With a little rest and rejuvenation under this girl's rhinestone-studded belt, Janet Parker is excited and geared up for the 2012 tournament season. The first event in the Bass Pro Shops' Bassmaster Central Opens is slated for this week on Lake Lewisville in Texas-Parker's home waters. But don't think that means anything is a shoe-in. Rising water table has made for muddy conditions and the bite has been slow during pre-fish. Yet Janet remains optimistic.
"I love my chances when the bite is tough," shared Parker from her home in Little Elm. "I have a lot of time on this body of water and it always seems to be tough, but I'm up for the challenge. Someone is going to catch fish, it might as well be me."
Tournament fans may be a little confused looking for Janet Parker in her usual ride. When folks see Parker's Evinrude- powered Ranger Boat this week, it will have a high-tech Minn Kota Talon wrap.
"I'll be anxious to get some great photos of the boat wrap with Talon," shared Parker. "It's hot off the press and the first anyone will see it is this week. It's a beautiful wrap-and I'm pleased with my growing sponsorship relationship with Johnson Outdoors and promoting the new Talon shallow water anchoring system."
Johnson Outdoors has been a long time traditional sponsor for Parker the last few years, but they stepped up in a bigger way in 2012.
"We've been negotiating with companies for a title sponsorship role, and there may be an announcement in the weeks ahead about another new sponsor for Janet," shared George Liddle of Liddle Marketing Company a business that specializes in fishing-related marketing programs.
"We are very appreciative of Johnson Outdoors for increasing their commitment with Janet for the 2012 season and giving Janet the opportunity to promote such a great product as the Talon along with Humminbird, Minn Kota, and LakeMaster."
"We are very excited to have Janet running the Minn Kota Talon boat this upcoming season," shared Tim Price, pro-staff coordinator with Johnson Outdoors. "Janet has always provided solid support of our Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics brands. With the addition of Talon and LakeMaster to her long term Minn Kota and Humminbird relationship, it completes the package. Now armed with the most cutting-edge and innovative products in the industry, from map chips to on-board chargers, we wish her the best of luck this tournament season."
Janet Parker ended up in 20th place for Angler of the Year in the Bassmaster Central Opens last year. With five Bassmaster top ten finishes to her credit, Parker has proven herself in the industry's book, already earning more tournament purse through B.A.S.S. than more than ten anglers that fished the Elite series in 2011. It's still her goal to get to the Elite series.
"I have several goals as I head into the 2012 season," added Janet. "Win at least one tournament, three top-ten finishes, and yes-move up into the Elite Series in 2013. I hope I can fish hard and successfully to make that a reality. I'll give it my best."
Click here for information on the upcoming Bassmaster Classic.
Carl Morris Jr and Sean Martin of Ohio take home $2,500 after winning a King Kat tournament on the Monongahela River at Morgantown, West Virginia.
IGFA Saltwater Adventures, hosted by industry veteran Bill Boyce and produced by WFN: World Fishing Network and the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), will return to WFN for its second season on Wednesday, May 23rd at 8:30 p.m. ET.
National Guard pro Scott Martin, the reigning Forrest Wood Cup champion, led wire-to-wire in a tight FLW Tour event on the Potomac River, earning $125,000 for the victory.
The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) reminds sport anglers to be vigilant about properly identifying their salmon before keeping them.
The spring chinook fishery will reopen this weekend (May 19-20) for two days of fishing on a section of the Columbia River stretching 163 miles upstream from Bonneville Dam.
WFN: World Fishing Network is the only 24/7 television network dedicated to all segments of fishing with programming that covers instruction, tips, tournaments, travel, food, boating, outdoor lifestyle and more. WFN's wide-ranging programming lineup includes a selection of the best international series and the most diverse species coverage of any outdoor network. Featuring popular programs hosted by the world's top anglers, the network also includes a variety of exclusive lifestyle shows including Hookin' Up with Mariko Izumi and WFN's Reel Fishy Jobs. WFN also delivers the beauty of fishing in stunning High Definition with WFN HD, which delivers 100 percent High Definition programming 24/7. Originally launched in December 2005, today WFN and WFN HD are available in more than 20 million households through North American cable, satellite and telecommunications distributors. In the U.S., distributors include Verizon FiOS, Dish Network, Comcast, AT&T U-Verse, GVTC and Charter Communications.
