Getting Reel - Fishing News

‘Getting Reel’ With WBT Pro Christie Bradley

by Don Zaegel on July 17th, 2008

     GettingReel recently had some time to catch up with ESPN/BASS Womens Bassmaster Tour (WBT) angler and Geico Insurance pro Christie Bradley to try and get to know the angler and her thoughts on the WBT along with this season. This is also Gettingreel’s first installment into the ‘Pro’s Corner’.

     Bradley, who is a Bealeton, Virginia native has been fishing the WBT since 2006. In that time………she has posted 4 top 20 finishes including a 4th place finish on Lake Lewisville in Texas and is ready to eclipse the $10,000 career earnings mark in just 14 entries. Bradley has also been featured in various outdoor publications to include Virginia Afield and Woods & Waters Magazine. If she had it her way she’d spend all of her time flipping heavy cover on Virginia’s Rappahannock River.

GR: First off, I would just like to say thank you for taking the time to give Getting Reel a chance to get to know a little bit about yourself and what been going on with the WBT.

GR: Tell the readers who are unfamiliar with Christie Bradley what your first fishing experience was or how you got started fishing?  
     CB: My brother, Gary Schembs got me into fishing.  He’s one of the best anglers I know.  I learned a ton from him over the years.  He and I started fishing tournaments together in the late 90’s.  We did great as a team and had a lot of fun. 

GR: Do you consider fishing a hobby or a passion? 
     CB:Definitely a passion.  Another word that comes to mind is obsession.  My husband would probably agree that I’m obsessed.

GR: What do you feel like your biggest fishing strength is?
     CB: In the past, I have said versatility is my biggest strength.  I think that hurt me in the last tournament though.  Old Hickory lake is beautiful and loaded with fish.  I caught them on everything and probably used too many techniques and hit too many different patterns during the tournament………..I would say persistence and determination are the strengths that come to mind now. 

GR: What would you like to improve on?
     CB: Practice.  Figuring out the best way to approach a new body of water. It’s a balance that’s tough to figure out in my opinion. 

GR: The Potomac River is sort of your stomping grounds. Has fishing that river helped develop you as a complete angler and given you any special skills to apply to other bodies of water?
     CB:Fishing the Potomac (and my favorite - the Rappahannock) has spoiled me.  I didn’t realize until I started going to other bodies of water how lucky we are.  These are two of the greatest fisheries in the country in my opinion.  I think the one obvious thing fishing the Potomac has helped me with is fishing tidal water.  If we ever fish a tidal fishery in the WBT, I believe I will dominate.  On the other hand, everything I had learned at home did me little good when I got to a lake like Bull Shoals (deep and clear).  It’s a different world.  I believe having the opportunity to learn to fish these lakes is what will ultimately help become a great angler.

GR: You are fishing your third season on the WBT and have been a Geico Insurance Pro for two of them. How has that partnership been and how did it develop?
     CB: “Riding with the gecko” has been the most awesome experience.  I know how lucky I am and still just shake my head sometimes when I look at my truck and boat.

   Bradley’s Geico wrapped Dodge and Triton TR-21X 

I work for GEICO.  I’m a systems engineer and have great track record with the company.  I also had support from some members of upper management and from the people I work for, from the beginning.  GEICO is extremely pleased with the partnership.  I am going to do my best to keep it that way.  I’m very proud to represent GEICO and am proud of myself for landing the sponsorship and for managing to maintain it for two years. 

GR: Going into this season what where your goals and do you feel like you have accomplished them up to this point?
     CB: My goal for this season was simple- to make the championship.  I was SO close last year- just 17 points out of it.  I haven’t accomplished that yet.  Since I’m in 22^nd, and only the top 20 go. I have to work hard in this last tournament to do it.  It’s sort of a carbon copy of last year.  I knew, going into the last tournament that I had to finish in the top 5 or so in order to make the championship.  I was proud of my 10^th place finish in that tournament since it started out badly.  I improved every day and had the heaviest bag on day three.  It was not quite enough, but I was happy. 
            This year is a little different, in that the rules changed.  They’re dropping our worst finish after the last tournament.  It’s hard to say how things will shake out.  I believe I need a top 10 in order to make the championship. 

GR: Right now you are sitting 22^nd in points as you have mentioned and just two spots out of the WBT Championship qualification. How are you preparing mentally going into the final event at Clark’s Hill?
     CB: I have been trying to keep my confidence up.  That’s the most important thing I can do right now, I think.  That and research.  I spend a lot of time learning as much as I can about Clarks Hill.  I have no time off work, but hope to get down there for a weekend before practice and just get a lay of the land.  I hear I’ll have to find/chase schools of herring in order to be successful there… I hope I can figure something out besides that. 

GR: How do you feel about your chances of qualifying?
     CB: I know I can make it.  I just plan to work hard.  Hopefully I will make good decisions.  I just need 15 bites.

GR: When you look at some of the other professional tournament circuits, you hear or see a lot about the various circles of anglers along with the intense level of competition. Does the WBT have that same type of competitive intensity?
     CB: Yes.

GR: Who, if any is the one angler that you look up to on tour?
     CB: I don’t know many other anglers very well.  I learn a lot and hear a lot about the other girls.  I know there are some incredibly good anglers in the WBT.  Audrey McQueen and Darla Bardelli come to mind.  Audrey and I are best friends.  She’s a natural.  I think she could catch fish in a mud puddle. 
           Darla is easy to admire.  I remember at Neely Henry, Darla and I were fishing in the same area for a period of time.  It was really hot and stale out there.  She was fishing hard - and she’s undergoing chemotherapy.  I admire her strength and determination.

GR: It was announced earlier this year that the WBT AOY will qualify to fish the Bassmasters Classic starting in ‘09. What are your thoughts and do you feel like this will change the face of women’s professional fishing?
     CB: I think it’s great that they added a 51^st spot in the classic for the WBT AOY.  That is definitely a major step for women’s pro fishing.  I think it will help put the WBT on the map.  I am still amazed at how few anglers know the WBT exists. 

GR: What other changes or improvements would you like to see made to help advance women’s professional fishing?
     CB: I think the things that would help us the most are things that we (the WBT competitors) have to do ourselves.  You’ll see lots of women wearing tournament shirts at the weigh ins and that’s a start.  I think we should look to the Elite guys as an example of how to conduct ourselves on and off the water and how to be more professional.
GR: I would personally like to see them to begin TV coverage on ESPN 2. I think atleast a 1/2 hour segment is deserved for not only the anglers but the tour sponsors like Academy Outdoors as well. 

GR: What’s been your most memorable moment since fishing professionally on the WBT or in general?
     CB: Two things: the weigh in at Lewisville on day 3.  Everyone was telling me that I was going to win.  I knew I wasn’t.  they kept saying “you only need 10lbs and you’ve got that”.  I knew I didn’t have ten pounds.  But being that close to a win… that took my competitiveness to another level.  I always felt I could win one, but being that close makes it more of a reality.
            Second thing happened at the Red River last year.  Audrey and I were practicing around each other and she hooked a 6′ alligator with a spinnerbait.  That would have been a great commercial for Berkley Fluorocarbon.  She fought that thing for like 10 minutes.  At one point, she told me she wanted to get it up onto the deck of her boat and take a picture. 

GR: What has been your #1 go to bait this year you have found yourself throwing more than any other?
     CB: One thing I will resort to if I’m not catching fish is a shakey head worm- green pumpkin or junebug, depending on the water color.  I will throw that bait before I leave a nice looking area, whether I’ve caught other fish there or not.

GR: What advice would you give to any young boy or girl who has a dream to one day become a professional angler?
     CB: The most important thing in my opinion is to get an education.  You need to have some way to pay the bills as you work your way toward being a pro angler.  If someone thinks professional fishing is a good way to make money, they are sadly mistaken.  Take business classes at least.  Maybe marketing too.  That way, when you start to talk to sponsors, you will be ahead of the game.

GR: In wrapping up, what does the future hold for Christie Bradley? (Short term or Long term)
     CB: I don’t want to speculate about the future too much.  I will continue to compete in the WBT and work toward that AOY title.  I would love to fish some open tournaments too.  I will continue fishing the LAPR Bass Series.  My husband and I compete as a team in that club.  It’s cool to share that with him. 

GR: Can you share a fishing tip with us before you go?
     CB: Don’t put your topwater bait away after the sun gets up.  Sometimes, I’ll mix in topwater baits throughout the day even on the hottest day with bluebird skies. 

GR: That was great. Thanks Again for your time. GettingReel and it’s readers will surely continue following you on tour and wish you all the best of luck with the rest of your season and down on into the future.

     To contact or learn more about Christiana Bradley and all of her latest news, visit:
http://www.christianabradley.com
     Bradley’s sponsors include: Geico Powersports Insurance, Triton Boats, and Mercury Marine  

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POSTED IN: BASS Women's Tour, Miscellaneous, Pros Corner