The women's Bassmaster tournament is just days away. And already, nine professional female Anglers from Arkansas are on the water. A small craft warning on the Arkansas River forced the tournament to re-locate to Lake Maumelle. The high water is not stopping these ladies from competing for the big prize.
"They are starting to take us seriously now," says Pro-Angler Marsha Gipson.
"The women have been around in the background, not been seen, Bass, started Bass Masters tour, I get chill bumps, were here, a place to compete," says Pro-Angler Jan Heavener.
Jan Heavener, Christina Baugh, and Marsha Gipson, have a lot in common, they're all die hard Pro-Anglers from Arkansas. Marsha says competing in a mans world has its challenges, but they're picking up momentum.
"It's really exciting, women just now started coming on strong, learning a lot, growing the sport," says Gipson.
"Oh I say let's go fishing, I'm never competing with a man, I'm competing with a fish," says Heavener.
Friday, the lady Anglers are getting in all the practice they can, but high lake levels mean catching fish just got harder.
"It's a little tougher, fish scattered, go into places look a little harder to find 'em. Lake Maumelle is high right now," says Gipson
The tournament is June 4, 5, 6. The winner will take home a $55,000 Bass boat. $1,000 in cash, and of course bragging rights.
"I want it bad, especially here on home waters," says Gipson. "Look out, I'm here, the fish better start hiding, laugh, I plan on loading the boat."
Daily weigh-ins start at 2:30PM everyday at Academy Sports in Sherwood. The US Army Corps of Engineers issues a small craft warning when a river flow exceeds 70-thousand cubic feet per second. The Arkansas River was at 180-thousand. The women's Bassmaster tournament is June 4 through 6 on Lake Maumelle.
