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Alabama’s Kim Bain Inches Closer to Bassmaster Classic Berth; Seizes Lead at Women’s Bassmaster Tour

Category: press release

 Sep 20th, 2008 by OutdoorsFIRST 

Modified Sep 20th, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Alabama’s Kim Bain Inches Closer to Bassmaster Classic Berth; Seizes Lead at Women’s Bassmaster Tour presented by Academy Sports & Outdoors Event on Clarks Hill LakeEVANS, Ga. – Just as she has all year, Kim Bain of Alabaster, Ala., got the right bites Friday, seizing the lead at the Women’s Bassmaster Tour presented by Academy Sports & Outdoors on massive Clarks Hill Lake with a two-day total of 17 pounds, 7 ounces. While she is in good position to take her second WBT event of the season, most importantly, Bain would extend her already healthy lead in the season-long Toyota Tundra Women’s Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year if she closes strongly Saturday, the final day of competition.

	Day 2 leader Kim Bain (Photo Courtesy BASS Communications)

Displaying her trademark consistency, Bain scratched out a limit on a hot, windy day, catching 9 pounds, 10 ounces, boosting her solid Thursday catch. Wisely, she used her practice to develop two strategies depending on whether the wind would blow or not. The preparation paid off handsomely Friday as the wind picked up and along with it, so did Bain’s bite.A first-year competitor on the WBT, Bain was largely drawn to the circuit because of BASS’ announcement that the WBT Angler of the Year would receive a qualifying berth into the 2009 Bassmaster Classic (Feb. 20-22; Red River; Shreveport-Bossier City) and in her inaugural season, she has certainly showed the chops to fish in bass fishing’s most major event. After Saturday, Bain and the top 20 pros and co-anglers in the AOY standings will receive qualifying berths for the season-ending WBT Championship presented by Academy Sports & Outdoors, set for Oct. 23-25 on Arkansas’ Lake Hamilton. After the Championship, the points will be finalized with the winner earning the coveted Classic berth and a fully-rigged Toyota truck.”Gosh, getting that Classic berth would be crazy,” said the 28-year-old Bain. “It was nearly 10 years ago that I left Australia and came over to the States to fish competitively. I think that getting in the Classic would certainly justify my decision. Especially to my parents, who must have thought I was crazy when I left.”Now, 28, it seems to be all coming together for Bain who would score a Triton/Mercury boat package valued at $50,000 with the victory. She has posted finishes of first, second and sixth this season on the WBT thoroughly dominating in her first year of competition.While Bain played it close to the vest on the particulars of her pattern, she said she had been executing the same technique throughout the tournament in one primary location. Friday, she boated a small limit by 9 a.m. and looked to upgrade the rest of the day. She is jumping around in her area, keying on baitfish, grass and places where she can find schools of fish.”It’s very important to be consistent,” said Bain, who weighed a bass Friday that she estimated at 5 pounds. “That, and trust your instincts. Those are the two things that I think are really important when fishing.”Remaining in second was Kim Stapp of Ringgold, Ga., who posted a two-day total of 16 pounds, 4 ounces. Stapp was once again able to capitalize on two big bites but could not round out a limit on spacious Clarks Hill.After not establishing much of a pattern Thursday and using her “whole tackle box”, Stapp narrowed down things Friday, limiting her techniques. She is keying on shallow water and traveling a significant distance up the river to get to her spots.A relative newcomer to tournament fishing, Stapp said she would rotate through two different places Saturday. While she hadn’t identified exactly the right technique to entice the quality bites, she felt she was in the right location.”I’m the only person in my family who fishes and at the very least, this season has been a great learning experience,” said Stapp. “But a win would be so huge and show me that I definitely belong.”Remaining in third was Angie Douthit of Clewiston, Fla., who had 15 pounds, 5 ounces while Cindy Hill of Smyrna, Tenn., moved up to fourth from 17th with 14-9. Thursday leader Lynda Gessner of Foristell, Mo., slipped to fifth with 14-8.Full standings can be found below. Only the top 20 pros and co-anglers will move on to fish Saturday. In the co-angler division, Gail Wood of Russellville, Ark., seized the lead with a two-day total of 9 pounds, 1 ounce. Co-anglers are vying for a top prize of a boat package valued at $32,000. Trailing Wood were Day 1 leader Lesley Childers of Anderson, S.C., with 8-8 and Barbara Gaskins, of Suffolk, Va., who slipped from second to third, with 8-4. Fishing fans are invited to watch the anglers at the free and public weigh-ins. The final weigh-in is set for 3:30 p.m. ET, Sept. 20 at the Academy Sports & Outdoors store at 4120 Washington Road in Evans, Ga.Live video of the weigh-ins and real-time leaderboards will be available at http://www.Bassmaster.com through all three days of the competition. All WBT events are free and open to the public. Sponsors of the Women’s Bassmaster Tour include Academy Sports & Outdoors, Toyota Tundra, Advance Auto Parts, Lowrance, Mercury, Skeeter, Yamaha, OPTIMA Batteries, Triton Boats, Legend Boats, MoGills and Mustang. Local hosts include Columbia County.