The Academy Sports + Outdoors Women’s Bassmaster Tour will open its fourth season out of Gadsden, Ala., when the circuit returns Friday-Sunday to Neely Henry Lake, a fishery that’s proved to be one of the toughest stops on the tour.
Ripley’s Kathi Hurst is expected to be among the competitors.
By several accounts, WBT anglers will have to fish hard for five-fish limits three days running for a chance to claim the event’s top prizes, fully rigged boat-and-motor packages. The rig that will go to the winner in the pro division is valued at $55,000; on the co-angler side, it’s worth $25,000.
For pro division competitors, the season-opening event also is the starting line in the 2009 Toyota Tundra Women’s Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year points race. The AOY crown comes with a new Toyota Tundra and a berth in the 2010 Bassmaster Classic set for Feb. 19-21, out of Birmingham, Ala.
WBT pro Karen Elkins of Oxford, Ala., said she’s been fishing Neely Henry since she was a teenager.
“The lake has flooded twice since January,” Elkins said. “It may be still running dirty and full when we fish. In the main river, the water temperature is around 54-55 degrees. In the back of the southernmost creeks, the temps are about 60 degrees. I haven’t seen anything other than pre-spawn conditions.”
Neely Henry Lake, one of the Coosa River’s six impoundments, encompasses 11,235 acres. It is home of a prolific spotted bass population as well as a healthy number of largemouth bass.
