Martin-Wells Continues to Lead 2011 Lady Bass Classic

Gilbertsville, KY – The story lines for day two of the Lady Bass Anglers Association (LBAA) 2011 Lady Bass Classic are more short fish, smaller keeper bass, fewer keeper bass, and Pam Martin-Wells continues leading on Kentucky Lake.

Martin-Wells managed only four keepers today but they were enough to allow her to build slightly on her day one lead. Her four bass today weighed in at 7.74 pounds – add that to her day one weight of 9.05, she has two days worth of Kentucky Lake bass totaling 16.79 pounds.

“The bite might have slowed down today and it was a bit different that is for sure,” said Martin-Wells. “What worked yesterday didn’t necessarily what I caught them on today. As usual though I had 15,000 Castaway Rods on my deck ready to go -- the fish are there, it is just a matter of getting them to bite.

She went on to say the tough bite on Kentucky Lake helped to keep her focused. “If fishing is easy I tend to get a little more relaxed, but when it’s like this I put my head down and go to work.”

When asked if she could do the same on the final day of competition Martin-Wells answered a question with a question – “Will the fish bite?”

Another veteran pro Mt. Juliet, Tennessee’s Emily Shaffer vaulted from eighth to second with an eight-pound sack that brought her total to 13.45, only 3.34 pounds behind Martin-Wells.

Sylva, North Carolina’s Heather Broom made a jump in the standings as well, moving from seventh to fourth with a two-day total of 12.82-pounds.

“If my bigger fish move in I could make a run for the title,” Broom commented, “but if the two in front of me have good days as well – I don’t think I can overtake them. I need a perfect day tomorrow and I need my five fish limit and so far I’ve only been getting three.”
Kiln, Missouri’s Susan Gregory sits in fourth with 11.46 and Cheryl Bowden of Plano, Texas follows her in fifth with 9.01.

On the co-angler side of the 2011 Lady Bass Classic Hanson, Kentucky’s Brandi Frasier holds a slim pound and change lead (1.10 pounds) lead over Gallatin, Tennessee’s Regina Pierpaoli. Frasier has 8.79 and Pierpaoli has 7.69 pounds after two days of competition. There is currently a tie for third place between Dianna Montgomery from Lebanon, Tennessee and Renee Key-Johnston from Beaumont, Texas with 6.75-pounds. Resting in fifth place after day two is Snohomish, Washington resident Bonnie Ward with 6.46-pounds.

Competition for the 2011 LBAA Lady Bass Classic concludes tomorrow October 8. Launch will be at local safe light Saturday morning and will conclude at 3 p.m. Tomorrow’s launch and check-in takes place at Moors Resort and Marina 570 Moors Road in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. Upon check-in, all anglers will then trailer to the weigh-in at the Fisherman’s Headquarters at 2754 US Highway 641 Benton, KY 42025 (270) 527-5938.

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