(Paris, TN) –Angier, North Carolina pro angler Monica Altman pulled in a 17.91-pound five-bass limit from Kentucky Lake to claim a classic come from behind victory in the 2012 Lady Bass Anglers Association Larry Shaffer Memorial Tournament today. Her bag of fish included what would turn out to be the pro angler division Legend Big Bass Award winner weighing in at 6.32-pounds. Altman’s two-day tournament total was 30.13-pounds.
“Today I had a lot more wind and that concerned me because in practice it was either slick or just a bit of ripple on the water,” Altman stated. “Then yesterday the wind blew across my grass and churned it up a bit and today it reversed directions. I was just worried, but when it was not still I had not been having any luck. Then it started raining and I thought oh man. Then I had some blow-ups and those made me think they are going to turn on in the grass regardless. So I stuck with it.”
“When the rain came in this morning and we had not had a bite I was tempted to go away from my plan,” she continued. “Then all of a sudden the bite turned on. In practice I had found out there were baitfish in that grass, and I mean millions and millions of them and I knew if they were there that the bass had to be there.”
“A lot of folks tend to ride and to jump from spot to spot to spot especially people who are familiar with the lake. After practice and after yesterday I made up my mind this morning that I am going to stay in the grass. Basically a do or die decision,” she added. “I caught my first three this morning by 8:30 and even though it was slow getting the last two, it all worked out because the last fish of the day was my big fish — the 6.32-pounder.”
“It’s awesome to win my first LBAA event and words cannot describe it. I have worked hard. I came up the co-angler side on the Women’s Bassmaster Tour (WBT) and I’ve kept trying to improve myself learning all I can as I grew,” Altman concluded.
Deep Creek Lures, JB Custom Rods, Captain Gary’s Bass Boat Instant Shine, Mercury Marine, Motor Guide, Berkley Trilene, Powers Swain Chevrolet, TTI Blakemore, and US Reels sponsor Altman.
Finishing second was Dianna Clark from Bumpass Mills, Tennessee with 29.46-pounds. Following Clark in third was Centre, Alabama’s Lisa Johnson with 28.53. Fourth was Pam Martin-Wells from Bainbridge, Georgia with 27.98. Fifth, sixth, and seventh respectively were Lynda Gessner for Foristell, Missouri with 26.41, Kim Bain-Moore of Pelham, Alabama with 24.54, and Waxahachie, Texas’s Patti Campbell with 23.73.
Ashdown, Arkansas’ Vicki Henderson captured her second consecutive LBAA Co-angler tournament, as her two-day total was 19.20-pounds. Henderson brought 10.30-pounds to the scales today and that included a 6.21-pounder that ended up being the Legend Big Bass Award winner on the co-angler side.
Alpine, Alabama’s Kim Giddens captured second place on the co-angler side with a two-day total of 15.97-pounds. Third was Etoile, Texas’s Denise Sustaita with 13.47. Fourth was Judy Skibinski of Alba, Texas with 12.57 and Skibinski was followed in fifth by Clayton, Indiana’s Kim Martin with 12.16. Sixth and seventh on the co-angler side was Hanson, Kentucky’s Brandi Frasier with 11.62-pounds, and Tina Ingram from Beechmont, Kentucky with 11.17-pounds.
On Saturday, July 14, the Lady Bass Anglers Association Angels Community Clinic Charity Tournament will take place. This tournament is open to the public with proceeds going to Angels Community Clinic. Entry fee is $100 per team and has a guaranteed 1st Place prize of $1,000. A $100 bonus will be paid to the highest finishing team with a female team member and the highest finishing team with a child age 12 or under. Membership in the LBAA is not required.
The launch and weigh-in will be at the Paris Landing, and the launch will be at “safe light” and weigh-in will get underway at 2 p.m.
At the conclusion of the weigh-in, drawings for raffle items will take place adding another level of support for the Angels Community Clinic charity. Many national and local organizations contributed items for this raffle.
The Angels Community Clinic fills a critical gap and a helping hand by providing free basic medical and dental care to the working, uninsured of Calloway County. The Angels Community Clinic is located at 1005 Popular Street Murray KY 42071 and is available by calling 1-270-750-2223. They also have a presence on the World Wide Web at http://www.angelscommunityclinic.com/index.html
Fishtale Lodge 14275 Highway 79 North Buchanan, TN 38222, is the host lodging for the 2012 Lady Bass Anglers Association Larry Shaffer Memorial Tournament. Their phone number is 1-731-642-7113 and they are on the World Wide Web at http://www.fishtalelodge.com/Home_Page.html
Sponsors of the 2012 Lady Bass Anglers Association Tour are:
Red Dirt Baits, Reaction Innovations, All Pro Rods, Legend Boats, Bass Kandi Baits, Kick’n Bass, Integrity Insurance, Progressive Insurance, Rayjus, Reel Girls Fish, Bass Angler Magazine, Vickie’s Threadworks, Minn Kota, Hummingbird, Eco Pro Tungsten, Save Phace, Deka Batteries, Fish Guardian, West Kentucky LED, ATF, and River Runner Baits.
The LBAA 2012 Contingency Programs are Legend Advantage Program, Boats, BoatUS Angler Weigh-to-Win, Tundra Bucks, Rayjus Wear-It-To-Win, Skeeter Real Money, Phoenix First Flight, BassCat Quest, and Triton Gold.
Local organizations providing support and donations to the Larry Shaffer Memorial Tournament are Dr. Clark Harris, Meo Mio Restaurant, Dodd’s, and Odom’s Blue & Gray Marine.
The LBAA regular season will continue and conclude on September 6.7,8 at Lake Neely Henry in Alabama. Following that, the 2012 LBAA Lady Bass Classic is set for Lake Guntersville on October 11, 12, and 13.
For more information on the LBAA contact co-founder Cheryl Bowden @ 1-214-738-7518, co-founder Secret York @ 1-270-748-9041, or media specialist Larry Morris @ 1-540-239-7902. The LBAA has a presence on the World Wide Web, on Facebook, and at http://www.ladybassanglers.com/
