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A Member of
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| Julie Schuster joins Andy Afflick as co-host of Outdoor Trail Magazine. |
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Nashville, TN - With the growing number of women getting involved in outdoor sports, Outdoor Trail Magazine has expanded its programming to include stories and adventures just for women. Not only has the programming changed, Julie Schuster an outdoor writer and participant in the outdoor sports has been added as the host of the "Women in the Outdoors" segment. Schuster will also hold down the co-hosting duties for the Outdoor Trail Magazine radio show.
"Adding Julie Schuster to our programming and staff will fill a big void we had in making our show and magazine more family oriented," said Andy Afflick, producer and editor of all Outdoor Trail Magazine media. "We hope women will rely on Schuster to bring them not only the opportunities for women in the outdoors but also the educational instruction needed to be successful in the outdoors. Schuster truly is the Voice for women in the outdoors."
Those appearing in "Women in the Outdoors" have included: Brenda Valentine, Joella Bates, Kimberlee Striker, Casey Atkinson and Hannah Dirks to name a few.
Nashville, TN - Outdoor Trail Magazine announced this week they'll be bringing it's listeners complete coverage of the New Women's Bassmaster Tour.
"Our listeners will feel like they're at the tournament with our live reports from each of the tournament stops" said Andy Afflick, President of OTM. "For the next few months leading up to the first event in October, we'll be airing angler spotlights allowing our listeners the ability to know the women that will be competing in one of the fastest growing outdoor sports".
For the past few years OTM has been airing live reports from each of the major tournaments on the BASS and FLW tournament trail. OTM's live show from the Bassmaster Classic in Pittsburgh featured Larry Nixon, Jimmy Mize and the Greatest Angler of all time Rick Clunn. Also joining the fun were two energetic anglers from the WBT, Robin Babb and Judy Wong.
Nashville, TN –
Capitol Recording Artist, Amber Dotson, and Professional Angler, Paul Elias took home bragging rights and the Championship Trophy with their weight of 8.14 at the 2nd Annual CMA Music Fest Artist/Angler Bass Fishing Tournament. They beat the other nine teams by cranking underwater structure.
As we pulled our Outdoor Trail Magazine Triton TR20-X Series boat close to the team of Elias & Dotson to take a few photos, Paul said “one more cast, and then we’ll head to another spot”. On that last cast, Elias pulled in a nice smallmouth bass with the help of Dotson who handled the net like a pro.
Guys, watch out, Dotson uses a bait casting reel and can throw a crankbait just as far as Elias. Could Dotson be the first female to win the coveted Bassmaster Classic? If it were up to her, she’d fish for a living just like the pros. But until then, she’ll keep recording songs and opening shows for George Strait.
For more information on Amber Dotson visit www.amberdotson.com or www.capitolnashville.com.
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| Mary DiVincenti, winner of the Women's Classic. |
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By Julie Schuster
Did you know that the first document done on fishing is attributed to a woman? That woman was Dame Juliana Berners, a 15th – century English nun and noblewoman. Women have always been a part of the cultural fishing scene and now because of organizations such as the W.B.F.A. (Women’s Bass Fishing Association) their dreams of being competitive in the sport are now being realized. A sport once thought of as exclusive to men is now a profession for these women anglers.
My first encounter with the W.B.F.A. was in April of this past year. I was invited by Dianna Rogers, one of the circuit professionals, to participate as an amateur angler in the event. This meant I would be able to fish along side a pro in her boat and compete in the amateur division. What a fantastic experience! These women are experienced, well equipped, and fish for all it’s worth. I was impressed with the level of professionalism as well as hard work they put into the sport.
Louisiana was host to the Classic World Championship of Women’s Bass Fishing held on the Red River near Shreveport, August 17-23. The W.B.F.A. conducted the tournament in which the top 34 women anglers from 12 different states participated. This event had them competing for the title of World Champion and a fully rigged Triton TR-18 bass boat. The total prize package for all the anglers was valued at just over $50,000.00. Not bad for a few days of fishing! Let me tell you from experience, these women earn that money--they are focused and work hard when out on that water!
Mary DiVincenti of Clinton, Louisiana captured the title of World Champion for the event. She eagerly hooked into some nice size bass the first day of the tournament claiming one of only two 5-fish limits for the day totaling 12.45 pounds. Donna Newberry of Van Buren, Arkansas was close behind with a day total of 11.71 pounds. For the first morning "blast off" it was a balmy 85 degrees at 5:30 am! Mary commented on her first day tactics, "I established a hot weather pattern during practice and stuck with it. I would get a little more detailed on exactly which baits I used, but there are still two days of competition." Donna, also pleased with her day’s results, was going to stick with her planned strategy.
Day two found Mary bringing in another 5-fish limit totaling 12.96 pounds. "I found the fish in thick brush and water hyacinths in 18 inches of water. When the pattern held on the first day of competition, I knew that unless there was a drastic change in the weather, the pattern would hold during competition. I worked a spinner bait and buzz bait." Judy Wong, 2-time defending World Champion from Sugarland, Texas, brought in the biggest stringer for the tournament, 17.29 pounds, which was her second day total. This moved her into second place behind Mary DiVincenti.
The final day of competition found Mary coming to the scales with a solid 5-fish limit of 10.48 pounds, approximately 6 pounds ahead of her bassin competitors. Her overall 3-day total of 35.89 pounds was enough for Mary to capture the title of World Champion! Judy Wong claimed second place with 29.55 pounds, Pam-Martin Wells of Bainbridge, Georgia took third place with 21.84 pounds. Sheri Glasgow from Muskogee, Oklahoma weighed in a total of 21.30 pounds for fourth place and Donna Newberry rounded out the top five with a weight of 19.88 pounds. Weigh to go (no pun intended) ladies!
The W.B.F.A. is the only professional bass tournament trail designed for women anglers. The ladies fish five tournaments each year to earn qualifying points to fish the Classic Tournament. Whether or not it will ever reach the popularity and exposure of men’s bass fishing events, these women deserve a place in the hierarchy of the sport. "Gone like the privacy of the tavern, is the all-male sanctity of fishing. Women undoubtedly started fishing out of curiosity, but many have learned to love it and some have actually become good at it." (Holiday Magazine, July 1948)
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| Stuart Wolcott, Irlene Mandrell, Liz Hudson & Andy Afflick |
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When the call was made to Liz Hudson of Clarksville, TN, winner of the OTM Celebrity Turkey Hunt, she didn’t hesitate in packing her gear for the turkey hunt of a lifetime.
Liz won a professionally guided turkey hunt from Primm Springs Wildlife Co. along with $150.00 in gear from Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World. Unfortunately Hudson didn’t get to use the free mounting from Azac Jr’s Taxidermey, as the birds didn’t want to cooperate for her or Tennessee’s Wild Side cameras. Hudson’s trip was highlighted by her hunting partner, Irlene Mandrell, the spokeswomen for the the National Wild Turkey Federations Women of the Outdoors Program.
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| Irlene Mandrell |
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“Just being able to hunt beside Irlene Mandrell was exciting” said Hudson. “I really enjoy deer hunting and coon hunting. I felt like this turkey hunt would give me another prospective of what hunting and being in the outdoors is all about”.
The Outdoor Trail Magazine Celebrity Turkey Hunt was created to promote family outdoor activities and to promote sound conservation practices. Outdoor Trail Magazine can be heard live from Nashville Saturday mornings 5am – 6am cst. by logging on at www.outdoortrailmagazine.com or by tuning in 104.5 FM The Zone.
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