2007 Blog
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2007 Year End Standing: 18th Place |
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Looking back on the 2007 Sophomore Season for the WBT circuit, I am filled with pride at what we have accomplished. ESPN has been a great sponsor and voice for all of us that have this dream, “to fish at a competitive level”. I want to take this time to thank ESPN, B.A.S.S., Bruce Mathis, and Deb Wilkinson. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
I want to thank my husband Ricky (R.D.), without his support and love I would be lost. He is my guide, my best friend and my mentor. Thanks to all the friends I have made along the way, you guys are great and I cannot wait until next year. Thanks to my family who support me in my endeavor to fish on a “professional level”. Also, thank you Kathy Magers, for believing and working so hard to get this project off the ground. Thanks for that call in 2006 which you told me “come on and fish”. If I had not fished that 1st tournament at Lake Lewisville look at all I would have missed. Thank you to all my non-boaters for helping me make memories…you guys were great.
Thanks to my sponsors for a great year:
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Red River – September 20 – 22, 2007 – Finish 52nd |
Okay, this was going to be a challenge for all. The river was absolutely swollen prior to the tournament from all the rains received in Texas and Oklahoma. Talk about RED, the river was flowing and red. Prior to the official practice my husband and I made some runs down to see how things were. I had several spots holding fish and felt pretty good about this one. On the last day of official practice, I landed a 5 pounder from one of my spots and felt pretty good about my chances. I am now in 13th place in the overall standings and this tournament was the deciding factor whether or not I make the Classic.
Day 1 I was locking down as were a lot of the girls but on Day 1 I only managed 2 fish for 3.2lbs. My co-angler Shirley Jordan had 4 fish that day and caught here biggest one with a broken rod. What a trip…I was so glad we got that one to the boat…sorry about the rod Shirley.
Day 2 Started out pretty much like day 1 however, I was fishing with my buddy Monica Altman from North Carolina. Monica and I met on the final day at Lake Norman in the Inaugural season for the WBT. She won that tournament and I came in 2nd. The start of a great friendship. Well my best spots were not producing that day. We were now sharing the waters with several other tournaments going on. I did manage 2 keepers off some rocks on a crank bait.
I ended up in 52nd place for this tournament, I was disappointed as you can imagine, but that’s fishing.Be first to comment this article | Add as favorites (87) |
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Kentucky Lake – June 14 – 16, 2007 – Finish – 48th Place |
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Kentucky Lake was something else…also know for its great “ledge” fishing. Well during practice on the weekend it was like being stopped on a highway and having all the cars go by doing mach 10. The ledge fishing was something of a rodeo also, with the waves crashing by from the pleasure boats, bass boats and jet skis. You see in order to fish some of the ledges, you where right there by the boat lane. My husband and I had a pretty good practice catching some nice fish. But as luck would have it, tournament day was not so good.
Day 1 I drew Angie Everitt from Livingston, Texas. We had a great time that day talking and fishing and fishing and talking. We did manage a couple of keepers a piece.
Day 2 I drew a Susan Wild. Again I went to the ledges and we sat it out…managing a couple of keepers, this one was not going well.
Finished the tournament in 46th place.
Okay, let’s get a little closer to home…next stop the Red River, Shreveport, LA.Be first to comment this article | Add as favorites (94) |
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Lake Guntersville – May 3 – 5, 2007 – Finish – 21st Place |
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Wow…what a beautiful lake. Are practice was cut short at this one due to the Elite Series pros were having their tournament the weekend before ours. I want to thank my husband, Ricky Campbell, for this guide trip. In the 3 short days we had to practice I had 2 or 3 patterns that I was very confident with.
The shad were spawning so the ledges were the place to be. Well I caught several good fish in practice out there but after spending hours the first day looking for my 1st keeper on the main river ledges, I went to plan B. I managed 2 fish that day for a total of 7.5lbs on my 2nd pattern and never looked back.
Day 2 I went back to the ledges and did manage a keeper, however, I did not waste as much time out there as Day 1 which paid off. I had a limit which went 15.2lbs and moved me into 9th place. On to Day 3.
Day 3 I went back to the ledges on the river. I caught 3 keepers on spinner baits in about 30 minutes…where were these guys earlier in the tournament? Once again I went back to the same spot that had produced my keepers on Day 1 and 2.
I had a great limit that day that weighed 16 + lbs. My partner Kim Martin also had some great keepers. We had a blast that day, we caught some quality fish and were just having fun, but as luck would have it, when time to leave and go to weigh-in my big motor would not crank. We where only about 10 minutes from weigh-in. Well I panicked. We tried to jump the battery off to no avail, we tried rewiring, etc. only to give up once we were disqualified.
We were late which cancelled out weights from the 3rd day. With 0lbs for day 3 I finished in 21st place. Kicking myself all the way home, I prayed this would not keep me out of my final goal…to make the Classic. A huge thank you to my partner Kim Martin…thanks for the memories!
Okay, suck it up and let’s go to Kentucky Lake, Stop 4 on the tour.Be first to comment this article | Add as favorites (83) |
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Lake Dardanelle – March 29 – 31, 2007 – Finish – 19th Place |
Lake Dardanelle was my next big challenge. The year before we were there in the heat of the season. After suffering the worst case of sun poisoning on my arms, I had bad vibes about this fishery. However, it was spring time and not near the “heat factor” as in 2006. Well as luck would have it, I managed some pretty good fish on day one and weighed in 14.3lbs.
Day 2 was not so kind…with my day 1 spot not producing I was just looking for a keeper. I carolina rigged a spot where I caught some small fish and managed a couple of keeper for 3.14lbs. But I did manage to take the 25th spot and was on to fish Day 3.
Day 3 a totally different game plan. With the weather threatening, I decided to stay as close as I could and fished some rip rap not too far from the tournament take off. With a Buckeye Lure Spot Remover and a Zoom Trick worm, I had 4 fish that went 10.10lbs and gave me 19th place for the tournament.
Next stop – Lake Guntersville – I can’t wait for this one.
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Lake Amistad – February 8 – 10, 2007 – Finish – 15th Place |
What can I say about Lake Amistad…it is an awesome fishery. I was very excited about this one. Having come in 2nd place the year before in the FWL TTT tournament as a co-angler, my hopes were high.
I caught a lot of fish and made some great new friends. I fished with 2 girls from Texas, Kim McGuffy on day one and Barbie Hagler on day 2. I caught all of my fish on a Buckeye Lure’s spot remover with a Watermelon Red Zoom Trick worm, 12lb. Seaguar Fluorocarbon line on a GLoomis Shakey Head Rod with a Shimano XXXX reel.
Congratulations to my friend and traveling partner Juanita Robinson…she won and did it in grand style…way to go!
I finished in 15th place; very disappointing as I lost 2 fish in the 3 days of fishing that were 7+ pounds each. However, this year I have set 2 goals for myself:
- Finish in the top 25 every tournament in order to fish the 3rd and final day.
- Make the Classic
1 down, 4 to go. Next stop…Lake Dardanelle.Be first to comment this article | Add as favorites (74) |
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Who is Maui
Jim?
There really is a Maui Jim and you can read all about him here.
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