Tune in Sunday, Oct. 26, to “FLW Outdoors” on FSN for complete coverage of the 25th annual Walmart BFL All-American on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Ark. The one-hour show covers the sport’s most prestigious championship for weekend anglers and concludes with the winning boater claiming a cash prize of $100,000. The stories evolve and the suspense grows throughout the show until the final weigh-in results are announced.
All-American qualifiers represent the best of more than 30,000 BFL participants nationwide. On-the-water cameras give viewers an intimate look at the 10 boaters who advanced to the final round of competition and competed for a career-changing top prize. The winner of the $1 million no-entry-fee championship was determined by the heaviest three-day weight.
Although the fishing has been tough, Milledgeville, Ga., boater Kim Carver leads the tournament after two days with 10 bass weighing 16 pounds, 13 ounces. On day one, Carver caught a solid limit weighing 11 pounds, 6 ounces. Like many competitors, he struggled on day two, but managed to bag a limit weighing 5-7.
Carver is catching his fish with a variety of presentations. On day one, most of his bass were caught shallow on a shad-colored Zara Spook. Day two brought bright, clear skies which squelched the topwater bite. The veteran adapted to the changing conditions and fished with a small finesse worm in deep water. As for the final day, the 1998 All-American champion plans to throw the Spook early in hopes of securing a few quality fish before moving back deep.
After taking fifth on day one with an 8-pound, 10-ounce bag that included the Boater Division’s big bass, Vienna, Va., angler Shayne Berlo posted 7-7 on day two. His 16-1 total, just 12 ounces out of the lead, moved him into second place heading into the last day of competition. If not for a late-day rally, Berlo wouldn’t have qualified for the final round of 10 boats. With an hour and a half to go on day two, he had just one fish in the livewell. With the trolling motor on high, the two-time All-American qualifier dialed into a hot dock bite with a 3/8-ounce jig and Berkley craw trailer. But because he had to burn through many of his best spots on day two, Berlo plans to fish all new water during the final round.
Also in contention is Elizabethtown, Ky., native Kevin Snider. Targeting brush piles and points in 14 to 22 feet of water, Snider is using a 3/16-ounce jig with small finesse worms. Â On day one, Snider caught a limit weighing 9-15, but on day two he caught just two fish for 3-15. To take home the six-figure payday, the veteran BFL angler will have to duplicate his day-one effort.
FSN broadcasts “FLW Outdoors” Sunday mornings. Check local listings for show times and channels in your area. The FLWOutdoors website also provides an online guide listing upcoming episodes on “FLW Outdoors.”
FSN is broadcast to more than 81 million homes through its network of 20 regional sports channels. Established in 1996, FSN is the only cable network that supplies national, regional and local sports programming. FSN serves as the cable TV home to 62 of the 82 MLB, NHL and NBA teams based in the United States, and produces more than 4,500 live events each year. FSN has an extensive catalog of original national programs, including “Best Damn Sports Show Period” and “Beyond the Glory” documentary series, along with national packages of collegiate sports. Based in Los Angeles, FSN is part of the vast FOX Sports television family.
FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. In 2008 alone the organization is offering more than 90,000 anglers the chance to win over $40 million through 230 tournaments in 10 circuits.
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, call (270) 252-1000.By: Jeff McCoy, PR dir / FLW Outdoors
