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If you’re a South Texas woman who loves to catfish and compete for cash, then look no further than the Falcon Lake Babes catfish tournament.
Open to ladies only, the Zapata County-based tournament shows that Falcon International Reservoir is not only good for big bass. The group recently had a tournament where 28 women participated.
“The fishing was pretty good,” said organizer Ruth Mandery. “The girls had been out there earlier and weren’t catching anything but little tiny catfish that weren’t even legal size, but they hit the bigger ones the day of the tournament. The total weight for first place was 7.38 pounds, which was good compared to what they were catching before.”
Mandery said most of the contestants used stinkbait or shrimp to catch their fish, and there were two or three anglers to a boat.
“It’s really neat for the ladies,” she said. “We have a good time.”
Betty Ortiz took first place in the tournament, winning $270. Anglers interested in the Dec. 8 tournament can visit the Beacon Lodge between 4 and 6 pm this upcoming Friday night. Entry fee is $20.
