Lady Bass Anglers Heading to Cane River in Natchitoches

Here in our neck of the woods, we can boast some of the finest bass fishing in the entire country, but one of the best kept bass fishing secrets in these parts, is Cane River Lake in Natchitoches.

Some would argue that it could very well be the finest bass fishery in the entire world, and we'll soon find out just how well the Lady Bass Anglers fare on this incredible body of water.

Saturday, March 21st the finest fisherwomen in the world will converge on Cane River Lake to begin their official practice period for the "Pro Gator Boats LBAA Event."

In a press release from the organization, we learn that, "As part of the LBAA event along the riverfront in downtown Natchitoches, the LBAA will be hosting two events specifically for kids in the area. The week will conclude with a champion in the Pro and Co-Angler divisions being crowned."

As anglers prepare for this event, Louisiana native Penny McCurdy states, that we are "so excited to kick off our first Lady Bass Anglers Pro Circuit event of 2020 in Natchitoches Louisiana, a beautiful town with lots charm, culture, wonderful friendly people, great food and beautiful Cane River that runs through the heart of downtown.”  She is fortunate enough to have been on the lake a few times before the event. Any lake can be challenging, especially for co-anglers who may or may not get any practice time before the tournament begins.

DeAnna Lovvorn , the reigning Lady Bass Classic Champion of the co-anglers division, hits the nail on the head when it comes to fishing a lake that you have never seen with her motto. “The challenge of a fishery is to Improvise, adapt and overcome.” That is exactly what the ladies of the LBAA plan on doing in a few short weeks.

To kick off the week, the LBAA Women’s Pro Bass Tour has partnered with the Louisiana State Hall of Fame and North Louisiana History Museum for a “Get Hooked: Casting with the Pros event. Kids 6 and up accompanied with an adult are invited to learn about bass fishing and try their casting skills against the top female competitors in the nation. There will be some rods and reels on hand, but kids are also welcome to bring their own. The event will include stations on casting, habitat, knot tying, conservation, and fish identification. Come join in the fun from 2:00 – 4:00 PM. The address is 800 Front Street in Natchitoches.

After a week of practice, the first stop of the 2020 season will move into high gear. On Thursday evening, Hook’n Up and Track’n Down and V & M Baits will be hosting the Registration/Briefing meeting where the anglers will find out who they will be fishing with on each of the two days of competition. The tournament will take place Friday and Saturday, March 27^th and 28^th with take-off each day from the Pavilion at safe light.

At 3:00 P.M. each day, the ladies will check-in at the Pavilion for weigh-in. The weigh trailer will be set up in front of the Pavilion allowing folks to bring their lawn chairs for up close and personal seating as well as great views from the Amphitheater seating area.

Anglers in the pro division can bring their five biggest fish for the day to the stage while the co-anglers are vying to bring their three biggest to the scales. The winners will be crowned based upon their two day combined weight!

The final day of the Pro Gator Boats Women’s Pro Bass Tour event will include a second opportunity for kids. While the anglers are on the water, the city of Natchitoches river front shoreline will be filled with kids fishing. Pond Hopper Nation’s "Teach a Child to Fish Day" will take place from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM and is designed to provide a free fishing rod, Pond Hopper Nation T-shirt, and Tackle to children who attend in hopes we can teach them the basics of how to fish, and to bring families closer together! These free items are limited to the first 60 kids who register.  Go to Pond Hopper Nation’s website to register. More details will be provided to those who register in advance. It should also be noted that kids who hang around for the LBAA weigh-in will have the opportunity to help the ladies bring their fish to the stage and hold them up for photo opportunities!

At the conclusion of the Saturday afternoon weigh-in, the 2020 Cane River Lake Champions will be crowned! There will also be awards given out for Julie Martin Foundation Big Bass in each division. While the results are being verified, there will be two some audience participation activities for folks in the crowd!

For more information on the Lady Bass Anglers Association, please go to www.ladybassanglers.com