Angier, North Carolina pro angler Monica Altman pulled in a 17.91-pound, five-bass limit from Kentucky Lake to claim a classic come from behind victory in the 2012 Lady Bass Anglers Association Larry Shaffer Memorial Tournament Saturday. Her bag of fish included what would turn out to be the pro angler division Legend Big Bass Award winner weighing in at 6.32 pounds. Altman’s two-day tournament total was 30.13 pounds.
“Today I had a lot more wind, and that concerned me because in practice, it was either slick or just a bit of ripple on the water,†Altman said. “Then yesterday the wind blew across my grass and churned it up a bit, and today it reversed directions. I was just worried, but when it was not still I had not been having any luck. Then it started raining and I thought oh man. Then I had some blow-ups and those made me think they are going to turn on in the grass regardless. So I stuck with it.
“When the rain came in this morning and we had not had a bite, I was tempted to go away from my plan. Then all of a sudden the bite turned on. In practice I had found out there were baitfish in that grass, and I mean millions and millions of them and I knew if they were there that the bass had to be there.
“A lot of folks tend to ride and to jump from spot to spot to spot especially people who are familiar with the lake. After practice and after yesterday I made up my mind this morning that I am going to stay in the grass. Basically a do or die decision. I caught my first three this morning by 8:30 and even though it was slow getting the last two, it all worked out because the last fish of the day was my big fish — the 6.32-pounder.
“It’s awesome to win my first LBAA event and words cannot describe it. I have worked hard. I came up the co-angler side on the Women’s Bassmaster Tour (WBT), and I’ve kept trying to improve myself learning all I can as I grew.â€
