A new era in women’s professional bass fishing it about to embark.

The Lady Bass Anglers Association’s (LBAA) Kickoff Tournament is scheduled for September 16-18, 2010 at Lake Dardanelle in Russellville, Arkansas.

Anglers from 14 states make up the field for the 2010 Lake Dardanelle Kickoff Tournament and the field has anglers with all levels of experience competing. The field includes some of the world’s best women’s professional anglers to women who are fishing their first professional tournament.

The LBAA was formed after ESPN made the decision to eliminate its women's bass fishing circuit.

The LBAA field reads like a who’s who in women’s professional bass fishing. Pam Martin-Wells who was the Women’s Bassmaster Tour (WBT) Angler of the Year in 2009 before that organization dissolved. Emily Shaffer, who was elected to the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame in 2009, is also competing. Also fishing on the pro side are such notables as Judy Wong, Sheri Glasgow, Mary DiVicneti, and Patti Campbell.
Anglers on the pro side will be trying their best to entice bass from the waters of Lake Dardanelle with all the savvy they have in them as ladies on the pro side of the 2010 Kickoff tournament are competing for a guaranteed $5,000 first place prize.

“My whole career has revolved around trying to promote this sport and women in fishing and getting people more involved in God’s creation. With an organization being run by the same people participating, the common goal to promote the sport will be achieved,” Martin-Wells stated recently.

Gail Wood a competing angler from Arkansas said, “I'm excited about the new LBAA tour coming to Lake Dardanelle. Russellville locals are looking forward to the ladies being here in September.”

Lake Dardanelle is an impoundment of 34,000 plus acres that covers 315 miles of shoreline in the River Valley region of northwest Arkansas. Dardanelle has been deemed Arkansas’ most productive bass fishery by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission after many studies of bass tournaments across the state.

“Anglers from the past, present, and future have all contributed to move this organization from a dream to a reality,” stated Cheryl Bowden, one of the co-founders of the LBAA. “Lake Dardanelle is the next step of this quest, and it will definitely not be the last.”

Official practice for the Lake Dardanelle Kickoff Tournament will begin Sunday, September 12, 2010.
Days one and two (09/16 & 09/17) of the LBAA Lake Dardanelle Kickoff Tournament will be the ProAm Event. All anglers competing in the ProAm Event must be members of the LBAA.

Day three of the LBAA Lake Dardanelle Kickoff Tournament will be the LBAA Main Street Mission Team Charity Fishing Tournament with the event proceeds going to support The Main Street Mission in Russellville.

Teams may register between 4PM and 6PM at the LBAA weigh-in or between 5AM and 7AM the morning of the event. The Main Street Mission has been feeding the hungry in Pope, Yell, and Johnson Counties in Arkansas for over 15 years. The Main Street Mission is located at 1110 E. Second Street, in Russellville. Their number is 1-479-968-8303.

The day three charity event will pay a guaranteed $1,000 first place prize. Also there will be $200 in bonus prize money for both the highest finishing team composed that has one female member, and the team that has a child under 12 as a member of that team.

All three days of “official tournament competition” will launch at “safe light” from the Lake Dardanelle State Park with all daily weigh-ins getting underway at 3PM at the Lake Dardanelle State Park Pavilion.

Host lodging for the LBAA Lake Dardanelle Kickoff Tournament will be the Best Western Inn located at 2326 N. Arkansas Avenue, Russellville, Arkansas 72802-2218. Phone 1-479-967-1000/Fax 1-479-967-3586.