Page 34 - Lady Bass Digital Magazine March 2023

TAKING THE PLUNGE: GUNTERSVILLE 2011

By Leslie Anderson

I had been competitively fishing since 2002. I’d been To say I was nervous would be a major
very fortunate to develop my skills as an angler in understatement. When I first started competing in
my local club, The Gateway Bass’n Gals, first as a tournaments, I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t eat, and was
co-angler and then as a boater. I started with a 90HP often found sick in the bathroom on the morning of
aluminum Express, and eventually graduated to a 225 the tournament. However, I have always believed that
HP Ranger Comanche. I had learned to read maps meaningful personal growth comes from doing the
and to fish big waters like Kentucky Lake and Table things that feel the scariest and
Rock. The WBT (Women’s Bass Tour) had just folded, most challenging. So I force
but I had enjoyed fishing several of their events as a myself…. crazy, I know. At
co angler. The LBAA had just started. I was ready, I the time, my buddies Robbie
thought. It was time to enter my first tournament as a Hartline, Lynda Gessner, and
boater against the big girls. Cheryl Lalumandier were all
living here in St. Louis. I had
met them through my local
club; they were always so helpful
and encouraging, and became,
like many others I would
soon meet and love, like
family. We would all meet
somewhere and caravan to
a lake. As a solo woman
pulling a boat, it was an
immense comfort to be able
At the time, I was still teaching and therefore only to travel with company.
able to compete in one or two LBAA events each year.
The Guntersville Lake tourney was being held in July, We all left on Friday, July 1st. It’s about an 8-hour
so I thought it would be perfect. Also, I had learned drive from Missouri. Even now, I still feel anxious
to bass fish on Guntersville. My mom’s family, from when I hook up my boat and leave home. Robbie
Huntsville, had a vacation place there, and we spent and Lynda were up front, and Cheryl and I pulled
many a family vacation trip on this beautiful body of up the rear. The journey went along smoothly until
water. It was there that I discovered my passion for about 30 miles from the lake on a two-lane highway.
bass fishing. Of course, back in those days, circa 1960’s I was behind Cheryl, and she had a blowout on her
and early 70’s, we fished out of an aluminum boat with trailer. Robbie and Lynda
no trolling motor and a tiller engine. My dad or my were quite a bit ahead,
uncles would have to scull up front to propel us…… so I turned around at an
seems archaic now! But I figured this was a sign, exit and pulled up behind
right? I got a map, and even spent my spring break in Cheryl to help. I believe
March at a Best Western on the lake to help me feel she tried to change the tire
more comfortable. Of course, fishing conditions in herself but couldn’t get
March are much different than in July; one of many the jack under the trailer.
lessons I would soon learn. Another lesson learned:
I bought a hydraulic jack

34 Lady Bass Anglers Association Taking the Plunge: Guntersville 2011