Alabama Lands Classic
Bass World Championship

Third Annual Women's Bass Fishing Finals
Set for Lake Neely Henry at Gadsden,
November 9-11…

GADSDEN, Alabama - The "Classic World Championship of Bass Fishing" is coming back to Alabama. This time it's the Women's Bass Fishing Association's world finals, November 9-11, at Lake Neely Henry on the Coosa River.

The Coosa River chain, in north Alabama, has been the site of previous BASS Masters Classic world championships staged in Birmingham and Logan Martin Lake.

"We're pleased to announce the Third Annual Women's Classic Championship will be held in Gadsden during the week of November 5-11, and look forward to a great tournament," said Gov. Don Siegelman.

A field of 26 qualifiers from the Women's Bass Fishing Association (WBFA), based in Pelham, Alabama, will headline the three-day fish-off, according to Willie Cook, director and tournament chairman for the WBFA.

"Alabama, with the WBFA headquartered in Pelham and the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) Tournament Trail based in Montgomery, is the focus of the bass fishing world," points out Gov. Siegelman. "And, we want to invite fishermen to enjoy our state's great natural resources and public waters."

Gov. Siegelman said a grant of $50,000 has been made to help land the WBFA Classic Championship in Alabama. The City of Gadsden and the Alabama Department of Parks and Tourism will co-host the tournament. Gadsden's Mayor Steve Means was instrumental in bringing the event to Lake Neely Henry.

The WBFA is the "ladies league" of their own. The six-tournament series leading up to the Classic selects the top points leaders. The defending champion earns an automatic berth.

"Our qualifying series and the Angler-of-the-Year race went right down to the line," said Willie Cook. "These ladies are proven tournament anglers and with the fall fishing on Lake Neely Henry expected to be primetime, we're forecasting a real exciting weigh-in."

Based on the season's results, JoNell Whitstine of Colfax, Louisiana, the WBFA Angler-of-the-Year, rates an early favorite's look.

Both former WBFA Classic winners are in the field. Sherrie Brubaker of Warner, Oklahoma, the 1998 champion, qualified 14th. Defending champion, Donna Newberry of Van Buren, Arkansas, won last fall on the Red River at Marksville, Louisiana with 15 bass and 26.92 pounds. Sherrie Brubaker, formerly of West Lake, Louisiana, is a two-time WBFA Angler-of-the-Year winner. She won the 1998 Classic at Percy Priest Lake near Nashville, Tennessee.

"An interesting sidebar in this year's qualifying field is the Amateur-of-the-Year Sammie Jo Stainbrook," opines Cook. "Sammie Jo is the daughter of our Angler-of-the-Year JoNell Whitstine. We've got a 'family feud' to referee."

Besides the biggest honor in women's bass fishing, the 2000 Classic champion will take home a fully-rigged Triton bass boat, the TR-19, powered with Mercury's EFI 150 horsepower outboard motor, three Humminbird Electronics depth-finder and fish-finders, and Minn Kota trolling motor, a package valued at over $25,000.

Daily weigh-ins, November 9-11, will begin at 2:30 p.m. at the Gadsden City Docks. The weigh-ins are open and free to the public.

The daily tournament limit will be five bass. The Coosa River is famous for its spotted bass fishery with numerous 4-pound spots taken, but the bigger largemouth may be the key to winning the championship. As a yardstick, the last time the B.A.S.S. tour tested Neely Henry, Alton Jones of Texas won with 43-pounds, 11-ounces. Davy Hite of South Carolina weighed-in 55-pounds in a four-day Bassmaster Top 100 win, May 8-11, 1996.

"Everything changes in the fall fishing," says Cook. "The bass are on the move, chasing baitfish, and it can be hit-and-miss. The Classic can be won-or-lost with a lucky break on finding a school of bass. But, putting it together for three days in November will be the real test."

Only artificial lures are permitted. The bass are weighed and released following the daily weigh-ins. Cook said the Alabama Department of Conservation will assist with the catch-and-release.

The 26 contestants from 13 states will be paired with observers and fish from their own bass tournament rigs. The bass boats are equipped with aerated livewells to keep the fish alive for release. Penalty points result in the event of a dead fish weighed-in. There will be three days allowed for warm-up and practice on the tournament waters, November 6-8.

While the WBFA tournament tour is officially in its third season, the women's sport of professional bass fishing is over 27 years old. The WBFA was organized by Willie Cook after the long-standing Bass 'N Gals circuit based in Texas and sponsor of the women's Classic ended operations.

Among the former Bass 'N Gals standouts, making waves in the new WBFA, are Penny Berryman of Arkansas, a 23-time Classic finalist; New Jersey's Barbara Wetzel, fishing her 15th championship; four-time national winner Janice Cheek of Louisiana and a 27-time Classic qualifier; and Marcia Fann, the runner-up in the 2000 WBFA points standings and eight-time Classic angler.

Also, Pam Martin of Bainbridge, Georgia, a 14-time Classic finalist and the all-time women's money winner is naturally a threat. As well as, 15-time Classic qualifier Katherine Stuart of Conway, Arkansas.

Stuart and Lonnie Walsh of Havana, Florida gained the 2000 Classic championship through the WBFA's Affiliated Club Championship held on Lake Neely Henry, June 22-23.

                       Here are the qualifiers for the 2000 WBFA's Classic:

          1) JoNell Whitstine, Colfax, LA;              2) Marcia Fann, Clewiston, FL;
          3) Sheri Glasgow, Muskogee, OK;        4) Bernice Wilkes, Moultrie, GA;
          5) Kathi Hurst, Ripley, MS;                      6) Barbara Wetzel, Mullica Hill, NJ;
          7) Cindy Hill, Smyrna, TN;                       8) Penny Berryman, Dardanelle, AR;
          9) Sonya Mahaffey, Tulsa, OK;             10) Judy Wong, Sugar Land, TX.
        11) Janice Cheek, Lecompte, LA;         12) Lisa Sternard, Clarksville, TN;
        13) Mary DiVincenti, Clinton, LA;           14) Sherrie Brubaker, Warner, OK;
        15) Janice Arnold, Gentry, AR;               16) Betty Stahl, Guntersville, AL;
        17) Dianna Mason, Goshen, OH;           18) Denise Turner, Memphis TN;
        19) Brenda Carter, Smiths, AL;              20) Sylvia Graham, Valparaiso, IN.
        21) Donna Newberry, Van Buren, AR;   22) Lyla Durrer, Barnhart, MO;
        23) Lonnie Walsh, Havana, FL;              24) Katherine Stuart, Conway, AR;
        25) Pam Martin, Bainbridge, GA;           26) Sammie Jo Stainbrook, Ft. Walton, Fl