Dianna Clark Wins Women's Bassmaster Tour Bass Fishing Tournament at Lewisville
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Dianna Clark of Bumpus Mills, Tenn., made angling history Saturday when she became the first competitor to win two events in the 2006 Women's Bassmaster Tour season.
She won her second WBT trophy for her wire-to-wire performance at the Lake Dardanelle event, the tour's fourth stop. Clark's first victory was in May on Texas' Lewisville Lake, the circuit's second event. For each win, she earned a Triton boat rig with Mercury outboard valued at $50,000.
"I wanted to make history, and now I've done it," said an elated Clark, a Persian Gulf War veteran who decided to devote more energy to competitive fishing when she retired in 1996 from the U.S. Army as a staff sergeant. "On top of winning two, I led on all three days. I'm proud of that."
Clark took Dardanelle by a wide margin. Her three-day total of 29 pounds, 9 ounces put her 10 pounds in front of Lucy Mize of Ben Lomond, Ark., whose tournament total of 19-9 secured second place, her best BASS career finish.
The Dardanelle win propelled Clark from fifth to first place in the WBT points standings. She now has a direct line to become the first Toyota Women's Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year, an honor that includes winning a 2007 Toyota Tundra.
The Angler of the Year title for Clark isn't a done deal. After Dardanelle, four fellow competitors were within 100 points of Clark: Arkansas' Tammy Richardson, former points leader Sheri Glasgow of Oklahoma, Pam Martin-Wells of Georgia, and Mize.
The title will be determined after the final event of the 2006 WBT season, Bull Shoals Lake in Theodosia, Mo., Sept. 14-16. Points are earned at each event and accumulate throughout the season.
Clark moved closer to the AOY title this week by cracking the code of Dardanelle's very tough August fishing conditions. She ended the first day with 14-5, then caught 9-8 on Day 2 to secure the lead by more than 9 pounds.
With such a fat cushion, the 42-year-old could have relaxed Saturday. But she wasn't going to gamble, so returned to her productive grassy hot spots in Dardanelle's Shoal Bay. There, she put three largemouth bass in her livewell, adding 5-12 to her 23-13 already on the board.
She said her go-to bait all three days was a prototype jig made by B&M Baits of Alabama. The jig - made with a black head and a green-black-chartreuse skirt - was tipped with a blue-sapphire Zoom Fat Albert Twin Tail, a wide, 3 1/4-inch soft plastic.
"I don't know exactly what it was about the bait that made it work, but my co-anglers started getting bites after I gave them one," she said. "I threw it - pitched or flipped it - then let it sit and that's how all my bites came. I never got a moving bite. But you had to watch the line, there weren't any taps or bumps you could feel."
The six-woman field on Saturday was the result of the cut from the full field of 95 pros after Friday's competition. Besides Clark and Mize, the anglers who competed Saturday were Kelley Shepherd of Cortez, Colo., Kimberlee Striker of Cullman, Ala.; Laura Gober of Pendergrass, Ga.; and Paula Alexander of Lincolnton, Ga.
Alexander ended in third with 16-8. Shepherd was fourth with 15-14. Striker was fifth with 13-0. Gober finished sixth with 11-5.
On the co-angler side, the winner of a Triton/Mercury package valued at $24,000 plus $1,000 in cash was Robertina Filburn of Vine Grove, Ky. Her winning weight was 11-8. Like Clark, Filburn won wire-to-wire.
She wasn't able to bring in a fish on Saturday, and thought she didn't have a chance to win.
"My heart sunk. After leading two days, I thought I was not going to win a boat after all," said the 61-year-old retired high-school music teacher. "When we were backstage, there stood one of my co-anglers with two fat bass. But she told me, 'I don't have you beat.' I was not convinced at all."
Colleen Mckay of Worchester, Mass., was the fellow competitor with the two bass, but her 11-5 total was 3 ounces short of catching Filburn.
Elizabeth Sanders of Brandon, Miss., finished third with 11-3. Laura Elkins of Amarillo, Texas, was fourth with 9-2. Cathy Smith of Pineville, La., ended her week in fifth with 7-9.
Sharon Rushton of Kimberling City, Mo., took sixth with 6-9. Rushton was the co-angler winner of the WBT preview event in October 2005.
Presenting the winners' awards Saturday at Little Rock's Statehouse Convention Center was Susan Hutchinson, wife of Arkansas gubernatorial candidate Asa Hutchinson, a former Congressman.
In the final tournament of the five-event 2006 WBT season, the women anglers will compete on Bull Shoals Lake in Theodosia, Mo., Sept. 14-16.
After Bull Shoals, the field for the first WBT Championship will be set. The 12 pro and 12 co-angler slots for the event on Lake Mitchell in Alabama, Feb. 22-25, 2007, will be offered to the anglers who come out on top in their division's points race.
2006 Women's Bassmaster Tour Stop 5
08/24-08/26 Lake Dardanelle, Lake Dardanelle Ark.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Dianna Clark Bumpus Mills, Tenn. 11 29-09 315 $51,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 3 9-08 Day 3: 3 5-12
2. Lucy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 7 19-09 295 $6,200.00
Day 1: 4 10-08 Day 2: 1 3-01 Day 3: 2 6-00
3. Paula Alexander Lincolnton, Ga. 7 16-08 290 $3,680.00
Day 1: 3 8-06 Day 2: 1 2-08 Day 3: 3 5-10
4. Kelley Shepherd Cortez, Colo. 6 15-14 285 $2,180.00
Day 1: 4 12-03 Day 2: 1 2-08 Day 3: 1 1-03
5. Kimberlee Striker Cullman, Ala. 5 13-00 280 $1,930.00
Day 1: 3 7-08 Day 2: 1 4-00 Day 3: 1 1-08
6. Laura Gober Pendergrass, Ga. 5 11-05 276 $1,700.00
Day 1: 3 6-02 Day 2: 2 5-03 Day 3: 0 0-00
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Purolator Big Bass
Day
1 Rose Ellis Birmingham, Ala. 5-13 $1,000.00
2 Dianna Clark Bumpus Mills, Tenn. 5-14 $1,000.00
3 Lucy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 4-00 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 1 95 213-09
2 0 81 179-11
3 0 10 20-01
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1 186 413-05
2006 Women's Bassmaster Tour Stop 5
NB 08/24-08/26 Lake Dardanelle, Lake Dardanelle Ark.
(NON-BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Robertina Filburn Vine Grove, Ky. 5 11-08 315 $25,000.00
Day 1: 3 6-12 Day 2: 2 4-12 Day 3: 0 0-00
2. Colleen Mckay Worcester, Mass. 4 11-05 295 $4,200.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 5-15 Day 3: 2 5-06
3. Elizabeth Sanders Brandon, Miss. 4 11-03 290 $2,180.00
Day 1: 1 4-15 Day 2: 2 3-01 Day 3: 1 3-03
4. Laura Elkins Amarillo, Texas 2 9-02 285 $2,180.00
Day 1: 1 5-13 Day 2: 1 3-05 Day 3: 0 0-00
5. Cathy Smith Pineville, La. 4 7-09 280 $1,180.00
Day 1: 2 3-13 Day 2: 1 1-15 Day 3: 1 1-13
6. Sharon Rushton Kimberling City, Mo. 3 6-09 276 $900.00
Day 1: 2 5-09 Day 2: 1 1-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
46. Carrie Bronson Polk City, Fla. 2 0-00 138
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
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Big Bass
Day
1 Laura Elkins Amarillo, Texas 5-13 $500.00
2 Colleen Mckay Worcester, Mass. 5-00 $500.00
3 Colleen Mckay Worcester, Mass. 3-05 $500.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 1 34 79-11
2 0 37 76-07
3 0 4 10-06
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1 75 166-08
2006 Women's Bassmaster -
Tour Stop 5
Boater Points After Lake Dardanelle,
Lake Dardanelle, Ark. Ending 08-26-2006,
Day 3
-------------------------------------------
Place Name St Pts
-------------------------------------------
1 Dianna Clark Tenn. 1113
2 Tammy Richardson Ark. 1080
3 Sheri Glasgow Okla. 1076
3 Pam Martin-Wells Ga. 1076
5 Lucy Mize Ark. 1025
6 Lisa Sternard Tenn. 1003
7 Tammie Muse Ark. 981
8 Cindy Hill Tenn. 946
9 Kelley Shepherd Colo. 925
10 Emily Shaffer Tenn. 921
11 Kimberlee Striker Ala. 915
12 Juanita Robinson Texas 905
13 Robin Babb Texas 872
14 Penny Berryman Ark. 866
15 Cindy Caperton Tenn. 864
16 Cindy van horn Texas 863
17 Linda Sands Ala. 860
18 Christie Thomas Ala. 845
19 Jan Hudson Ark. 833
20 Rhonda Pope Ga. 828
21 Shelley Perry W.Va. 817
22 Christiana Bradley Va. 796
23 Tami Kashiwabara Japan 788
24 Jan Heavener Ark. 779
25 Betty Stahl Ala. 771
26 Mary Hencken N.C. 770
27 Kathy Womack Ala. 769
28 Rose Ellis Ala. 766
29 Deanie Tate Ark. 761
30 Cheryl Lalumandier Mo. 739
31 Marcia Rubin Ohio 735
32 Jonell Whitstine La. 734
33 Danalee Lofton Ark. 723
34 Kathi Hurst Miss. 715
35 Mary Divincenti La. 707
36 Kris Mcclendon Texas 703
37 Judy Wong La. 675
38 Lisa Johnson Ga. 669
39 Ann Wells Ill. 664
40 Susan Hand Ala. 662
41 Laura Moore Texas 653
42 Debra Petrowski Texas 650
42 Tommie Domingue Texas 650
44 Sandra Sherred Pa. 642
45 Laura Gober Ga. 637
46 Tanya Kreuzer Ariz. 628
47 Susan Gregory Miss. 613
48 Janet Parker Texas 610
49 Helen Gordon Texas 599
50 Conny Jenkins Mo. 597
51 Sue Parrish Ind. 591
52 Louise Howard Ala. 590
53 Patti Campbell Texas 583
54 Linda Walker Ark. 581
55 Sammie Denyes Fla. 574
55 Sarah Augustine La. 574
57 Lori Masters Tenn. 572
58 Angie Douthit Fla. 571
59 Sue Crochet La. 566
60 Joan Davis Ind. 563
61 Wanda Malmsbury Mo. 555
62 Joan Craig Ark. 546
63 Michelle Armstrong N.C. 531
64 Robinette Fox Ark. 530
65 Paula Alexander Ga. 528
66 Linda Owens Miss. 517
67 Toni Stoner Ga. 509
68 Brenda Davis Okla. 504
69 Debra Hengst Texas 492
70 Lisa Craig Texas 483
71 Secret York Ky. 481
72 Melanie Rockey Ga. 454
73 Kandie Candelaria Texas 450
74 Julie Jacobson Wisc. 397
75 Carla Whitstine La. 382
76 Pat White Texas 381
77 Judy Antle Ky. 373
78 Sherrie Brubaker Okla. 371
78 Carolyn Poole Fla. 371
80 Teri Neal Ga. 368
81 Becky Mckinney Fla. 365
82 Kellie Skelton N.M. 357
83 Katrina Dehaven Ariz. 355
84 Kathy Cater Texas 343
84 Cheryl Spencer Okla. 343
86 Crystal Langston Ala. 342
87 Linda Redford Mo. 308
88 Donna Newberry Ark. 306
89 Darla Bardelli Ariz. 294
90 Rae Lee Texas 279
91 Amy Golden Texas 260
91 Rhonda Usery Ark. 260
93 Danielle Kremer Fla. 248
94 Violette Sesco Fla. 234
95 Doris Parsons N.C. 233
96 Kristy Darby Ark. 209
97 Lynda Gessner Mo. 206
98 Barbara Wetzel Ala. 203
99 Kitsy Cunningham Okla. 200
100 Audrey Mcqueen Colo. 191
101 Barbara Potts Texas 183
102 Elizabeth Meisell Texas 175
103 Jen Carroll Texas 170
104 Kathy Kirby N.C. 163
105 bonnie johnson Texas 157
106 Brenda Bates Texas 147
106 Angela Dechau Mo. 147
108 Patsy Mcdaniel Ala. 143
109 Marguerite Palmer Miss. 135
110 Caroline Carpenter Fla. 129
111 Madeline Smith Ark. 127
112 Sherri Dodson Ala. 108
113 Marilyn Biszmaier Ky. 93
114 Karen Welty Ind. 91
115 Deb Doyal La. 83
116 Marsha Gipson Ark. 81
117 Kathy Tibbetts Va. 0
117 Amanda Hubbard Ill. 0
117 Arah Phillips Texas 0
117 Tammy Waller Texas 0
117 Tina Lefler Va. 0
117 Lucie Maus Texas 0
117 Jennifer Stelly La. 0
2006 Women's Bassmaster - Stop 5
Non-Boater Points After Lake Dardanelle,
Lake Dardanelle, Ark. Ending 08-26-2006,
Day 3
-------------------------------------------
Place Name St Pts
-------------------------------------------
1 Sharon Rushton Mo. 986
2 Mary Croft Va. 938
3 Susan Bowes N.Y. 897
4 Keri Schieber Ga. 893
5 Bonnie Ward Wash. 886
5 Linda Berry N.C. 886
7 Kim Stapp Ga. 883
8 Sharon Withers La. 874
9 Sandi Karnes Texas 858
10 Susan Dameron Tenn. 814
11 Robertina Filburn Ky. 813
12 Carol Boykin Ind. 803
13 Ronda Kirby Ind. 785
14 Heather Sullivan Alaska 762
14 Kay Pennington La. 762
16 Tammie Ply Ark. 748
17 Gerry Threadgill Texas 739
18 Lila Bass Texas 736
19 Cheryl Crafton Ind. 698
20 Karen Williams Mo. 692
21 Summer Stephens Ga. 687
22 Jo Dee Bucki Ala. 674
23 Elizabeth Sanders Miss. 672
24 Angie Everitt Texas 669
24 Lesa Brown Ark. 669
26 Mary James Ark. 667
27 Colleen Mckay Mass. 655
28 Billie Jaynes Texas 652
29 Barbara Gaskins Va. 651
30 Tracy Doty Texas 640
31 Toni Mode Ore. 592
32 Bertha Cavakis Ark. 587
33 Diane Smith Ga. 573
34 Sarah Busby La. 560
35 Carrie Bronson Fla. 555
36 Deb Krueger Mich. 551
37 Renee Brisendine N.C. 549
38 Brenda Reeves Texas 535
39 Carilyn Hill Okla. 531
40 Debbie Pegoli Ohio 507
41 Bobbie Barfield Ga. 492
42 Jacqueline Helton Ark. 489
42 Judy Vancanneyt Miss. 489
44 Laura Elkins Texas 477
45 Diane Delagarza Texas 468
46 Cheryl Allen Texas 466
47 Donna Prado Texas 456
48 Robin Kolton Texas 452
49 Kathy Riley Miss. 439
50 Denese Freeman Okla. 430
51 Susan Wild D.C. 425
52 Jaye Smith Mich. 410
53 Sharon Lawson Tenn. 408
54 Patricia Atkinson Mass. 405
55 Robin Mcfarlane Texas 400
55 Marsha Betz Texas 400
57 Karen Roberts Ala. 398
58 Debra Cunningham Ariz. 396
59 Christena Baugh Ark. 370
59 Sharon Mcewen Pa. 370
61 Maggie Robledo Texas 357
62 Darla Mcintosh Fla. 331
63 Laura Heflin Kan. 329
64 Cheryl Holloway La. 328
65 Kala Wright Okla. 320
65 Pam Anthony Tenn. 320
67 Monica Altman N.C. 315
68 Charlene Parks Fla. 310
69 Pat White Texas 295
70 Lydia Smith Texas 290
71 Cathy Smith La. 280
72 Cheryl Bowden Texas 276
73 Jennifer Helgren Ill. 272
74 Sylvia Hudson Fla. 264
75 Sherry Melton Tenn. 256
76 Sheila Merrow Maine 254
77 Pam Ridgle Texas 251
78 April Painter La. 250
79 Violette Sesco Fla. 248
79 Kali Weatherford Texas 248
81 Vicki Henderson Ark. 241
82 Judith Hart Texas 238
82 Elaine Morris Ark. 238
84 Tina Newman Tenn. 235
84 Cheryl Scott Texas 235
84 Terri Mackinnon Canada 235
87 Debra Wilson Texas 232
88 Susan Owens Va. 228
89 Tabitha Rudd Ala. 223
90 Allison Steckelberg Ga. 222
91 Shawn Conner Ind. 220
91 Karol Whitehurst Texas 220
93 Arah Phillips Texas 218
94 Angela Mitchell Canada 215
94 Donna Gilzow Ark. 215
96 Kim Petrowski Texas 211
96 Julie Garriety Texas 211
98 Dianne Kegley Ark. 210
99 Kristin Eaton Ala. 207
99 Bridget Allen Pa. 207
99 Shelia Wood Ark. 207
102 Carolyn Voyles Texas 204
103 Junie Parmer Texas 199
104 Terri Bittner Calif. 189
105 Linda Worley La. 188
106 Nancy Oliver La. 187
107 Tracy Pace Texas 185
108 Joyce Austin Ky. 184
109 Dana Davis Ala. 175
110 Dawn Ryerson Ill. 173
110 Bj Carson Okla. 173
112 Sabrina Sivley Ala. 163
113 Cindy Hardy Ala. 158
114 Rhonda Ford Ga. 155
115 Cindy Burnham Canada 153
116 Sandy Jeane Texas 147
117 Beverly Dickson Ark. 144
117 Lillian Gutierrez Texas 144
119 Dianna Fanning Ark. 138
120 Denise Lusk S.C. 130
120 Sugar Walker Ala. 130
122 Teresa Morris Tenn. 125
123 Shelia Campbell Fla. 123
124 Kelly Spear Ohio 119
124 Barbie Haralson Texas 119
126 Patti Harland Ala. 115
127 Dee Barger Ala. 110
127 Vicki Hester Ala. 110
127 Jen Carroll Texas 110
130 Stacy Woodall Ga. 102
131 Sue Freeman Md. 0
131 Melissa Bond N.M. 0
131 Pamela Putman Texas 0
131 Kimberly King Va. 0
131 Norma Ussery Texas 0
131 Lisa Garcia N.H. 0
131 Robbie Hartline Mo. 0
131 Keary Shults Fla. 0
131 Laura Taylor Fla. 0
131 Angie Michaels Neb. 0
131 Tonya Pollack Fla. 0
131 Liz Lewis Texas 0
131 Angie Wright Ala. 0
131 Jennifer Horn Texas 0
131 Vivian Estep Va. 0
131 Mary Waters Va. 0
131 Greta Gaines N.Y. 0
131 Kimberly Martin Ind. 0
131 Paula Tharp Okla. 0
131 Robin Washburn Ga. 0
131 Cynthia Ward Md. 0
131 Linda Thomas Okla. 0
131 Janet Neal Texas 0
131 Anne Salonish Pa. 0
131 Karen James La. 0
131 Charlotte Frazier Texas 0
131 Diana Dietzen Ind. 0
131 Kathy Rudy Pa. 0
131 Bonnie Erspamer Tenn. 0
131 Vanessa Seay Va. 0
