Will this do?
Posted on 04/29/2009 7:27:07 PM PDT by girlangler
The Women of Pro Bass Fishing are Making Their Mark
Janet Parker accepted a commendation given to her and Aaron’s by the U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute on the Talladega driver introduction stage.
Pam Martin-Wells of Bainbridge, Ga., has a shot at being the first woman to qualify for the Bassmaster Elite Series and the Bassmaster Classic in the same year.
Women's Bassmaster Tour angler Janet Parker of Little Elm, Texas, lapped the entire Academy Sports + Outdoors Women's Bassmaster Tour field April 25 in Louisiana on the Ouachita River when she took her first BASS win by a margin of more than 8 pounds.
A scheduled appearance the next day in Alabama gave her the opportunity to do two more laps - victory laps, if you will - on the track at Talladega Superspeedway.
Parker led the parade lap at the April 26 Aaron's 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. It was the third year in a row she led the race parade in her Aaron's Dream Machine bass rig on behalf of her major sponsor, Atlanta, Ga.-based Aaron's.
She also was at Talladega to accept a commendation given to her and Aaron's by the U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute. The award was presented to Parker on the Talladega driver introduction stage.
The U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute is a program of the Secretary of the Army and Chief of Staff of the Army. Founded in 2005, it recognizes "special supporters" of soldiers and the Army's mission.
"We've raised in excess of $90,000 so far for the Armed Forces Foundation through auctions of a donated boat rig and sponsors' products. All my sponsors have really stepped up," Parker said. Aaron's has donated thousands more to military and veteran groups over the years, she added.
She started her charity efforts soon after making an appearance to talk about fishing at an Air Force base and decided she wanted to do more.
"Although I can't begin to comprehend the sacrifices the military and their families make for our country, I want them to know that it is appreciated," she said.
About that second "victory lap" at Talladega: Parker was a passenger in a pace car.
"I wasn't expecting to do that," she said. "The G force at 150 mph is incredible. It was scary and very exciting at the same time. The adrenaline going through me was about the same as when I caught my largest bass of 12 pounds, 5 ounces."
That bass, for the record, was not at a WBT event, but in Mexico at Lake El Salto last December.
Pointed Effort
Pam Martin-Wells of Bainbridge, Ga., has a shot at being the first woman to qualify for the Bassmaster Elite Series and the Bassmaster Classic in the same year.
To reach the 2010 Classic, set for Feb. 19-21 on Lay Lake out of Birmingham, Ala., she has two avenues. One is through the Academy Sports + Outdoors Women's Bassmaster Tour, and the other is through the Bassmaster Southern Open circuit.
The WBT points winner - the 2009 Toyota Tundra WBT Angler of the Year - will qualify for the Classic. The top two points earners in the Southern Open receive Classic berths.
Martin-Wells is leading the WBT points race after two of four regular-season events. She won the WBT season opener in March on Alabama's Lake Neely Henry, then placed seventh at last week's Ouachita River event in Louisiana.
But her WBT lead is not dominant. With 582 points, she's in front by 26, just ahead of Juanita Robinson of Highlands, Texas, who has 556, and Laura Gober of Pendergrass, Ga., who has 553.
Her road to the Elites can be achieved through the Opens and she is performing well in that circuit too. The top seven in the points standings at the end of the each Open division season receive Elite invitations.
She's 23rd going into the Southern Open presented by Oakley on Wheeler Lake out of Decatur, Ala. The event is set for this weekend on April 30 - May 2. She's 81 points from the leader, Bryan Hudgins of Orange Park, Fla.
"Sure, I'd like to make the Elites, just to try it. But I'm fishing the Southern Opens because I love to compete," she said. "But it's very early in the game. I just have to take one tournament at a time."
The big question: Just off the WBT in Louisiana, is she too tired to fish well or so primed she'll whack 'em at Wheeler?
"Probably a little of both, if that makes sense," she said. "I'm exhausted, but I am ready. Fishing's like any other sport - the more you compete, the better you are."
Live, streaming video and real-time leaderboards of the Wheeler Open will be at Bassmaster.com Thursday-Saturday beginning at 3 p.m. ET. Also at Bassmaster.com will be daily standings and photo galleries.
About BASS
For more than 40 years, BASS has served as the authority on bass fishing. With its considerable multimedia platforms and expansive tournament trail, BASS is guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times and Fishing Tackle Retailer and comprehensive Web properties in ESPN360.com, ESPN's broadband sports network,Bassmaster.com, BASSInsider.com and ESPNOutdoors.com, the organization is committed to delivering content true to the lifestyle. Additionally, television programming on ESPN2 continues to provide relevant content - from tips and techniques to in-depth tournament coverage - to passionate audiences.
The organization oversees the prestigious Bassmaster tournament trail, which includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens, Academy Sports + Outdoors Women's Bassmaster Tour and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic. Through its grassroots network, the BASS Federation Nation, BASS annually sanctions more than 20,000 events.
BASS also offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members while spearheading progressive, positive change on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.
www.janetparkerfishing.com
Media Contact: Doug Grassian; 407-566-2216; doug.grassian@espn.com
This thread is worthless without pictures - of boat!
Just a ping to brag a little on my friend. She is a tireless supporter of our American soldiers and their families, and has had her sponsers contribute much to causes supporting our Armed Forces. She has also contributed much time, money and earnings to this cause.
Her sponsors, Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership, Ranger Boats, Humminbird Electronics, MinnKota, Yamaha, Setyr Rods, and Navionics (lake maps) all have contributed to her efforts to support America’s finest men and women — those who defend this country.
How ‘bout a big HooRah!!! She also is one heck of an angler!!!
Will this do?
Here's the boat.
Now there’s better pictures than that out there mark!!!(LOL)
You should have seen the people in my local WalMart when she comes to visit and we went there to buy some stuff to send a friend in Afghanistan. I live in a small town, but one that has lost several young men in Iraq/Afgahistan.
People were stopping us in the aisles, asking what we were catching!!! Her efforts for the troops are unequaled.
She also put me on about a six pound largemouth (and nice smallmouth) on my local lake here about this time last year.
CrappieLuck can also attest to what a fine person she is, and she still thanks you very much for the help last summer on Old Hickory Lake CL!!!
She’s purdy. Did you write the article?
These are photo ops. The really nice shots are the ones of her with huge bass she has caught!!
Check out some of the ones on her site: www.janetparkerfishing.com, including the one to the Air Base in Wichita Falls, TX, were she got to ride in a real machine, like the kind that buzzed NYC this week.
The best thing about Janet, is she is sincere, honest, a country girl from Texas with a big heart and lots of ambition.
I can’t tell you how proud I am of her and her efforts for our troops.
No, I pulled the news releases off other sources, but I have to write a news release about her as soon as I quit playing on FR. Need to do this asap.
Just wanted to share with my FR friends how proud I am of her. She’ll be in Bristol this year for the big race, so maybe you and some freeper friends would like to meet her.
Maybe we could have a picnic for her!
Way to go Janet!!!!!
She has me hooked. Reel me in.
YES, I see that nice smile of yours already MHG!!!
It can be arranged, and we can do this.
Not sure when the big Bristol Race is, but it coincides with the next tea party, and she is one prone to throw some tea bags at those who fail to govern (grin). She is a patriot, more vocal than we all are. She will be here for the Britol race and usually comes to my house afterwards.
Let’s plan for this. How far are you all from the track?
All I could find was a picture of fish.
Alright, I’ve studied that picture closely for almost 20 minutes, and I can’t find any fish!
Approximately fifteen miles. The hwy from JC to Bristol goes right past the speedway. I can hear the dragsters when they crank up. There’s a drag event coming up. The ‘big race’ may be aropund July 4th ... I don’t go to the races so I don’t keep up with the dates. We need to make Freepers out of your friend, her husband, and her whole family! We might even get don-o and Mrs. Don-o to come to this picnic.
She gets a salute from me any day of the week.
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