eBassFish.com Professional Courtesy With a Twist of Respect

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2008 Official WBT Rules

2008 Women's Bassmaster Tour
Competition Dates

# 1 - April 10-12 - Complete

Lake Lewisville - Texas

Pro-Angler results

Co-Angler results

# 2 - May 22-24 - Complete

Lake Neely Henry - Gadsden, Ala

Pro-Angler Results

Co-Angler Results

# 3 - June 19-21 - Complete

Old Hickory - Hendersonville, Tenn

Pro-Angler Results

Co-Angler Results

# 4 - September 18-20
Clarks Hill Lake - Evans, Georgia
Wildwood Park Ramp
6212 Holloway Rd.
Appling, GA 30802

Pre - Tournament Registration
Wednesday - September 17th
3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Tournament Meal
4:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Tournament Briefing and Pairings
 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.
Meet and Greet 
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Academy Sports & Outdoors
4120 Washington Rd.
Evans, GA 42044
706.210.6100

Official Housing Headquarters
Jameson Inn
1062 Claussen road
Augusta, Georgia 30907
706.733.4656

Weigh-In Locations
September 18th and 19th
3 p.m. - Wildwood Park
September 20th - 4 p.m. 
Academy Sports & Outdoors
4120 Washington Road
Appling, Georgia


2008 WBT Championship
October 23-25
Lake Hamilton - Hot Springs, Ark
A.G.F.C. Hulsey Hatchery Access
350 Fish Rd.
Hot Springs, AR. 71931

Registration and Briefing -  TBA

Bassmaster Classic

Red River - Shreveport, LA
February 20 - 22, 2009

Birmingham, Alabama
February 19 - 21, 2010

New Orleans, LA
February 18 - 20, 2011

American Bass Anglers
Lady Anglers
Profiles and Statistics
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Professional Courtesy With A Twist of Respect
by Linda Berry

photo courtesy of Richard Freeman
Anglers line up for take-off and idle past the American flag.

It was one hour until weigh-in and the pro-angler on the front of the boat started putting away her rods. I know I had a look of dismay on my face as I thought my chances of catching one more fish to go with the two I had been fortunate enough to catch earlier in the day was no longer an option. She had her limit so I assumed she was ready to call it a day.

She had left one rod on the front deck. It was the one she caught all her fish on. I was waiting for her to pull up the trolling motor while I hurriedly made a couple more casts. I know I had an even stranger look on my face when she turned to me and said “You are welcome to pick up this rod and reel and see if you can catch your limit before we have to check in. I have a good limit and it is important to me as a pro that my co-angler has a good day and the opportunity to weigh in some fish. I will keep the boat in position and you can finish fishing this stretch of bank that is holding good fish. It is your call.”

There were two reasons I hadn’t fished her way and her bait that day. First, I don’t always like to fish behind the person on the front of the boat with the same bait. I want to give the fish she might happen to miss a second choice. Second, she was fishing a wacky-rigged Senko on a weedless hook. I had never done that before. I didn’t have the hooks or the bait or the confidence and certainly didn’t want to use my tournament hours learning to fish something new. I should have already tried the technique during practice.

However, I had nothing to lose and I didn’t want her to think I didn’t appreciate the offer, so I picked up the rod and reel. My next thought was if I could cast and not backlash. Every angler has their equipment set up to their own style of fishing. It was the same reel I was use to, so maybe I could do it without looking like an amateur. I made the first cast and all went well. I made a second cast and “BAM”… I had my third keeper! I was amazed and she just smiled and said get that fish in the livewell. You have time to catch two more and we will both have our limit. Well, I did get a couple more bites, but no more keepers.

I went back to my room that evening, thinking about what that pro-angler did for me. I have been tournament fishing for 17 years and fished with many pros (both male and female) who were very considerate, but I had never had a pro stop fishing after getting her limit to allow me the opportunity to get my limit of fish also. Guess what…my Day 2 pro partner did the same thing, only instead of loaning me her rod and reel, she re-tied one of mine and said to go for it. I did not manage to boat another bass this time, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. She also gave me every opportunity.

I now have a new respect for the term “professional” angler. I have in recent times referred to myself as a professional co-angler. I have my own boat, but have resigned myself to the fact that I will never have the financial backing to fish as a boater. That doesn’t make me less of an angler. It doesn’t matter which end of the boat you are standing on, all anglers need to be respectful of each other.

The two anglers I had the pleasure to fish with at this particular tournament may be the exception to the rule, but they left an impression on me that I will always remember. It is this type of image that helps to build the sport of tournament bass fishing. Whether we are in the public eye or spending the day on a boat with another angler, we are in control of our reputation. Being a professional angler or co-angler is not always about catching fish.

photo courtesy of Richard Freeman
Anglers return for weigh-in after spending a day on the water.

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In The News

Watch for WBT pro angler Robin Babb of Livingston, Texas on this week's Academy Outdoors with Chad Brauer Saturday, August 2nd at 8:30 (CST) on FSN South and Southwest. The episode is titled "Babb to the Bone" and was filmed on Choke Canyon Reservoir in southern Texas. It is scheduled to re-air November 1st.

See what pro angler and guide Debra Hengst has been up to on Falcon Lake. Click here.

Sam Cam - Episode 1 starring WBT pro angler Sammie Jo Denyes is now showing on youtube.com. Click here to view

Attention Triton boat owners!
A new website called tritongirl.com is now up and running. It was created and designed by pro-angler Dana Beavers of Alabama and is all about anything Triton.

WBT Pro-anglers Robin Babb of Texas and Angie Douthit of Florida are featured in an article in the July/August issue of BassMaster Magazine. Check out the great article beginning on page 74 by Robert Montgomery titled "Modifying the Mann Killer".

Sport Fishing Ventures Unlimited is now doing a $200 monthly product giveaway. SFVU recently added pro angler Marsha Gipson of Arkansas to their pro staff. When you fill out the entry form online, please reference Marsha as the direct reason you visited.

Also, if you go to Fishermensheaven.com and would like to make a purchase, enter coupon code 888MG444 to receive a discount at checkout. This lets them know that you were referred by Marsha.

On Saturday Aug. 16, pro anglers Christiana Bradley of Bealeton, Virginia and Bridget Allen of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania along with several other professional anglers will participate in a benefit tournament on the Upper Chesapeake Bay for a young angler named Ron Phillips. He's a wonderful young man who's fighting Leukemia. Visit this site to read Ron's story and for information about the tournament: Ron Phillips Benefit Tournament

On August 23rd, Christiana will be at the Virginia Outdoor Sportsmens Classic Summer Edition, in Roanoke, VA doing a couple of tank seminars.

On September 6th Christiana will appear at the GEICO Motorcycle Bikers For Tykes fundraiser event in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The event helps raise money for the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters.

Pro angler Melinda Mize of Arkansas is the first WBT angler to win Bonus Bucks through the Toyota Tundra Contingency Program offered to all anglers who drive a Toyota Tundra truck and are members of BASS.

WBT pro angler Sheri Glasgow of Muskogee, Okla., took delivery Friday, July 18, on a 2008 Toyota Tundra, her prize for being the 2007 Toyota Women’s Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year.

Recycled Fish is hoping to sign up 2500 new pledge takers this summer. Have you taken the Pledge?