Published: May 03, 2006 09:33 am      

DiVincenti proves that professional fishing is not just for the good ol’ boys

Somerset — For those who think that fishing is just for the good ol’ boys, might want to check out pro angler Mary DiVincenti in this week’s FLW Series event on Lake Cumberland. DiVincenti, from Clinton, La., could show up some of the men in this week’s event.

DiVincenti competes on both the women’s tour and the men’s tour — and she is a threat to win in both. DiVincenti has over 18 years in fishing, including 13 years professional tournament participation with a record of outstanding achievement in a highly competitive market.

DiVincenti is currently following a lifelong dream of fishing the Wal-Mart FLW tournament trail. She is the reigning World Champion of the Women’s Bass Fishing Association, and Mary will be one of the one’s to watch in the ESPN Women's Bassmaster Tour. She was the WBFA Classic runner-up in 2002 and she is the current WBFA record holder for the largest smallmouth bass caught, weighing in at 6.52 lb..

Despite all her success on the waters, DiVincenti was not originally to fond of the sport of fishing.

“When was dating my husband, all he would do was fish and hunt,” DiVincenti said. “I really was annoyed by all the time he spent fishing.”

But all that changed after DiVincenti received a little motherly advice.

“One day my mom told me that my husband could be doing a lot worse things, like drinking or going out with other women, but his only vice is that he likes to fish,” DiVincenti recalled. “She told me I should be supportive of my husband’s love of fishing and at least go out with him on the lake at least once.”

“I can still remember the hairs on the back of my neck standing up when I pulled in my first fish on that trip,” DiVincenti said. “From that point on, I was hooked on fishing and that is all I ever wanted to do.”

Within six months, DiVincenti quit her job and started fishing full-time. And in 1990 she started competing on the Bass-N-Gal Tour and became a top angler on the WBFA Tour in 1997. Two years ago, she joined the FLW Tour and started competing with the good ol’ boys.

DiVincenti titles sponsors are Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits and Cast-A-Way Rods.