Angler Artist Hopes to Overcome Chauvinistic Bass Fishing World

This shit is funny- and it's from Shreveport.

Wong hopes WBT win helps art career

Flounder Fishing With Judy Wong

You might call her Louisiana's First Lady of professional bass fishing.

But you can also call Judy Wong the 2008 Women's Bassmaster Tour champion.

Like most of the 100 women competing on the WBT, which just completed its second year, Wong isn't yet reaping eye-popping monetary rewards. Unlike Bassmaster Classic winner Alton Jones, who pocketed $500,000 for his victory, Wong earned $10,000 in cash and a Triton boat.

Not that Wong's complaining, because she isn't the type. But she isn't blind to the realities when she sees men garnering up to $600,000 from sponsors, while the top women anglers struggle to make ends meet and are often lucky if they have a boat sponsor.

"I just wish BASS had picked us up earlier in my career," said the 55-year-old Wong. "With Academy Sports on board, I see women's bass fishing continuing to grow and good things will come from that."

Meanwhile, Wong knows her competitive days are numbered, so she's preparing for life after rods and reels. An accomplished wildlife artist (she graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in fine arts), one of her works will be the featured art at the 2008 Bass Unlimited banquet and fundraiser on April 11. Currently the most recognizable face in women's bass fishing, that piece might receive a record bid when it's unveiled on April 3.

"Winning the WBT has been good timing for my art career, because it should help it sell better," Wong said. "I want to paint and get my work out there while people still recognize me."

Usually coming straight from a tournament, Wong is known to pull her boat into the Houston cemetery where her father is buried to meet with her family on Easter.

"My dad died young but he loved to fish, so I'm sure he'd get a chuckle out of that," Wong said. "I also know that he would be proud of where I'm at right now."




Using bass fishing to help your art career? Now that's coming at it sideways!

Dude, watch that fishing video, it's funny shit.
Skip a minute or two in to avoid boat advertisements.