Top-10 FLW Tour finish makes history, fond memory

Reel Women: In their own words

Editor’s Note: After compiling some of the best fish stories from our female fishing fans over the last month or so, FLWOutdoors.com is finally ready to share them with the public. For the next several weeks, we’ll feature a different submission every week, with articles being posted on Mondays. To be sure, the stories submitted by our readers have been most impressive as well – ranging from the truly humorous to the utterly heartbreaking. We hope you’ll enjoy them as much as we did. And hopefully, as more and more women get involved in the wonderful sport of fishing, we’ll get to read and hear about many more stories from our female fans in the future. Enjoy.

Pamela E. Wood

Bono, Ark.

Top-10 FLW Tour finish makes history, fond memory

As I’m writing this, Team Mizmo (a marketing-fishing team promoting the bait company, Mizmo) is on the road, headed for the Big O. This is Dad and Troy’s fourth season on the tour and my third. (I took off in 2002 to have my second child). I think back on the many memories I have of those two years and wonder what is in store for me this season.

That first year was a major learning experience for me. I honestly learned something from every angler that I had the honor of fishing with. I was eagerly awaiting the start of my second season; my deposits were paid for the 2002 season! Then, my husband and I found out we were expecting our second child! I thought I would go ahead and try to fish the first four tournaments – that’s when the morning sickness started. After about six weeks of daily sickness, I decided that I should withdraw from the tour. Although I was bummed out, I was thrilled to be pregnant! I’m no spring chicken anymore, and we badly wanted a brother or sister for Mackenzi. We found out that she would be having a brother, Tyler, in July. We were blessed with two beautiful, healthy children.

When September rolled around, I decided that I would be ready to fish again by January. Although I was still nursing Tyler, I would have to figure out a way to do both. With my pump packed, I was ready for my second season on the FLW Tour, a lot wiser and a lot less stressed!

Although I still had much to learn, I was no longer a rookie! I knew what to expect from the anglers, and I knew what they expected from me. My goal for this season was to get points at each tournament. That was quite a leap from my previous goal to not fall out of the boat and not to do anything really stupid.

The first two tournaments were disappointing for me. I had hoped to cash a couple of checks by now. I had gone the first season without getting a check and was feeling guilty about not contributing to the Mizmo pot. We had an agreement that we would share all our expenses and winnings. That way no one had to go home empty handed. It was time for me to step up!

Little did I know, but my fishing career was about to make a swing for the better. It’s kind of ironic though. When we got to Columbia, S.C., I was starting to feel run down and I was losing my voice. I decided that I wasn’t going to pre-fish; I needed to concentrate on trying to get well. So, I hung out at the hotel popping vitamin C tablets and gulping down as much orange juice as I could. I also did a little catching up on my soap operas. Tuesday night’s meeting rolled around and it was time for the pairings. I had talked to one of my good friends who was a fellow co-angler. He did some guiding on Lake Murray, so I asked him what I should throw since I didn’t do any pre-fishing. He went out to his truck and brought me three Buckeye Lures spinnerbaits. He told me to throw that all day and not put it down.

I drew out with Dale Teaney, a member of the Mizmo pro staff. Although I was feeling pretty bad, I knew I would be a lot more comfortable with someone I knew. Dale told me that the guy that had pre-fished with him had caught some really good fish, so I was encouraged. We talked about strategies, colors, etc. Then it was time to go get a good night’s sleep.

The next morning, I had pretty much lost my voice. Dale came by the hotel to pick me up and we were on our way. Little did I know that FLW history was in the making!

We got to his spot, and I picked up that spinnerbait. I hated the thought of having to throw that all day because my energy level was pretty low, but I trusted Ron (the co-angler friend). I was slow-rolling that spinnerbait – and I mean slow. We had been fishing for about an hour or two when, all of a sudden, something nearly jerked the rod out of my hand. I set the hook and started reeling. That fish must have used up his energy attacking that spinnerbait because he came to the boat pretty easily. I thought by the way he came easily to the boat that it might have been a 3-pounder. When that thing came to the top, it was a huge 7-pound, 14-ounce fish. Holy cow! It was the biggest bass I had ever landed! I got it in the livewell, and then I had to sit down for a minute! In a matter of one minute, my nerves went from calm to chaotic! Dale looked at me and said, “That fish is huge.” I think he knew that I had no idea just how big it was.

We fished hard the rest of the day. Early in the afternoon, I hooked another beast. This one was over 5 pounds. She fought a lot harder than the first fish and seemed like a monster until I got her in the box beside the other one. I still had no idea that my weight would land me in sixth place after the first day.

The second day, I was paired with Peter T. I had fished with Pete (Thliveros) before and knew that we would have a fun day – until I saw the weather forecast: rain, thunder, lightening, chilly. There were bolts of lightening and cracks of thunder that seemed too close for comfort. I was searching for cover, as I am not a fan of storms! As it came time for our flight to take off, I remember closing my eyes and saying a prayer for protection!

We got to our spot and started fishing. The biggest challenge was trying to stay in the boat because the waves were rolling! Let me tell you, it’s challenging to feel a bite in those conditions. However, I felt a tug, set the hook and landed a 4 1/2 -pounder! The rain didn’t seem to bother me so much now!

As the day drew to a close, the skies cleared. I managed to land two more fish that afternoon. They all seemed to be about the same size. I had three fish that weighed 13-12.

Little did I know that my catch today had vaulted me into first place! I was the last person to weigh in that day, and I was hoping to still have enough weight for a good check. It never crossed my mind that I would land in the top 10, much less in first place! My two-day total weight for five fish was 27 pounds, 1 ounce. Wow! As soon as I walked offstage, there were sports writers and TV cameras everywhere. How cool was this?! Not only had a woman landed in the top 10, two had! Laura Aldridge had also qualified. We had made FLW history as the only two women to qualify for the top 10 at the same tournament.

We went to the mandatory top-10 meeting to learn about how the next day would take place and to find out who would follow us in the camera boats. My dad and brother are both camera-boat drivers, so I was hoping that one of them would be following me. My partner would be Darrell Robertson, and my camera boat driver would be my dad.

As we went to dinner that night, I believe that I was still in shock. It still hadn’t sunk in that I was going to be fishing the next day!

We got back to the hotel. Normally, I would be packing tackle and rods. Instead, I was gearing up for another day on the water. As I lay down that night, I expected to be restless and nervous. Not the case – that was probably the best night’s sleep I’d had in weeks. What peace I had!

The next morning, I got up, got ready and headed for the Wal-Mart tent. I met up with Darrell, we got the boat loaded, and then we got in the convoy line to be driven to the launch site. We were backed in to the water and then motored over to the dock. After the National Anthem was played and a prayer was said, we were ready for blast off.

We were boat No. 1. As we took off, I knew that no matter what happened that day, I was going to have an experience of a lifetime. I was fishing in an FLW top 10, and my dad would witness the whole day! He may have been as excited as I was that day!

I ended the day with a 7-pound, 1-ounce stringer, good enough for fifth place. I got a great check and a cool trophy. But most of all, I have a great memory of that day – one that I share with my dad.