Lisa Johnson Wins the LBAA Event on Kentucky Lake
July 19, 2014
By Mark Bilbrey
Calvert City, KY- Lisa Johnson of Centre, AL found victory on the ledges of Kentucky Lake on the third stop of the LBAA (Lady Bass Anglers Association) event on Kentucky Lake. Johnson weighed in 10 Fish with a weight of 33.9 pounds to win the two day event.
“ I got out there on my ledge this morning and the wind blew me off of it, I fished for about an hour to an hour and a half and caught two fifteen-inchers then ran up to the bridge and caught some pretty good fish. I spent the rest of the day there before coming back down to my ledge. I caught two more fish there in the last hour.” said Johnson “Bo’s Jigs are awesome! I used a “brown special” football head. When I call him up and order he fixes them up for me. It is a bad little lure, if you get a chance check out Bo’s Jigs.”
The event sponsored by Kentucky Lake Outdoors has brought together some of the top lady anglers from all across the nation to battle it out on these legendary waters making the ledges of Kentucky Lake their home as they competed for cash and points.
No other body of water in North America has given bass fishing more legends that the 652 miles of the Tennessee River. The chain of lakes that have harnessed the power of this amazing fishery are Fort Loudon-Tellico being the furthest upstream, Watts Bar, Chickamauga, Nickajack, Guntersville, Wheeler, Wilson, Pickwick and Kentucky Lake, the farthest downstream and the largest manmade lake east of the Mississippi River by surface acreage and it is the best known ledge fishing lake in the country.
The ledges are so productive because they have so many kick-outs, back ditches and humps more than any other lake on the professional bass fishing circuit. The structure of Kentucky Lake provides the areas where fish can hide and thrive. Multiple schools of big fish that can be a gold mine but they are known to move overnight to change the outcome of a two day event. Lisa’s decision to move to the bridge pilings proved to be the right one.
Lisa Johnson was followed by Pam Ridgle who wrapped up second place. “Ya know sometimes you just gotta’ relax and enjoy fishing, and that’s what I made my mind up that I was gonna’ do this week. It was a pleasurable time, today was better than yesterday. I had a limit by nine am. ” the Texas Angler said on stage as her 5 fish were on the scales bringing her two day total weight to 25.99 pounds.
Another Texas Angler, Penny McCurdy wowed the crowd with the Big Bass of the event weighing in at 6.80 lbs. McCurdy told the fans that this bass was caught in two foot of water on a buzz bait. She said, “I will never fish a ledge again.”
To complete the top five were:
3rd – Dianna Clark – 24.54 lbs.
4th – Robbie Hartline – 20.84 lbs.
5th – Brandi Vanover – 20.18 lbs.
Dianna Uebelhack finished on top of the co-angler division wither her three fish limit weighing in at 18.59 pounds for her two day total. In second place was Glyn Ellen Valentine who was able to land a limit as well bringing her total weight at the scales up to 17.90 pounds for both days combined.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers:
3rd – Olivia Zavadil – 15.66 lbs.
4th –Annette Clark– 15.26 lbs.
5th –Angela Mayo– 14.75 lbs.
The host of the event, Kentucky Lake Outdoors went above and beyond to support the two day event. They also helped local high school fishing teams by asking them to come out and cook hamburgers and hot dogs and other refreshments. The youth each day worked hard at the weigh in and did it all for donations to raise money to support their teams. Kentucky Tourism, Dairy Queen, and Camp-a-Rama co-sponsored the two day event and without the support of sponsors and the communities any bass trail would fail. This event was more than a fishing tournament, but a fun weekend for all who attended.
The Lady Bass Anglers Association will travel to Russellville, Arkansas’ beautiful Lake Dardanelle for their next stop and the WILDCARD event. Two anglers in each division who are the highest finishing anglers not yet qualified for the Lady Bass Classic will qualify from this event to the Lady Bass Classic! Entry fees for pro-anglers is $500 and for co-anglers is $250. Entry deadline to avoid late fee is August 13, 2014. This event is hosted by the Russellville Tourism and Visitor’s Center.
This two day pro/am event will have pro-anglers will be competing to bring in the heaviest 5 fish limit comprised of any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass. Co-anglers are looking for the same species but only need 3 fish for a bag limit each day. The angler in each division with the largest combined two day weight will be awarded the top cash prize for her division. One angler will also be awarded a $500 Big Bass cash prize for the biggest bass of the tournament. Cash payouts in each division will be paid to every 1 in 5 anglers registering for the tournament.
The Lake Dardanelle State Park is home to one of the South’s state-of-the-art, multi-use weigh- in pavilion. This 1,861 square-foot pavilion has all the amenities necessary for a top rate tournament weigh-in. The ladies hope that you can join them for the weigh in at their next stop.
Full result listing and more information about the LBAA can be found at www.ladybassanglers.com
