GADSDEN, Ala. — Emily Shaffer of Mount Juliet, Tenn., took the Day One lead by almost 2 pounds Thursday in the season opener of the Academy Sports + Outdoors Women’s Bassmaster Tour on Neely Henry Lake.
Shaffer’s 14-pound, 8-ounce bag of spotted bass pushed her ahead of Kim Stapp of Ringgold, Ga., who weighed in 12-10 to put her in second place on the leaderboard.
Stapp was just ounces ahead of Gina Jones of Alexandria, Ala., who had 12-8 in her first WBT entry.
The field squeezed up even more tightly from there. Sharing fourth place with 12-4 were Penny Berryman of Hot Springs, Ark.; Cheryl LaLumandier of St. Charles, Mo.; and defending champion Pam Martin-Wells of Bainbridge, Ga.; who won in 2008 on Neely Henry by an almost 9-pound margin.
The six led the pro field vying for a first-place prize of $1,000 cash and a Skeeter/Yamaha boat rig valued at $55,000.
Kathi Hurst of Ripley boated three fish at 4-06 for 52nd place so far.
Tags: National Park Service
