Sitting in second place in Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open points, Janet Parker of Little Elm, Texas, is in line for a spot in the 2012 Bassmaster Elite Series field. If she makes it, she’d be the first woman to qualify.
Parker’s final practice day on Table Rock begins with a stop at a local tackle shop, Ozarks.
A self-admitted morning person, Parker is quick to joke and laugh early in the day.
She fills up the boat tank.
Wiping spilled gas with the gas station’s windshield washer tool is a trick Parker learned to help preserve the boat wrap.
Parker’s boat wrap by Aaron’s is nicknamed the “Dream Machine,” just like the NASCAR “Dream Machine” driven by Michael Waltrip and David Reutimann.
The rig is fully equipped with a shallow-water positioning device and a 250hp Evinrude.
Parker’s eyes are trained on the rearview mirror as she backs her Ranger into Table Rock Lake for her final day of practice Tuesday.
Parker zips across Table Rock to check out as many spots as she can in the time she has left to find fish.
On the deck are only the rigs Parker wanted to test on Table Rock.
At her rental condo, she has dozens of rods set out for quick picks each night as she packs her tackle for the the tournament’s first day.
Tuesday’s cold, gray and rainy conditions prompt Parker to try a variety of casting techniques.
Parker powers through the rain and cold — she’s dressed for it. So focused, she never remarks on her cold hands or a face.
She switches to spinning gear.
One takes her popper.
Way too small; back it goes without a second look.
She noted that the shad were moving and the game could well change by tournament time, especially with plummeting temperatures.
Back at her rental unit, she sorts through layers of outerwear. Morning temps are predicted to be a few degrees above freezing.
Parker designed the logo on her promotional ball cap. It’s a graphic combination of “J” and “P.”
Boxes of lures give Parker a backup of almost anything she needs.
Opened boxes testify to how she digs deep to assemble her daily tackle arsenal.
Her work bench is a porch dining table.
Parker, whose first pro event was in 2005 when the Women’s Bassmaster Tour came to her home lake, Texas’ Lake Lewisville, could qualify Saturday to be the first woman in the Bassmaster Elite Series.
Parker officially registered Wednesday for the tournament that could change her life.
After registration, Parker drove to a nail salon to get a manicure and a pedicure. Ironically - and unbeknownst to her until she got there - the salon’s name was “AJ Elite.”
Nail color selection is not so far off from lure selection.
Coral with white flowers is her color combo for tournaments. Her good-luck touch is white flowers with rhinestone centers on each big toe.
