(Jul. 12, 2012 - Paris, TN)... Lisa Johnson was whackin’ ’em on legendary Kentucky Lake on day one of the Lady Bass Anglers Association (LBAA) Larry Shaffer Memorial Tournament. Johnson’s five-fish limit weight that weighed at 16.17-pounds for day one which allowed her to capture a very slim lead..
A little over five-pounds separates first through tenth places and Johnson is holding the slimmest of leads over some of the legendary names in women’s professional fishing. Breathing down her neck in second a mere 0.44 of an ounce behind her is long-time women’s pro angler Dianna Clark of Bumpass Mills, Tennessee with 15.73 pounds. Sitting in third is another legend Pam Martin-Wells of Bainbridge, Georgia with 14.23-pounds.
"Basically, the key today was finding the fish on the screen," Johnson said referring to the screen of her electronics. "Other than that it was getting them to bite and then just have fun. I had to keep pitching and chunking it in there, trying to stir the fish up."
She is confident that her fish will hold up for day two. "I left fish there this afternoon. The fish are there and the issue is just going through the smaller ones to get to the bigger fish. All that is ? is a patience game," Johnson, of Centre, Alabama added.
Concerning Friday, Johnson stated emphatically, "It doesn’t matter if the sun is shining, if it is raining, or if the wind is blowing. I will still do the exact same thing tomorrow."
Rounding out the pro division "Super Seven" are Foristell, Missouri’s Lynda Gessner in fourth with 12.99, Greenville, Texas’s Judith Hart is holding down position five with 12.93, sixth is Waxahachie, Texas resident Patti Campbell with 12.74, and seventh is Pam Ridgle of Murchison, Texas with 12.36.
The pro division Legend Big Bass Award winner for the day was Jan Bruner of Cedar Hill, Texas. Bruner’s big bas weighed in at 4.52-pounds.
In the co-angler division, Ashdown, Arkansas’ Vicki Henderson is leading after day one and she captured the Legend Big Bass Award on the co-angler side for day one.
Henderson’s big bass of 4.71-pounds contributed almost half of her 8.90-pounds of total weight for the day. Jada Tidmore of Union Grove, Alabama is in second with 8.04-pounds. Tracy Whitehead/Hampshire, Tennessee’s weight of 7.90 places her in third. Fourth through seventh respectively is Kim Giddens/Alpine, Alabama is fourth with 7.40, with 7.40, Kim Martin of Clayton, Indiana is in fifth with 6.57, Judy Skibinski/Alba, Texas and Charlotte, Frazier/Dallas, Texas are tied for sixth with 6.24-pounds.
The LBAA Larry Shaffer Memorial Tournament concludes Friday July 13 with launch being at "safe light" and the weigh-in starting at 3 p.m. at Paris Landing. 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.
At the conclusion of Saturday’s charity event 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 atthe angelscommunityclinic website/index.html
Launch and weigh-in Saturday will be at the Paris Landing. Launches will occur all three days at "safe light" and weigh-in for Saturday’s Angels Clinic Charity Tournament will be at 2 p.m.
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.
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.
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 the ladybassanglers website.
