Season-opening Wal-Mart FLW Tour event concludes with crowning of pro champion
Tune in Sunday, April 6, to “FLW Outdoors” on FSN for the conclusion of the season-opening Wal-Mart FLW Tour event on Lake Toho in Kissimmee, Fla. Watch as FSN takes viewers through the final weigh-in and awards the winning pro angler $125,000. The one-hour show is the second of a two-part series covering the first tournament of the $9.5 million FLW Tour season.
After three days of competition on Lake Toho and the adjacent lakes of Kissimmee, Hatchineha and Cypress, Coppertone pro Brett Hite is looking nearly invincible. On day three, Hite caught a five-bass limit that weighed 25 pounds, 2 ounces – giving him nearly a 13-pound lead over second place. Each day Hite works his Phenix vibrating jig through the vegetation on Lake Kissimmee near Scrub Slough. The key to his success thus far is being able to read the lanes where the big bass lurk. Although he isn’t receiving many bites, they are quality fish. If he gets a few more on day four, the Phoenix, Ariz., pro will head home with his first FLW Tour victory and a check worth $125,000.
Behind Hite is Paducah, Ky., pro Dan Morehead. Morehead caught a five-bass limit himself on day three and it weighed a solid 12 pounds, 13 ounces. He’s catching his fish mainly on a Zoom Fluke. But when the conditions are right, he’ll pull out a topwater toad in an attempt to coax a big bite. Under normal circumstances, Morehead would be fishing for his third FLW Tour title. But in reality, his goal is to maintain second place. Morehead said the miracle pile of fish needed to catch Hite definitely exists somewhere in this chain of lakes. But he knows finding it is about as likely as finding a needle in a haystack.
Also in contention is BP pro Shinichi Fukae. The 2004 Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year and two-time FLW Tour champion is off and running in 2008. The Japanese transplant who now lives in Mineola, Texas, is in fourth with 9 pounds, 4 ounces. Fukae, who is known for his rigorous practices, is fishing a prototype worm on a light Carolina rig with a 3/16-ounce weight.
FSN also flashes back to February 2005, the last time the FLW Tour visited in Lake Toho. In a classic pro bass fishing showdown that pitted a grizzled tournament veteran versus a hot young gun – who were both anxious to shake the dreaded runner-up monkeys from their backs – the veteran Tom Mann Jr. came out ahead and won $100,000 with a close 10-ounce victory.
In addition, Berkley pro Glenn Browne of Ocala, Fla., participates in this edition of Fishing 101. Browne, a renowned Florida flipper, shows viewers the best tackle and techniques for fishing heavy matted cover.
FSN is the industry leader in providing the most up-to-date technology in TV production. FSN puts viewers in the boats with the pros, shadowing them from sunrise until the final weigh-in using innovative camera work that gives fishing fans the most intimate viewing experience available.
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” is also broadcast internationally to more than 429 million households in such countries as Germany, China, South Africa, Australia, Malaysia, Russia, Hungary and the United Kingdom, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoor-sports television show in the world.
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 targeting bass, walleye, redfish, kingfish and striped bass.
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, call (270) 252-1000.
By: Dave Washburn, vp comm, FLW Outdoors
