Social Fins

First ALA Event Fun for Entire Family, Viewed as Successful Event

The first American Lady Anglers (ALA) Event, held on Saturday, July 3, 2010 at Lake Fork Marina and Motel, is now in the books. The intrepid participants who chose to brave the intermittent bands of showers spawned by Hurricane Alex enjoyed a memorable day-long extravaganza with something for everyone.  The two most-voiced comments, heard repeatedly by the organizers were, “I had a great time, this tournament was the most fun of any tournament I’ve ever been in,” and “I’ll definitely be back for next year’s event”.  The ALA had two goals in organizing the Independence Day Celebration. The primary goal was to throw a huge party to celebrate the holiday and honor the military veterans past and present who make it possible for all Americans to celebrate their Independence on this day, and the second was to hold a small, “get-your-feet-wet” event to try out all of the new equipment and work out any potential problems before the big Inaugural Tournament in September. The idea, creators say, is similar to opening a store before the Grand Opening, to work out all of the kinks.   

The event started bright and early with a morning fishing tournament. From first cast at 6 am until the weigh-in at 11 am, the teams competed for both cash and prizes.  First place honors went to uncle and nephew team Paul and Garrett Pearson, who also won the Big Bass Pot. Friends Cameron Burnett and Jonathan Lancaster won second place honors, weighing in at only three hundredths of an ounce behind the winners. Judy Skibinski and Cora Barker, both new ALA Charter members, won third place.   Specialty prizes added to the festivities, with Hollie Brown taking the “Smallest Legal Fish” award. The award was a beautiful pink Ladies’ rod donated by CastAway rods, especially for this tournament. Liz Sanders and Linda Owens also each took home beautiful pink CastAway Ladies’ rods, winning the prize for coming the longest distance to fish in the event. Although there were anglers coming from Louisiana, Liz and Linda won by coming all the way from Brandon, Mississippi to join us at the Lake Fork event. Brandy Roughton, Vice President of CastAway Rods, brought her family to enjoy the event, along with multiple rods donated by her company for the event. She also brought copies of the companies’ freshly-printed new catalog, featurning CastAway’s new technology which will be highlighted in the rods they are taking to ICAST.

Immediately after the weigh-in concluded, several commemorative plaques were awarded by the American Lady Anglers. The first was a post humus Award given to Dorothy Jean Watkins, honorary American Lady Angler Charter Member Number One.  Rod Baker, ALA Founder and Firecracker Fish-Off Tournament Director, emceed the event and said of Dorothy Jean. “She was the original Lady Angler and always fishing. When the WBT visited Old Hickory Lake in 2009, we met her son Dave Watkins, a guide at Old Hickory. He was out fishing with his mother and every few minutes would come up to him and say, ’I’m hung up!’ and Dave would patiently go and get her unstuck, all the while fishing and talking. She was a local fixture and everyone would drive by and honk at her as she fished.”  The next plaque went to Tim Walker, winner of last year’s Firecracker Fish-Off. As winner of the event, Tim was granted free entry into the tournament this year. The plaque, commissioned and completed after last year’s event, and has been gracing the walls of Moser’s Restaurant for the patrons to comment on since that time.  The Model A Fords swept the Classic Car Competition, and no clear winner could be determined. The People’s Choice Award was therefore split between the two Model A Fords, and a second People’s Choice Award will be given so that both Model A Ford owners will receive their plaque. The Mavericks Motorcycle Club swept into the marina with mufflers rumbling, to the applause of the crowd gathered for the weigh-in ceremonies. Fans immediately gravitated to the motorcycle display, after emcee Rod Baker explained the voting procedure. After a heated competition, Motorcycle #4 won the People’s Choice Award. It was a close contest between the winner and Motorcycle #9, another clear crowd favorite. After the Motorcycle competition convened, the Mavericks Motorcycle Club convened to President Steve Glenn’s house for a Commemorative Cook Out to celebrate their success, so that they could rest and regroup for the Fireworks Event later.

Reel Girls Fish, owned by ALA Sponsor Denise Sustiata, brought an entire trailer full of new products to display and sell to fans at the event.  Denise’s Bass Caddy husband Larry received an official ALA Bass Caddy shirt as a thank-you from event organizers for all of the effort he put into helping out for the entire event. From dawn ‘til dusk, Larry lifted, toted, and in general did anything and everything he could to help out at both the Reel Girls booth and throughout the event grounds. Not only did the Reel Girls Booth display beautiful tee shirts and camisoles with both bling and originality, they treated customers by displaying on-site production of their wares.  Customers could custom-order their individual preferences and watch while Denise made the magic happen and produce the order to their exact specifications.  ALA member Terri Elkins is now a proud owner of a beautiful Reel Girls black camisole, with a beautiful aqua blue design.  Other booths selling their wares included Impressions and More, and the ALA even got into the act displaying their new patches, decals, hats, visors and tee shirts. Also displayed were potential future products for fan feedback, such as sports bras and camisoles.  Families and Fans dispersed indoors during heavy rain showers brought during afternoon hours, with the rain letting up just as the evening activities were scheduled to begin.

 Word quickly spread throughout the Lake Fork Marina that the show would go on as planned, and people began emerging from cover. A crowd quickly gathered to delight in the decorated golf carts, all of which showed a definite patriotic theme.  Lee White emceed the event, awarding prizes donated by Lake Fork Marina to the winners of four categories: Most Patriotic, Most Original, Best Decorated, and Crowd Favorite. The winners gathered to lead the parade in a victory lap around the marina waving their prizes to the appreciative crowd, to the accompaniment of air horns and crowd applause.  After the laughter died down, everyone was ready to view the fireworks, donated by the American Lady Anglers for the event.  Not only did people gather at the marina, but boats also gathered off the point where the fireworks were set up, to better view the fireworks from the water.  In deference to the wet ground and recent showers, organizers had to forego the planned musical accompaniment, but the collective crowd spirit could not be dampened as the Fireworks Extravaganza ensued.  For over 30 minutes, multiple bursts of remote-detonated fireworks continued to evoke appreciative applause, along with whistles and other vocal kudos. It wasn’t enough that each fireworks display used 500 grams of gunpowder, the maximum allowable for sale in the United States. Steve Nail and Rod Baker, the masterminds behind the display design wired four different types of fireworks together for each burst, ensuring that the crowd received the full “bang for their buck” for each burst. The sky was literally filled with continuous fireworks bursts for the entirety of the event, culminating in a Grand Finale lasting for over ten minutes. Fans, friends and families attending the 2010 ALA Firecracker Fish-Off all went home sleepy and satisfied, after a full day filled with fun finished off by the Fireworks Display Finale.

The ALA would like to thank Sponsors Lake Fork Marina, Reel Girls Fish, CastAway Graphite Rods, Sure-Life, Impressions & More, Steve’s Custom Props, along with all of the local businesses who donated for the 2010 ALA Firecracker Fish-Off. A big thank you goes out to Brookshire’s Grocery Store, Hooten’s Hardware, Emory Auto, Tim Walker’s Bait Shop, Steve’s Custom Props, Pott’s Feed Store, OnSite Trolling Motor Service, Service Marine, and Alco for donating items for the raffle. A special thanks to the Classic Car Club and the Mavericks Motorcycle Club for their participation.

About the ALA:  The American Lady Anglers (ALA), founded by Rod Baker, husband and bass caddy of former WBT Pro Dr. Terri Elkins, and Lake Fork Fishing Guide Lee White, gives all women the opportunity to fish on an even playing field. Standard ALA events consist of both the Co/Pro Individual and Team Tournaments in which the full field of entrants compete for two days in each. Ladies may enjoy the fun and camaraderie the ALA provides while fishing in either one or both tournaments.  ALA benefits include offering the highest paybacks possible for the lowest entry fees, along with increased media attention to promote both the anglers and their Sponsors.

The ALA also hosts specialty events, such as its season-opening Firecracker Fish-Off, an Independence Day Benefit Tournament honoring a specific military charity each year. Like other ALA specialty events, The Firecracker Fish-Off is not just for ladies; the entire family can fish. With the ALA, fishing is not only a family affair, it’s fun for everyone, the anglers, their families, their friends, and their fans. Sponsors Lake Fork Marina, Sure Life, Reel Girls Fish and CastAway Graphite Rods share the ALA ideals and support their charitable and other service ventures. 

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If you’d like more information about this topic, go to AmericanLadyAnglers.com or to schedule an interview to discuss the ALA, please call Terri Elkins at (972) 977-6700, or Email Terri at terrielkins@sbcglobal.net.

My name is Larry Stoafer and I am a retired Army officer and an avid bass tournament angler with a passion our for troops. I am also the chairman of a committee that plans, coordinates, and executes an event for wounded warrior and GWOT veterans that we call Fishing For Freedom (F3). Our small bass club in Leavenworth, Ks (Leavenworth Bass Club) began hosting F3 in 2009 and plan on making it an annual event. F3 is modeled after similar events that are occurring all across the nation. The Leavenworth Bass Club rallies volunteer boaters from local bass clubs, regional tournament anglers, avid fishermen, and guides to take wounded warriors and Global War on Terrorism veterans out for a weekend celebration to honor their service which culminates in a day of fishing in a buddy bass tournament format. In 2009, we were able to take 30 of these heroes from Ft Riley, Ft Leavenworth, Ft Leonard Wood, and Ft Polk fishing on Truman Lake. This year's event will again be on Truman Lake near Warsaw, Mo on 9-10 Oct. We are planning on growing the 2010 F3 to accommodate at least 100 warriors.

Fishing For Freedom is a no fee event, thanks to our sponsors and donors; we are able to provide two nights of lodging and meals for these heroes. We provide volunteer boaters and tackle as well. Thanks to unbelievable support from the fishing tackle industry, we are also able to present each participant with a tackle package. The only cost to the participants are a Misoouri fishing license and transportation to and from Truman Lake.

This event is for both wounded warriors and GWOT veterans and both are eligible to participate, but one of our challenges has been getting the invitation out to the wounded and disabled veterans that have transitioned to civilian life. We are also still in need of volunteer boaters. If you would like to spend a weekend with some of the most amazing people on the planet, we could use your support.

The details about the 2010 F3 event can be found at our website http://fishingforfreedom.us/ . Volunteers and participants can both register for the event through the website.

Thanks for your consideration.

Just got back from the Classic in Birmingham, where my husband, Rod and I went to support our friends, Pam and Steven (Martin-Wells and Wells).  Pam did great and I am ultra-proud of her! I took tons of picture to make her a "Classic Scrapbook" for her Rookie Classic Year.  Won money betting she would make the cut - which she did, and fished the final day, ending up in 22nd place overall.  I'm sure her first two days surprised a lot of people - she caught the first limit of the Classic both days- but it didn't surprise anyone who knows Pam and has ever seen her fish.  Like I said, I got tons of terrific pictures, and am going to post some of them on my website, www.BassFancy.com and on Rod's www.AmericanLadyAnglers.com.  I'm sure Pam will put some on her website, www.PamMartinWells.com. 

Speaking of Websites, Rod is the Founder and one of the Tournament Directors for the all-new American Lady Anglers.  The Web Master just got the site up and running the day before we left for Birmingham to go to the Classic, and when we got back, the ALA Website already had over 1300 hits, just from our word-of-mouth, "there's a new ladies' team tournament trail and it's got a new website" that Rod did while on the road. If I slip and say "we", I don't mean "we" as in "I'm the American Lady Anglers".  I mean "we" as in "I'm going to join the American Lady Anglers and fish the ALA team tournament trail with a partner", and "we" is my husband Rod (the ALA's founder and idea-person" and me - who is only a loyal ALA member and sometime-secretary since I type faster.  I don't speak "for" the ALA, I am only speaking on behalf of getting people to hear about the ALA as an ALA member.

Check out the website if you want to find out about the ALA's  mission - which is basically to get any lady who wants to fish in a boat and fishing ALA events.  Also, the ALA's goals are to have lower entry fees, while getting bigger and better cash and prizes for payouts for the ladies, plus increased media exposure (of all kinds) for our lady anglers and their sponsors.  Rod and Lee (see Website for bios) are in the process of talking to some major sponsors, booking tournament venues, etc.  All of the basic paperwork stuff is getting done or has been done, the incorporation, accounting, contracts, insurance, etc., ad infinitum. 

Lots of cities all over the U.S. are interested in getting the lady anglers there to fish -  they are basically welcoming the ALA with open arms.  The ALA has a brand-new, 24-foot stage trailer which is in the process of being outfitted with top-of-the line equipment - digital scales (with computer-assisted angler entry and printouts), aerated livewell tanks for the fish, live release tanks, stage, computers and webcams for streaming video, etc. 

The main thing ALA staff is thinking about is how to make it fun and exciting for its lady anglers.  I'm sure the improved cash payouts and media attention will go a long way towards helping with that.  Lady-friendly companies are being strongly pursued for sponsorship, especially those either owned or run by women, and those that offer women's products - it just makes sense to the ALA Directors.  Fishing industry companies that are already known to be interested in the lady anglers are also being looked at as potential sponsors.

Ladies, please bear with the ALA  during its growing process!  The Website has had a huge number of  hits, plus  emails and phone calls, and the Tournament Directors  want to give everyone the individual attention they deserve.  One of the assets of the ALA Website is its "Partner Finder" page, where  lady anglers are invited  to post their information to help them find a partner to fish with.  The ALA hopes that the team format, allowing the women to combine their  fish, and to be in the front, back, (or middle) of the boat as they so choose, will help the ladies to have a better sense of camaraderie and fun while they compete. Hopefully, ALA's Web Master can get the "Partner Finder" function up and running soon, because the Directors  are already having ladies call and email  because they want to get a partner so they can get signed up as soon as the tournament schedule and host cities are posted.   

Since all of the former WBT  ladies and all other lady anglers are scattered all over the map in the different bass tournament trails this year, the ALA staff is working closely with another ladies' tournament trail that is having the standard Co/Pro, or Boater/Non-boater format.  The ALA is  actually looking at having a multi-day tournament at whichever lake the tournaments are scheduled, fishing with the other ladies tour for a Pro/Co two or three-day event, followed by a one-day team event where anyone can fish together as a team for the ALA event. The ALA has no desire to "divide up the ladies", and therefore have a smaller attendance or registration for any of the tournament trails.  The ALA's intent is just to offer more options, and therefore get more ladies out to fish.  The ALA is not going to interfere with, or schedule against, any ladies' tournament trail schedule.   This will allow all of the ladies be able to fish any and all of the ladies' tournaments available.  That is why the ALA is having the lower entry fees and higher payouts - to help all of the ladies defray their tournament expenses and get them all out to fish ALA tournaments.

ALa staff are also talking to selected cities about not only having the standard flyers, radio, and television pre-tournament publicity, but also personal appearances.  ALA members will appear at city-wide school assemblies, where they will talk to teenagers and young ladies and interest them in fishing and actually have a drawing and allow a couple to be outfitted by local tackle shops, dress them up and let them fish with selected (volunteer) pro lady anglers.  The ALA members will also show off our wraps (maybe a boat/tow-vehicle parade also) and demonstrate some fishing techniques.  Additionally, there are ALA Sponsor events planned with autograph-signing personal appearances, sponsor sample give-aways, and even Sponsor-donated prizes for random anglers. 

By allowing random anglers to win cash and prizes at our tournament events, and also having "fun" prizes, such as "big fish, daintiest fish, first fish", etc., it allows every lady angler participating in ALA events to anticipate that she could possibly win something at any and every venue, and that not just the top finishers will win money.  ALA's founders are hoping that all of these extra prizes will attract more anglers to fish ALA events, and to want to fish at all of our events.  The American Lady Anglers team tournament fishing trail organizers are  well-aware that it takes the participation of every angler to make tournament fishing a success, for the ladies, their sponsors, and for the tournament trail organizers.  Every lady is integral to the success of American Lady Anglers.

So...Ladies - all of you - Come Fish With Us!  And bring your BFF!  Bear with ALA while they grow their tournament trail.  It takes awhile for the Website, Equipment, and Tournament Schedule to catch up with the organizers' big ideas, but it will happen, and then it will be a success.  It will be a success that every lady will have had a part in helping to make it all happen - for all of our current lady anglers and for our future lady anglers.