Henry Lake, Gadsden AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
  Angler                  Hometown             No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$
1.  Emily Shaffer          Mount Juliet, TN         5 14-08  305
  Day 1: 5  14-08  
2.  Kim Stapp             Ringgold, GA            5  12-10  295
  Day 1: 5  12-10  
3.  Gina Jones            Alexandria, AL          5  12-08  290
  Day 1: 5  12-08  
4.  Penny Berryman         Hot Springs, AR         5  12-04  285
  Day 1: 5  12-04  
4.  Cheryl LaLumandier     Saint Charles, MO        5  12-04 285
  Day 1: 5  12-04  
4.  Pam Martin-Wells       Bainbridge, GA          5  12-04  285
  Day 1: 5  12-04  
7.  Laura Gober           Pendergrass, GA          5 12-03  272
  Day 1: 5  12-03  
8.  Juanita Robinson       Highlands, TX           5  11-00  268
  Day 1: 5  11-00  
9.  Lisa Johnson          Centre, AL              5  10-11  264
  Day 1: 5  10-11  
10. Kris McClendon        Spicewood, TX           4  10-06  260
  Day 1: 4  10-06  
11. Heather Broom          Sylva, NC               5  10-02  257
  Day 1: 5  10-02  
11. Robinette Fox          Hot Springs, AR         5  10-02  257
  Day 1: 5  10-02  
13. Lucy Mize             Ben Lomond, AR          5  09-11  251
  Day 1: 5  09-11  
14. Kim Bain-Moore        Alabaster, AL           5  09-11  248
  Day 1: 5  09-11  
15. Pam Bolton            Jonesboro, AR           5  09-10  245
  Day 1: 5  09-10  
15. Mary Croft            Bedford, VA             5  09-10  245
  Day 1: 5  09-10  
15. Melinda Mize          Ben Lomond, AR          5  09-10  245
  Day 1: 5  09-10  
18. Tami Kashiwabara       Shelby JAPAN            5  09-08  239
  Day 1: 5  09-08  
19. Cheryl Bowden          Plano, TX               5  08-12  237
  Day 1: 5  08-12  
20. Sheri Glasgow         Muskogee, OK            5  08-11  235
  Day 1: 5  08-11  
21. Sandi Karnes          Livingston, TX          5  08-10  233
  Day 1: 5  08-10  
22. Judy Wong             Many, LA                5  08-06  231
  Day 1: 5  08-06  
23. Robin Babb            Livingston, TX          5  08-05  229
  Day 1: 5  08-05  
24. Dianna Clark          Bumpus Mills, TN        5  08-02  227
  Day 1: 5  08-02  
25. Kat Ealey             Moody, AL               5  07-15  225
  Day 1: 5  07-15  
26. Linda Sands           Cullman, AL             5  07-14  223
  Day 1: 5  07-14  
27. Karen Elkins          Oxford, AL              5  07-06  221
  Day 1: 5  07-06  
28. Tammy Richardson       Amity, AR               5  07-04  219
  Day 1: 5  07-04  
29. Rhonda Pope           Waco, GA                4  07-03  217
  Day 1: 4  07-03  
30. Kelley Shepherd        Congress, AZ            5  07-01  215
  Day 1: 5  07-01  
31. Paula Alexander        Lincolnton, GA          5  07-00  213
  Day 1: 5  07-00  
32. Debbie Kemp           Emory, TX               4  06-15  211
  Day 1: 4  06-15  
33. Mary DiVincenti        Clinton, LA             5  06-14  209
  Day 1: 5  06-14  
33. Cindy Hill            Smyrna, TN              5  06-14  209
  Day 1: 5  06-14  
35. Kathy Womack          Trussville, AL          3  06-11  205
  Day 1: 3  06-11  
36. Patti Campbell        Waxahachie, TX          5  06-06  203
  Day 1: 5  06-06  
37. Karen Savik           Minneapolis, MN          3 06-05  201
  Day 1: 3  06-05  
38. Barbara Wetzel         Southside, AL           4  06-03  199
  Day 1: 4  06-03  
39. Susan Gregory          Kiln, MS                5  06-02  197
  Day 1: 5  06-02  
39. Debra Petrowski        Arlington, TX           5  06-02  197
  Day 1: 5  06-02  
41. Janet DAWN Parker      Little Elm, TX          1  06-01  193
  Day 1: 1  06-01  
42. Lynda Gessner         Foristell, MO           5  05-12  191
  Day 1: 5  05-12  
43. Bridget Allen         Philadelphia, PA        4  05-06  189
  Day 1: 4  05-06  
44. Kimberlee Striker      Cullman, AL             4  05-03  187
  Day 1: 4  05-03  
45. Kali Weatherford       Athens, TX              3  05-03  185
  Day 1: 3  05-03  
46. Christiana Bradley     Bealeton, VA            4  05-01  183
  Day 1: 4  05-01  
46. BJ Carson             Inola, OK               4  05-01  183
  Day 1: 4  05-01  
48. Jennifer Nevans        Dayton, TN              5  04-15  179
  Day 1: 5  04-15  
49. Betty Stahl           Guntersville, AL        4  04-14  177
  Day 1: 4  04-14  
50. Jan Heavener          Sherwood, AR            4  04-10  175
  Day 1: 4  04-10  
51. Judy VanCanneyt        Lexington, AL           3  04-07  173
  Day 1: 3  04-07  
52. Kathi Hurst           Ripley, MS              3  04-06  171
  Day 1: 3  04-06  
53. Kathy DiMartino        Guntersville, AL         3 04-04  169
  Day 1: 3  04-04  
54. Keri Schieber         Cumming, GA             3  04-02  167
  Day 1: 3  04-02  
55. Diane Phillips         Tyler, TX               3  04-00  165
  Day 1: 3  04-00  
56. Debra Hengst          San Antonio, TX          3 03-15  163
  Day 1: 3  03-15  
57. Ann Swinks            Lilburn, GA             1  03-12  161
  Day 1: 1  03-12  
58. Helen Gordon          Flower Mound, TX        2  03-11  159
  Day 1: 2  03-11  
59. Pat White             Pleasanton, TX          2  03-04  157
  Day 1: 2  03-04  
60. Meta Burrell          Fort Worth, TX          2  02-13  155
  Day 1: 2  02-13  
61. Teri Neal             Cumming, GA             2  02-11  153
  Day 1: 2  02-11  
62. Robbie Hartline        Foristell, MO           2  02-09  151
  Day 1: 2  02-09  
63. Christena Baugh        Benton, AR              2  02-08  149
  Day 1: 2  02-08  
64. Lisa Sternard         Clarksville, TN          2 02-05  147
  Day 1: 2  02-05  
65. Laura Heflin          Topeka, KS              2  02-04  145
  Day 1: 2  02-04  
66. Cindy Van Horn         Athens, TX              2  02-02  143
  Day 1: 2  02-02  
67. Sherri Dodson         Ashville, AL            1  01-15  141
  Day 1: 1  01-15  
68. Mary Hencken          Belmont, NC             1  01-14  139
  Day 1: 1  01-14  
69. Lila Bass             Austin, TX              1  01-12  137
  Day 1: 1  01-12  
70. Marsha Gipson         Bigelow, AR             1  01-08  135
  Day 1: 1  01-08  
71. Kim Hicks             Tallapoosa, GA          1  01-07  133
  Day 1: 1  01-07  
72. Terri Elkins          Red Oak, TX             1  01-06  131
  Day 1: 1  01-06  
73. Kathy Freehling        Interlachen, FL          1 01-03  129
  Day 1: 1  01-03  
74. Secret York           Benton, KY              1  01-00  127
  Day 1: 1  01-00  
75. Jo Dee DEE Lake        Helena, AL              1  00-15  125
  Day 1: 1  00-15  
76. Michelle Armstrong     Denver, NC              0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0  00-00  
76. Lisa Craig            Chandler, TX            0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0  00-00  
76. Danalee Lofton         Little Rock, AR          0 00-00    0
  Day 1: 0  00-00  
76. Lori Masters          Nashville, TN           0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0  00-00  
76. Patsy McDaniel         Gordo, AL               0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0  00-00  
76. Linda Redford          Blue Eye, MO            0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0  00-00  
76. Sharon Teague         Greenville, SC          0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0  00-00  
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day  #Limits    #Fish     Weight
 1       36      276       477-14
----------------------------------
         36      276       477-14
2009 WBT #1 - Gadsden, AL 3/26-3/28
Neely Henry Lake, Gadsden AL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1
  Angler                  Hometown             No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$
1.  Donna Newberry         Van Buren, AR           5  12-02  305
  Day 1: 5  12-02  
2.  Nancy Stumpe          Palatka, FL             5  10-14  295
  Day 1: 5  10-14  
3.  Lesli Lively          Grapeland, TX           5  09-09  290
  Day 1: 5  09-09  
4.  Kelly Wells           Grovetown, GA           5  09-04  285
  Day 1: 5  09-04  
5.  Cheryl Buelow         Pollock, LA             5  09-00  280
  Day 1: 5  09-00  
6.  Bunny Hicks           Rossville, GA           4  08-13  276
  Day 1: 4  08-13  
7.  Trish Levitt          Albuquerque, NM          5 08-05  272
  Day 1: 5  08-05  
7.  Colleen McKay         Worcester, MA           5  08-05  272
  Day 1: 5  08-05  
9.  Linda Berry           Madison, NC             3  08-04  264
  Day 1: 3  08-04  
10. Stacy Zhelesnik        Hoboken, NJ             5  08-01  260
  Day 1: 5  08-01  
11. Miriam Donohoo         San Mateo, FL           4  08-00  257
  Day 1: 4  08-00  
12. Susan Dameron         Chattanooga, TN          5 07-15  254
  Day 1: 5  07-15  
13. Sabrina Thompson       Humble, TX              5  07-13  251
  Day 1: 5  07-13  
14. Laura Bean            Oxford, AL              3  07-13  248
  Day 1: 3  07-13  
15. Vicki Hester          Rainbow City, AL        5  07-10  245
  Day 1: 5  07-10  
16. Martha Goodfellow      Simpsonville, SC         5 07-05  243
  Day 1: 5  07-05  
17. Debbie Pegoli         Loveland, OH            5  07-03  241
  Day 1: 5  07-03  
18. Kim Mendoza           Garland, TX             5  07-00  239
  Day 1: 5  07-00  
19. Torrye Vineyard        Yantis, TX              5  06-15  237
  Day 1: 5  06-15  
20. Linda Higginbotham     Palm Coast, FL          5  06-12  235
  Day 1: 5  06-12  
21. Lori Steele           Tulsa, OK               3  06-12  233
  Day 1: 3  06-12  
22. Bertha Cavakis         Amity, AR               4  06-11  231
  Day 1: 4  06-11  
23. Kim Petrowski         Arlington, TX           4  06-09  229
  Day 1: 4  06-09  
24. Susan Wild            St Petersburg, FL        5 06-06  227
  Day 1: 5  06-06  
25. Gail Wood             Russellville, AR        5  06-02  225
  Day 1: 5  06-02  
26. Terri Bittner         McKinleyville, CA        5 06-01  223
  Day 1: 5  06-01  
27. Vicki Henderson        Ashdown, AR             3  05-09  221
  Day 1: 3  05-09  
28. Jada Tidmore          Union Grove, AL          3 05-08  219
  Day 1: 3  05-08  
29. Teri Cindric          Hermitage, TN           2  05-06  217
  Day 1: 2  05-06  
30. Katie Hogan           Bon Aqua, TN            5  05-02  215
  Day 1: 5  05-02  
31. Bonnie Ward           Snohomish, WA           4  05-02  213
  Day 1: 4  05-02  
32. Patti James           Dayton, TX              5  05-01  211
  Day 1: 5  05-01  
33. Jennifer Blackwood     Lincolnton, GA          4  04-12  209
  Day 1: 4  04-12  
34. Sherry Melton         Monterey, TN            4  04-09  207
  Day 1: 4  04-09  
35. LaShea Raynor         Lexington, SC           3  04-08  205
  Day 1: 3  04-08  
36. Linda Owens           Brandon, MS             2  04-04  203
  Day 1: 2  04-04  
37. Linda Rinker          Palm Coast, FL          3  04-03  201
  Day 1: 3  04-03  
38. Karol Whitehurst       Winnsboro, TX           2  04-03  199
  Day 1: 2  04-03  
39. Elizabeth Sanders      Brandon, MS             3  04-01  197
  Day 1: 3  04-01  
40. Nancy Dugas           Huntsville, AL          3  03-15  195
  Day 1: 3  03-15  
41. Renee Gumbrecht        Oakhurst, NJ            2  03-14  193
  Day 1: 2  03-14  
42. Petra Ramsey          El Paso, TX             1  03-14  191
  Day 1: 1  03-14  
43. Denese Freeman         Lawton, OK              3  03-09  189
  Day 1: 3  03-09  
43. Donna Rutledge         Orland Park, IL         3  03-09  189
  Day 1: 3  03-09  
45. Cynthia Tayloe         Lufkin, TX              1  03-09  185
  Day 1: 1  03-09  
46. Linda Walker          Beebe, AR               2  03-07  183
  Day 1: 2  03-07  
47. Jennifer Rice          Grant, AL               3  03-02  181
  Day 1: 3  03-02  
48. Debra Cook            Gardendale, AL          2  03-02  179
  Day 1: 2  03-02  
48. Lisa Diehl            Pittsburg, PA           2  03-02  179
  Day 1: 2  03-02  
48. Charlotte Frazier      Dallas, TX              2  03-02  179
  Day 1: 2  03-02  
51. Brandi Frasier        Madisonville, KY        2  03-01  173
  Day 1: 2  03-01  
52. Kim Martin            Clayton, IN             3  03-00  171
  Day 1: 3  03-00  
53. Leslie Anderson        Saint Louis, MO          3 02-15  169
  Day 1: 3  02-15  
54. Virginia Buckner       Scottsboro, AL          2  02-12  167
  Day 1: 2  02-12  
55. Melissa Bond          Albuquerque, NM          2 02-11  165
  Day 1: 2  02-11  
56. Barbara Gaskins        Suffolk, VA             2  02-10  163
  Day 1: 2  02-10  
57. Kala Wright           Spiro, OK               2  02-09  161
  Day 1: 2  02-09  
58. Jill Matheis          Jasper, IN              2  02-05  159
  Day 1: 2  02-05  
59. Katie Ellis           Gulfport, MS            1  02-05  157
  Day 1: 1  02-05  
60. Nancy Oliver          Arnaudville, LA          1 02-04  155
  Day 1: 1  02-04  
61. Jane Brunner          Byhalia, MS             1  01-12  153
  Day 1: 1  01-12  
62. Juanita Blasingame     Kingston, TN            1  01-08  151
  Day 1: 1  01-08  
63. Diane Smith           Fayetteville, GA        1  01-06  149
  Day 1: 1  01-06  
64. Barbara Ferge         Somerville, TN          1  01-05  147
  Day 1: 1  01-05  
65. Monica Altman         Angier, NC              1  01-04  145
  Day 1: 1  01-04  
66. Marilyn Biszmaier      Louisville, KY          1  01-02  143
  Day 1: 1  01-02  
66. Michele Gunderman      Gastonia, NC            1  01-02  143
  Day 1: 1  01-02  
66. Lisa Skelley          Jackson, TN             1  01-02  143
  Day 1: 1  01-02  
69. Lesley Childers        Anderson, SC            1  01-00  137
  Day 1: 1  01-00  
69. Patty Houston         Prattville, AL          1  01-00  137
  Day 1: 1  01-00  
71. Neva Brown            Lufkin, TX              1  00-15  133
  Day 1: 1  00-15  
71. Sugar Walker          Titus, AL               1  00-15  133
  Day 1: 1  00-15  
73. Kat Arnold            Shreveport, LA          0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0  00-00  
73. Pam Chism             Cabot, AR               0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0  00-00  
73. Mona Crawford         Welaka, FL              0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0  00-00  
73. Sarah Davis           Livingston, LA          0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0  00-00  
73. Dawn Dudek            Posen, IL               0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0  00-00  
73. Cassie Hall           Alabaster, AL           0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0  00-00  
73. Sharon Lawson          Red Bank, TN            0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0  00-00  
73. Christine Martin       Commerce City, CO        0 00-00    0
  Day 1: 0  00-00  
73. Leanne Snowden         Suttons Bay, MI         0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0  00-00  
73. Kimberly White         Glen Carbon, IL          0 00-00    0
  Day 1: 0  00-00  
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day  #Limits    #Fish     Weight
 1       21      219       347-00
----------------------------------
         21      219       347-00

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