Emmanuel College Coach Pam Martin-Wells Embracing Faith And Fishing In Cancer Battle 

Pam Martin-Wells battles cancer but remains strong in her faith and in her bass fishing careers.

As the all-time leading money winner among female bass anglers, Pam Martin-Wells’ recent victory at a Lady Bass Anglers Association (LBAA) event on Arkansas’ Bull Shoals Lake came as no surprise. Far more astonishing, however, Martin-Wells claimed victory with a Toyota sun buff covering her bald head, because just days earlier she had received her third chemo treatment to defeat ovarian cancer. 

“There is no doubt in my mind that I am here because of the good Lord,” said Martin-Wells. “So many factors took place from diagnosis to surgery that could have only been from the hand of God. I had a CT on a Tuesday followed by an MRI and a CA125 blood test all in one day. All of which were pre-certified by insurance the same day. That doesn’t happen, only God can make that happen.” 

Ten weeks after major abdominal surgery, buoyed by faith, her family’s encouragement and competitive determination, Martin-Wells put a Stanley Top Toad and Spro Poppin’ Frog to work on Bull Shoals to generate explosive topwater strikes that led to victory with a two-day total of 21.45 and a Toyota Bonus Bucks check.

Martin-Wells’ career accomplishments include winning the inaugural Women’s Bassmaster Tour (WBT) Championship and three other WBT tournaments and earning the Angler of the Year award eight times in various women’s circuits. Often associated with her ability to hold her own among male anglers, Martin-Wells made the final-day cut at the 2010 Bassmaster Classic on Alabama’s Lay Lake to finish 22nd. 

Martin-Wells continues to serve as coach of the Emmanuel College bass fishing team, which she has coached since their inaugural season in 2019. Not only is she sharing great bass fishing wisdom with her college anglers, but more importantly, inspiring them to live life well while never forgetting to give credit to those who buoy and guide us when life’s inevitable storms hit. 

The Emmanuel College Lions will be back on the water Sept. 2-4 at the Strike King Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops on South Carolina’s Winyah Bay. Six teams qualified for the 2022 championship.