(Garland, TX) – As the city of Garland, Texas is rolling out the red carpet for the anglers of Lady Bass Anglers Association tour this week, there is one angler among this week’s competitors that is accustomed to having the red carpet rolled out for her.
Legendary professional angler and Bainbridge, Georgia resident Pam Martin-Wells has literally had every type of award given, and walked down many a red carpet in her storied and illustrious career. Martin-Wells has not only won the coveted LBAA AOY award (2011) but she has won the 2006 Women’s Bassmaster Championship, a 2005 Women’s Bassmaster Tour Preview event, has been inducted into the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame, and recently inducted into the Decatur Sports Hall of Fame – just to mention a few.
Although she may have walked down quite a few red carpets, the remainder of the competitors in this week’s Lake Ray Hubbard event this week are not going to roll out any red carpet, nor give Martin-Wells a cakewalk to another LBAA tournament title, much less another LBAA AOY crown.
“It will be very difficult to defend the AOY title,” Martin-Wells commented. “With the caliber of anglers fishing these events, each event is a huge challenge. You have to be on your p’s and Q’s 100% of the time.”
What is Martin-Wells expecting at Lake Ray Hubbard this week? “I really don’t have any expectations because I have never fished Hubbard before, but I am sure it will be a blast because anytime we get an opportunity to fish Texas lakes it’s always good.”
With the advent of the Ray Hubbard event, the LBAA is heading out in their second full year of operations. “The LBAA beginning our second year is a testament to the fact that we are totally dedicated as an organization to make this succeed for not only today’s anglers, but the up and coming anglers,” she stated.
“I am really looking forward to another great year. Everyone should come out and experience the excitement and camaraderie of this sport and organization,” Martin-Wells concluded.
Speaking of rolling out the red carpet, even the mayor of the City of Garland has gotten involved in this big welcome of the LBAA to the Garland area as he has officially made them welcome.
“We are excited to be hosting the Lady Bass Angler Association tournament in Garland at the Bass Pro Shops on Lake Ray Hubbard. ,” the Honorable Ronald E. Jones Mayor of the City of Garland stated.
Mayor Jones was also quick to add, “The LBAA is an outstanding group of professional women with a dedication to their sport and we are glad to welcome them to our community The LBAA is also giving back to our community by hosting a charity event on Saturday for our own New Beginning Center which assists women in need.”
Lake Guntersville ProAm Pro Division Champion Pam Martin-Wells. Photo courtesy of Larry Morris, LBAA Media Specialist
The LBAA Lake Ray Hubbard ProAm runs Thursday, March 22 and Friday, March 23. Anglers in the pro division can bring five legal bass to the scales at each day’s weigh-in. Co-anglers may bring only three legal bass to the scales daily. The first place in the pro division will take home a $5,000 check.
Then on Saturday, March 24, the LBAA will hold the LBAA Lake Ray Hubbard New Beginning Center Charity Tournament. Entry fee for this tournament is $100 per team with a guaranteed $1,000 first place prize. At the conclusion of the LBAA Lake Ray Hubbard New Beginning Center Charity Tournament, there will be a raffle of items donated by local and national sponsors, in which the proceeds will also go toward The New Beginning Center.
The New Beginning Center assists women and children who have been victims of domestic violence with temporary transitional housing. The New Beginning Center is located at 218 N 10th Street Garland, TX. 75040. Phone 1-972-276-0057. http://www.newbeginningcenter.org/
All LBAA Lake Ray Hubbard Tournament days (including charity tournament) will launch at “local safe light” and weigh-in at 3:00 PM local (CDT) time. All launches and weigh-ins will take place at the Bass Pro Shops docks in Garland.
Hosting the LBAA’s first tour stop of the year is the City of Garland, Texas. The City of Garland offices are located at 200 N. Fifth Street Garland, Texas 75040. You can reach the city offices by calling 1-972-205-2000, and they have a presence on the World Wide Web at http://www.ci.garland.tx.us/
Host lodging for the 2012 LBAA Lake Ray Hubbard event is the Best Western Lakeview Inn located at 1635 East I-30 at Bass Pro Drive, Garland, Texas 75043-4454 Phone: 972/303-1601 | Fax: 972/303-1466. You can find the Best Western Lakeview Inn on the World Wide Web at http://bestwesterntexas.com/hotels/best-western-lakeview-inn/
Sponsors of the 2012 Lady Bass Anglers Association Tour are:
Bass Angler Magazine, Red Dirt Baits, Reaction Innovations, All Pro Rods, Legend Boats, Bass Kandi Baits, Integrity Insurance, Progressive Insurance, Reel Girls Fish, Vickie’s Threadworks, Minn Kota, Hummingbird, River Runner Baits, Castaway, Rayjus, Save Phace, Deka Batteries, Fish Guardian, West Kentucky LED, ATF, Eco Pro Tungsten, and Sure Life.
The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON
