Lady Bass Anglers Association Larry Shaffer Memorial Tournament Set to Go on Kentucky Lake
OutdoorHub 07.11.12
The pre-fishing is done, the fishing spots are hopefully picked out, boats, motors, rods, reels, are all prepared and ready for action on Kentucky Lake as the Lady Bass Anglers Association (LBAA) anglers get out on the water Thursday, July 12 and Friday, July 13. This is the Lady Bass Anglers Association Larry Shaffer Memorial Tournament. It has been named so in honor of the deceased husband of LBAA pro angler Emily Shaffer, Larry Shaffer, who passed away earlier this year. Shaffer, a long-time angler and marine and boat expert is being memorialized this week as the anglers of the LBAA take to the waters of Kentucky Lake.
“Well, it is going to be an interesting tournament,” stated Mt. Juliet resident and LBAA pro Emily Shaffer. .” We have grass back and as usual, Mother Nature is going to make it hard on us! From what I experienced pre-fishing, they can be caught many ways. All I can tell everyone is fish their strengths.”
This is tournament three out of four regular season tournaments on the 2012 LBAA Tour and will be a great place for pro’s and co’s alike to gain the “Big Mo” – momentum heading toward the 2012 Lady Bass Angler Classis in October.
“I have won several tournaments with the hot weather being border line unbearable, and it goes without saying that I would love to win this one,” Shaffer continued. “I haven’t won an LBAA event. I have been close. My goal at this tournament is to beat Kim Bain-Moore, Pam Martin-Wells and Secret York. If I accomplish that I WILL WIN THE TOURNAMENT,” she concluded.
One of Shaffer’s aforementioned competitors Secret York from just up the road in Benton, Kentucky also chimed in on this week’s event. “I think it will take around 17-pounds a day to win,” York commented. “Three weeks ago we were catching skinny fish that weighed around three pounds, and now these fish have been eating and have fattened up and are about 3 ½ pounds.”
The Kentucky region, along with many other areas throughout the U.S. has been in the vise grip of a huge heat wave and drought, but a quasi-stationary front has brought cooler temperatures and a light amount of much needed rain to the region this week.
“Last Saturday the water temperature was 92 and Monday it’s already dropped to 88,” York added. “The fish were lethargic but since the water temperature has dropped they are fighting again. There has been no current and we sure would like to see them pull some water, but I am going on and planning as if they are not. I know this much we’ve got to move often.”
York also spoke of Shaffer and their long-running friendly rivalry. “I know it is emotional for her (Shaffer) this week. I told her to just relax and get focused. I told her I wanted her to be the best she can be for this tournament and to bring her `A Game’. Because I want to whip her, and I want to whip her – when she is at her best,” York added with a gleam in her eyes.
The stationary front that is over the area will start to sag southward as the tournament progresses. This slow moving front will leave behind more unstable weather with a 60/70% chance of showers both days with high’s in the low to mid 80’s.
Angler of the Year races are tight entering this tournament with the Pro Division being led by Kim Bain-Moore with 605, followed in second by Pam Ridgle with 585, third is Pam Martin-Wells with 580, fourth is Debbie Warner with 546, fifth is Lynda Gessner with 538, sixth is Martha Goodfellow with 527, and seventh is Shaffer with 515.
The Co-angler side has a three-way tie at the top of the leader board as Diane Smith, Kim Giddens, and Vicki Henderson each have 585 points, fourth is Diana Uebelhack with 556, fifth is Bonnie Ward with 540, sixth is Jodi Galloway with 538, and seventh is Brenda Reeves with 530.
Competition dates are once again Thursday and Friday July 12 and 13. Pro anglers may bring up to five legal bass in to the weigh-ins this week and co-anglers may bring three legal bass into the scales on competition days.
On Saturday, July 14, the Lady Bass Anglers Association Angels Community Clinic Charity Tournament will take place. This tournament is open to the public with proceeds going to Angels Community Clinic. Entry fee is $100 per team and has a guaranteed 1st Place prize of $1,000. A $100 bonus will be paid to the highest finishing team with a female team member and the highest finishing team with a child age 12 or under. Membership in the LBAA is not required.
At the conclusion of Saturday’s charity event weigh-in, drawings for raffle items will take place adding another level of support for the Angels Community Clinic charity. Many national and local organizations contributed items for this raffle.
The Angels Community Clinic fills a critical gap and a helping hand by providing free basic medical and dental care to the working, uninsured of Calloway County. The Angels Community Clinic is located at 1005 Popular Street Murray KY 42071 and is available by calling 1-270-750-2223. They also have a presence on the World Wide Web at http://www.angelscommunityclinic.com/index.html
Launches and weigh-ins will be at the Paris Landing. Launches will occur all three days at “safe light.” Weigh-ins for Thursday and Friday will get underway at 3 p.m. each day. Weigh-in for Saturday’s Angels Clinic Charity Tournament will weigh-in at 2 p.m.
Fishtale Lodge 14275 Highway 79 North Buchanan, TN 38222, is the host lodging for the 2012 Lady Bass Anglers Association Larry Shaffer Memorial Tournament. Their phone number is 1-731-642-7113 and they are on the World Wide Web at http://www.fishtalelodge.com/Home_Page.html
