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Yamamoto Pro Staffer Judy Wong Boats 10.01 Pounder to Win WBFA Invitational on Toledo Bend, Lousiana

April 12-13, 2002

2002 Women's Bass Fishing Association Pro Tour - Beauty And The Bass Invitational - Toledo Bend Lake, Many, Louisiana

The Women's Bass Fishing Association Tournament Director Willie Cook prophesized after the first day of the Beauty and the Bass Louisiana Pro/Am Invitational tournament "that one big bite could turn this tournament around, and it can happen on Toledo Bend". Little did he know his predictions would become fact.

Professional angler Judy Wong, Sugarland, Texas, got that one big bite on the last day of the bass tournament every bass fisherman dreams about. The 10.01 pound bass included in her 4-fish stringer jumped her from 16th place to the Tournament Champion position and the owner of a brand new TR19 Triton bass boat.

Day one leader, Karla Bullard, Del Rio, Texas, had located bass in the south part of the 87-mile long lake. She had caught her 15.12 pound first day limit while Carolina rigging in deeper water. On the second day, she only brought in one 2-pounder. She said, "After such a good day yesterday, I only got one bite in the same area today. The conditions are changing on this lake so fast."

Lake conditions have definitely been changing. Since October, the lake has risen over 12 feet. During the three practice days, it rose over a foot. Conditions ranged from clearer water in the lower end of the lake to very stained water in the northern end.

Pam Martin, Bainbridge, Georgia, held down second place after day one. Like Bullard, she had been fishing the clearer water on the south end of the lake. But, Martin stayed on fish. The first fish she put in the boat on the second day weighed over 7.5 pounds. By 9:00, she was culling bass.

When she and Wong arrived at the weigh-in site, she had a 5-fish limit with one over 7 pounds. It was obvious that things were going to get tight. Even before they got to the scales, Wong knew that her 4 fish had to not only beat Martin's second day limit of fish, but also had to overcome a 7.1 pound lead.

Wong and Martin were not the only anglers catching bass. There were some very good stringers brought in the second day, with 5 of the bass over the 5 pound mark.

Donna Newberry, Van Buren, Arkansas, had captured third place on day one with 12.56 pounds. She brought another stringer on the second day that tilted the scales at 10.93. Her 23.49 pounds would prove to keep her in third place.

But, it was the duel between Wong and Martin that had the crowd on edge. Everyone could see they both had big bags of fish at the weigh-in preparation tanks. It was obvious that if there was going to be a change in deciding the winner, it would be the obviously big bass in Wong's bag.

Wong and Martin were the last anglers to come to the scales. When Wong's lunker was weighed, the crowd roared when the scales read 10.01. As they added her other three big bass, the scales tilted to 23.69 pounds.

As Martin approached the scales, there was silence in the crowd. She needed 15.99 pounds to recapture first place. Her big fish recorded 7.62 on the scales. No one in the crowd or on the stage would even try to predict what Martin's other four fish would do to the total. When weighmaster Willie Cook announced the weight as 15.37 pounds, Wong stood in shock.

The first to congratulate her was Martin. Later, Martin said, "Even though it is extremely tough to get knocked back to second, a fish like Judy's 10-pounder does make it a little bit easier."

Wong's 23.69 pound, 4-fish stringer came from the north end of the lake. She said, "I was using a red watermelon Gary Yamamoto tube and flipping into the buck brush. I lost a five-pounder that would have given me a limit, and I was sick. All the way back to the weigh-in site, I kept thinking that if I could have put that fifth fish in the boat I would have a chance at winning. I was so pre-occupied that I kept missing river channel markers. I didn't think I was ever going to get back."

Because of the tournament draw, Wong did not have an amateur fishing with her on the second day. She described trying to get the 10-pounder in the boat alone, "First, the big bass hung in the brush. When I tried to move in to get closer, the trolling motor hung up. Somehow, I was able to get the fish in the net by myself. It was obvious the good Lord was with me."

The suspense at the scales between Martin and Wong was not a surprise to any of the 90 lady anglers competing in the event. Wong is the 2001 WBFA Classic World Championship winner. Martin is the all time leading lady money winner in women's professional bass fishing. Both are quality anglers and true professionals.

Stacy Futrell, Colofax, Louisiana, captured first place in the Amateur Division. After only her third tournament, she commented, "Although I enjoyed fishing at Lake Seminole last tournament, I knew I could do better here. Toledo Bend is my home lake.""

Debra Petrowski, Arlington, Texas, brought in the lunker bass in the Amateur Division. Her 4.38-pounder was taken on a Junebug plastic worm in about 3 feet of water.

During the tournament, there were a total of 224 bass caught with 216 released alive. Even with the tough fishing conditions, all 48 of the professional anglers weighed-in fish during the tournament.

PROFESSIONAL DIVISION

1. Judy Wong        Sugarland, TX  30.13

2. Pam Martin       Bainbridge, GA 29.01

3. Donna Newberry   Van Buren, AR  23.49

4. JoNell Whitstine Pineville, LA  20.89

5. Patsy McDaniel   Gordo, AL      20.48

Lunker Judy Wong 10.01 pounds

AMATEUR DIVISION 

1. Stacy Futrell    Colofax, LA    11.35

2. Linda Owens      Brandon, MS     8.91

3. Julie Campbell   Pineville, LA   8.54

4. Dana Thornhill   Pineville, LA   8.33

5. Debbie Mason     Hemphill, TX    8.21

Lunker Debra Petrowski 4.38 pounds

The WBFA is one of the fastest growing bass fishing tournament trails.

Winners in the Pro/Am Invitationals carry home a new TR19 Triton bass boat equipped with a 150EFI Mercury outboard, Hummingbird Electronics, Deka Marine batteries, and a Minn Kota trolling motor.

Other sponsors include Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, FlowMaster, Kick-N-Bass Scents, and Eidolon Bait Company.

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