“Are you glad you fished the WBT, and what did you get out of it?”

“*Yes, I am glad I did it. I was really disappointed when they cancelled the WBT. I started bass fishing tournaments in 1999. I really hadn’t done much in the way of bass fishing before then…*

…When I joined my club, the Green Water Wizards, it was all men who were competing. When ESPN kicked off the WBT preview event my club sponsored me so I could go as a non-boater. They thought it would be a good experience for me. It was the first time that I had ever met another woman that fished, never mind compete against one other.

Danny Correia had been in my club and he was competing on the tour and in the Bassmaster Opens. He connected me with Kimberlee Striker from Alabama in the beginning. Kim and I lodged and practiced together in 2006 and 2007. When Kim moved on to other tournaments I was fortunate to end up practicing with Lucy Mize in 2008 and 2009.

I learned a lot just fishing different waters…

“…seeing, and using different techniques. Although I have not seen Kim or Lucy in years I still consider them good friends and always will. I have no doubt that if we were to get together we would pick up where we left off. The same is true for a bunch of other ladies from the WBT. Aside from the friendships, one of the other things I got out of it was an education. Learning and applying the different techniques and then adapting to waters in New England which can be very different in terms things like structure, water clarity, etc. was huge. I learned a lot quickly.”

“What do you miss, what don’t you miss?”

“*I miss the camaraderie and company of the ladies….*

I’m good friends with many of the men that I fish with and compete against now, but it was nice to be able to do that with other women, sharing challenges and successes with each other, etc. I don’t miss spending time in airports getting to and from events.

I don’t miss the snakes either.”

How important is fishing, of any kind, to you.

“I have participated in all sorts of organized sports since I was on a swim team during the summers when I was in grammar school, but I cannot imagine a future without some fishing in it. As intense as the tournaments can get theres also a feeling when you are out on the water that is hard to describe. I have seen some amazing things and met some awesome people along the way. There aren’t many sports where you don’t have to be the biggest or fastest or in your early 20’s or younger where you can compete on a level playing field. Fishing is one of them. It’s a great activity for kids and adults. Being outdoors, being on the water, becoming one with the fish.”