Thirty years ago when I fished my first Bass’n Gal women’s pro event on Toldeo Bend Reservoir a few hours south of here, I would have never imagined one day seeing a women grace the stage of the Bassmaster Classic. But today, it happened.
As Kim Bain Moore, the first woman to earn a berth in this superbowl of bass fishing, weighed in, all I could see were faces. Faces of women who had fished over three decades in serious competition unashamed, unfaltered by a society that labeled it a “guy’s sport.” Today, all the souls of those women, past and present, were with Kim on that stage. I was so proud of her but also thankful to all the pioneering anglers in our group who set the stage for her classic berth.
ESPN /BASS has provided complete event details, but I want to share with readers a few behind-the-scenes moments with Kim. After weigh-in, I found her in the press room where, magazine and newspaper writers waited in line with still cameras and TV crews for interviews. I took my place in line.
While waiting my turn, I met her parents, Lynn and Steve Bain, of West Queensland, Australia who were thrilled to be witnessing their daughter make history. “I am very proud of her now – and always have been” said mom Lynn Bain.
“Has Kim always been an avid outdoor person?” I asked.
“Yes. We have taken her fishing and camping since she was about 4 months old. I used to take her fishing when she could just barely sit in a back pack – and often she’d fall asleep and slide down – and you might see an arm poking out a leg hole and a leg poking out an armhole and her head somewhere else” Lynn laughed.
When asked how it felt to watch her daughter become the first female angler in the thirty-nine year history of the Bassmaster Classic, here on the Red River in Shreveport, LA, she said it was emotional. “I was expecting to cry rivers, but I didn’t. There was just a lump right there (pointing to her throat.) Suddenly, I found myself clapping and screaming – it was wonderful!”
Father, Steve saw it as a great opportunity. “Her presence here today’ is a building block upon which other women can grow the future of the sport,” he said.
An elated husband, Andre Moore said he considers himself to be “the luckiest man in the world.”
Asked why, he laughingly replied, “Well, the top female angler in the world is my wife! Most guys have to beg and plead to go fishing, and my wife loves it. And she doesn’t get mad when I buy tackle, rods and reels, she just sneaks them out of my boat and into hers” he said with a grin.
I asked Kim to sum up her day’s experience: “It was spectacular,” she said with her Aussie accent – “absolutely overwhelming. Right before I was driven into the arena – I was petrified. Sure, I’ve been to the classic before, but driving in – sitting in a boat was a completely different ball game.”
When asked if she felt at all intimidated by being the only woman in the field day one of the classic, “No, no – that never entered my mind” she said – You know, I’ve fished with the guys before, and certainly this is a very high caliber competition but – my nerves and my jitters come purely from wanting to do well. My family is here – and I always like to do well- I like to challenge myself to go out and do the best job I can.”
Day one of competition was not one of her best fishing days but she did catch two fish which landed her down in the standings – squarely between two of the sports top legends – Kevin Van Dam and Gary Klein.
I wished her luck tomorrow to which she replied, “Oh yeah! You know me, “I think I settle down on day 2, even on the Women’s Bassmaster Tour, I’ve been better on the second day than the first.”
Let’s hope she’s right.
Kathy Magers
From the Bassmaster Classic
Red River, Shreveport, LABy: Kathy Magers, retired Pro Angler
