Ruggles takes top honors at Bass Tournament

Submitted photo/ Ashley Ruggles, Springfield, with the largest bass of the recent Polar Bear Tournament held on Stockton Lake. The 7 pound plus bass was the largest bass she had ever caught.

There were several firsts in the recent Polar Bear Bass Tournament held Sunday on Stockton Lake.

Ashley Ruggles, a senior at Hillcrest High School, along with her mother, were the only females in the tournament.

The 17-year old student proved her fishing ability by bringing the limit of five bass to the weigh-in that weighed more than 17 pounds including one fish that tipped the scales at more than 7 pounds.

Submitted photo/ Ruggles of Springfield, received checks totaling $998 for catching the largest fish and the heaviest string of fish in the recent Polar Bear Tournament. The tournament's director Randy Conlon, Springfield, presented the checks to Ruggles.

The five fish gave her top honors as the angler with the highest weighttotal and the big bass took the largest fish caught. By capturing both category's, she collected checks totaling $998. It was her first tournament as well as the largest bass she had ever caught.

Ruggles, who is a member of the Hillcrest High School Fishing Club, said, "There is nothing like catching a big fish like the one I caught Sunday, it's an amazing feeling."

When ask what was her favorite lake to fish, she replied, "As long as I am on a lake and having fun, that is my favorite lake. I just love fishing."

Submitted photo/ Polar Bear Tournament anglers hit the water at Stockton lake on a spring-like day Sunday, when the temperature reached 70 degrees.

The tournament winner was on the water by 8 a.m. and fished until 2:15 p.m. Check in time was set for 3 p.m. Using an Alabama Rig, she caught nine keeper bass, releasing four of them since the limit was five bass for the weigh-in.

Ruggles high school coach Randy Conlon said, "Ashley is a master of the Alabama Rig, she can tell right away if the lure isn't working properly. She has a passion for fishing and loves being outdoors."

The Hillcrest High School Fishing Club was organized last year and competed in the first Bass Pro Shops Open Championship of Missouri High School Fishing on Table Rock Lake last summer. The young anglers took eighth-place in this initial tournament.

A spring-like day greeted anglers at the Polar Bear Bass Tournament, and no one was disappointed. Conlon of Springfield, who is the tournament director said, "This is the first year of the Polar Bear Tournament Series. We fish Lakes Pomme de Terre and Stockton. There are 10 qualifying events. Anglers have to fish at least two events on each lake to qualify for a two-day championship March 7-8.

"Most of the anglers are from Southwest Missouri, but we have anglers from the Kansas City and St. Louis area as well. Although it is a winter tournament event, we have been fortunate to have good weather for most of the events."

Conlon added, "We have another circuit starting this year, it is called Teen Anglers. It covers the entire state of Missouri where the young anglers fish for scholarship money."

The Teen Anglers Tournament Series LLC, has created a fishing circuit for high school clubs starting next month. There will be three qualifying tournaments with a championship in June. It will offer a great opportunity for students to hone their skills with a competitive edge and to promote the sport of bass fishing to the young anglers of today. The tentative schedule for the three tournaments is Lake of the Ozarks March 28, Stockton Lake April 11, and Table Rock Lake May 16.

There were 37 boats in the recent Polar Bear Tournament. Prior to Ruggles weigh-in, several other anglers were waiting to see if their largest fish might win the big fish division. Mike Dill, Greenfield, held the early lead followed by Chad McManus, Lamar and Travis Hammons, Elkland.