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HUNTRESSBain

That’s the question angler Kim Bain-Moore, who made history last weekend by being the first woman to compete in the Bassmaster Classic, asked Saturday on her tournament blog.

 Bain -- a 28-year-old originally from Australia, who now lives in Alabaster, Ala., -- is the 2008 Women's Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year. Last Friday, she fulfilled a lifelong dream when she walked across the Bassmaster stage and weighed in. Unfortunately, she missed the cut Saturday, finishing the tournament in 47th place with a two-day total of 12 pounds, two ounces.  

 While her Saturday blog post talked about her pride in having competed and the fatigue she felt now that the event was over, it also included some observations about the unique challenges of being the only woman competitor (including not being able to pee on the water), and even some suggestions that a few of the other anglers may not have been "enthusiastic" about her presence. She states: 

 "Then there was the undercurrent of displeasure towards my situation from some of my fellow Classic competitors... which for a few of them turned into a personal vendetta." 

 She elaborated only somewhat, thanking the "guys" for the fact that there had been no, "special favorite sister, or hold the door for the girl treatment."  

 Bain-Moore answers her own question about the advisability of women competing against men at the end of her post when she says, "That's a debate for when we all have much more experience on the topic." Considering basic physical differences as well as social conceptions, what do you think? -K.H.