By JOHN D. FERGUSON World Correspondent on Feb 23, 2013, at 1:57 AM Updated on 2/23/13 at 5:48 AM
Professional angler Cheryl Bowden (left) poses for a cell phone photo with Melissa Barnes of Oklahoma City on Friday at the Tulsa Convention Center during the Bassmaster Classic Outdoor Expo. Bowden co-founded the Lady Bass Anglers Association. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World
Watch videos and view slideshows: Watch a timelapse video of the launch. See a slideshow from the first day, and much more.
Follow along during the event: See unofficial estimates throughout Saturday
and Sunday.
Tour the lake: Using Google Earth, World outdoors writer Kelly Bostian gives you a tour of Grand Lake.
Anatomy of a bass boat: We have an interactive map detailing the equipment on a bass boat.
The National Basketball Association has the Women's NBA. Figure skating, gymnastics and golf have separate women's divisions, too.
The Lady Bass Anglers Association hopes to earn the same credibility when it comes to professional fishing.
While the men's Bassmaster Classic takes the spotlight this weekend at Grand Lake with the high profile weigh-ins in Tulsa, a small booth in a corner of the Tulsa Convention Center promotes the LBAA.
The women's pro fishing group was organized in 2010. It used to be part of the Bassmaster group, but split off in 2009.
The LBBA membership is 200, but upwards of 90 compete on the short three-lake circuit in Alabama and Tennessee. An entrant who cannot make the other three tour stops can qualify at a wild card tournament in Louisiana. Like the men, the Lady Bass Classic ends the season.
What's the LBAA's biggest obstacle?
"Getting the word out," said Texas professional Cheryl Bowden, who co-founded the group with Secret York of Benton, Ky. "In five years, I think we will double and triple in size. We want to provide women with an opportunity to fish professionally."
The women's pro group has two divisions of competition. The pro division is like the men's. The competitor fishes and drives the boat solo. The women's co-angler division means that the competitor is just the passenger, but fishes. There are usually two prize funds.
Bowden finished 2012 in fine fashion. She won the last tour stop before hooking the prized Lady Bass Classic title to end the season.
Bowden used to be a co- angler and now is a professional. In her day job, she is a K-12 educational consultant in her hometown of Fort Worth.
She hopes one day to make pro fishing her only line of work in a group that would offer a number of circuit of events for good prize money.
At the Expo Friday, Bowden was encouraging any woman interested to give the association a chance.
Outdoor Game Zone Schedule
at the Tulsa Convention Center/Bassmaster Expo
SATURDAY (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
Daisy Range: Open to public, National Wild Turkey Foundation, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SRS Eukanuba Super Dock
10 a.m.: Super Dock Dogs
11 a.m.: Scott Greer and Robb Watts - Ducks and Dogs at Work
11:15 a.m.: Pro Super Dock Dog Competition
12:15 p.m.: Casting with the Pros - Fishing
1:15 p.m.: Scott Greer and Robb Watts - Ducks and Dogs at Work
1:30 p.m.: Pro Super Dock Dog Competition
2:15 p.m.: Casting with the Pros - Fishing
2:30 p.m.: Super V Pro Competition Semifinals
3 p.m.: Retriever Trial Finalists introduction on the dock
4 p.m.: Fun Jumps audience participation
SUNDAY (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
Daisy Range: Open to public, National Wild Turkey Foundation, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
SRS Eukanuba Super Dock
10 a.m.: Super Dock Dogs
11 a.m.: Scott Greer and Robb Watts - Ducks and Dogs at Work
11:15 a.m.: Pro Dock Dogs Semifinals
12:15 p.m.: Casting with the Pros - Fishing
12:30 p.m.: Fun Jumps audience participation
1:30 p.m.: Pro Dock Dogs Finals
2:30 p.m.: Casting with the Pros - Fishing
2:45 p.m.: Super V Finals
Original Print Headline: Women's group weighs in
Other - Outdoor
TUESDAY
Breeding in arctic tundra and wintering primarily along the coasts, sanderlings migrate through
Oklahoma in spring and fall.
