Left to Right: Dana, Donna and Austin.

When Donna Newberry, of Van Buren, Arkansas, is not fishing for staging bass (or for any bass that could place her in the money), she might be found on stage playing gospel and country music with husband Jerry and other family members. Donna plays the piano and the bass guitar and sings.  They travel around the country and play music together when Donna is not preparing to fish a bass tournament. Jerry and 11 year-old grandson, Austin, play the steel guitar and often play at conventions and other events which are by invitation only.

Donna did not grow up with a fishing pole in her hand. She was born and raised in Muldrow, Oklahoma along with two older brothers and younger twin brothers. She   preferred playing the piano and going to church. Sometimes, she and her oldest brother would catch crawdads and frogs in the family farm pond for excitement. She recalls watching the frogs jump around in the frying pan while her mother cooked them.

Her ambition in high school was to become a nurse, but she traded that dream for marriage. Her husband Jerry loved to fish and she would go with him and if the fish didn’t bite, she would read. Jerry thought she should be fishing. When the older of their two daughters got big enough to fish, Donna would stay home.

Donna started tournament fishing in the late 80’s. Her husband Jerry fished team tournaments with his friend Randy Scott. Randy’s wife Joy liked to fish so Donna thought she would try it. The guys would take a boat and Joy and Donna would take a boat. Joy did all the driving and running the trolling motor. When a Lady Bass tournament came to Lake Millwood in Arkansas in 1989, Joy and Donna decided to fish it.

Donna ended up being Rookie of the Year, but Lady Bass folded soon after and Donna went on to fish the newly formed Bass n’ Gal circuit. She won the very last Bass n’ Gal tournament in Mississippi before they went under. When the WBFA announced a tour for women, Donna did not hesitate. She ended up becoming a 4 time Classic qualifier with two national titles, 15 top-ten finishes and was the 1999 World Champion.

In the year 2000, she started fishing the FLW Stren Series. She says that competing against mostly men as a co-angler is less pressure because she doesn’t have to worry about where to fish…although sometimes she wishes that she did get to go to her fishing spots. She is proud when she comes to the Stren weigh-ins with fish and makes the cut or gets a check. When she competes with the women as a boater, she likes to be sure that she has some fish for herself and her partner for the day or she feels bad for her partner.

Donna has fished 13 events with the Stren Series since 2000. Her career earnings in the  Series reached $6,000 with her most recent victory. She placed 8th in the Stren Series Championship at the end of 2005.

Spinnerbaits, floating worms and crankbaits are Donna’s favorite baits to fish. Her least favorites are Texas rigged worms and flipping. She considers Lake Tenkiller in Oklahoma and Lake Dardanelle in Arkansas to be her “home” lakes. Donna is now preparing to fish the 2006 Women’s Bassmaster Tour. Her goal is to win at least one of the WBT tournaments and qualify for the Classic. She would also love to win a Stren Series tournament.

When she is home and not traveling the country fishing or making music, Donna answers the phone and does the book work for Rooter Drain Service, a family-owned business and one of her sponsors. Her other sponsors are Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Motors and Pro Vibe Spinner Baits.

Donna's husband, Jerry Newberry

Donna and grandson Austin.

Donna on stage with husband Jerry.