Melinda Hays of Hot Springs, Arkansas recently became the first woman in FLW history to win a Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship. She competed in the Regional on Table Rock Lake in October and weighed 10 bass over three days totaling 22 pounds, 4 ounces. She took home the top co-angler prize package of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
An Unexpected Season
Hays’ Regional win came shortly after she claimed the Strike King Co-Angler of the Year title in the Arkie Division of the Phoenix Bass Fishing League. It’s the perfect ending to a season that was only made possible due to an unfortunate turn of events.
“This year has been so trying for so many people, and I’m going to admit that I’m definitely one of them,” Hays said. “I was laid off in April … April Fool’s Day of all days. And so I had a period of not knowing what my future held for a little bit.”
Read More on MajorLeagueFishing.com
Schedule
| Date | Tournament Trail | Division | Lake | |
| |
1/2 | BFL | Cowboy | Sam Rayburn Reservoir |
| 3/6 | BFL | Arkie | Lake Ouachita | |
| 3/7 | BFL | Arkie | Lake Hamilton | |
| 3/25-3/27 | Toyota Series | Southwest | Texoma | |
| 4/1-4/3 | BASS Opens | Central | Lewis Smith Lake | |
| 4/8-4/10 | Toyota Series | Plains | Grand Lake | |
| 4/24 | BFL | Arkie | Greers Ferry | |
| 4/29-5/1 | BASS Opens | Central | Pickwick Lake | |
| 5/6-5/8 | Toyota Series | Plains | Lake Dardanelle | |
| 5/16 | BFL | Arkie | Lake Dardanelle | |
| 6/3-6/5 | BFL | All-American | Douglas Lake | |
| 9/18-9/19 | BFL | Cowboy | Sam Rayburn Reservoir | |
| 10/7-10/9 | BFL | Regional Arkie/LBL | Norfork | |
| 10/21-10/23 | BASS Opens | Central | Grand Lake, OK |