Pro winner to claim $200,000 first-place check
Tune in Sunday, Sept. 7, to “FLW Outdoors” on FSN for the conclusion of the $1.5 million Chevy Open on the Detroit River, Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair in Detroit, Mich. Watch as FSN takes viewers through the final weigh-in and awards the winning pro angler $200,000. The one-hour show is the second of a two-part series covering the sixth and final regular-season tournament of the $9.5 million FLW Tour season.
Leading after three days of competition is Cheez-It pro Alvin Shaw with five bass weighing 20 pounds, 14 ounces. Instead of dragging a tube on a spinning rod – the traditional method for fishing on St. Clair – Shaw is pitching his tube on casting tackle to clumps of grass out in front of the boat. When he feels a piece of grass, he purposely shakes the tube to garner attention and then snaps it hard. This erratic motion is driving the bass crazy and forcing them to take his offering. The 2005 FLW Tour champion on Wheeler Lake is fishing the “Miles Road” area of Lake St. Clair in about 15 feet of water. He found his most productive spots on the calmest days in practice when his depth finder would reveal the most detail about the lake’s bottom. Shaw also led after the opening round at the 2008 Wal-Mart Open on Beaver Lake before stumbling to a ninth-place finish. The State Road, N.C., native hasn’t forgotten about that tournament and his disappointing finish. Although it haunts him, it also motivates him. With one day of competition remaining, Shaw is focused on redemption and claiming the $200,000 first-place purse.
In second place with 20 pounds, 1 ounce is Pringles Select pro Vic Vatalaro. While the other nine finalists had trouble catching limits on day three, Vatalaro boated some 25 bass. Although the Kent, Ohio, angler has two Stren Series victories on Lake Erie, he too is wetting his line in Lake St. Clair this week. Vatalaro continues to pitch a Mizmo tube to holes and bare spots in grass in about 18 feet of water. It’s a real strong pattern and if Vatalaro can get two 5-pound bites on day four, he thinks he can claim the title.
JT Kenney of Port Charlotte, Fla., is one of the lone soldiers still relying on Lake Erie for his catch. On day three he sacked up 16 pounds, 14 ounces on the big water to start the final day in third place. After driving 35 miles to his primary area, Kenney had his limit in about an hour. Interestingly, the BP pro has found success this week on a saltwater Berkley Gulp Jerkshad worked on a drop-shot rig.
In the Duracell angler spotlight, viewers get an up-close look at local angler Kim Stricker of Howell, Mich. FSN follows the Chevy pro through the day-three weigh-in as he looks back on his performance and prepares himself for the final day of competition.
FSN also flashes back to the 2007 Chevy Open on the Detroit River, Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair. The tournament was won by Lake Erie ace Steve Clapper – the grandfather of offshore smallmouth bass fishing. Finishing the job on day four with a 22-pound, 6-ounce stringer, Clapper took home $200,000 with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 45 pounds, 9 ounces, over a 6-pound margin of victory.
In addition, pro Kevin Long of Clewiston, Fla., participates in this edition of Fishing 101. Long, who took second at the 2007 Chevy Open, teaches viewers how to properly fish a tube for smallmouths – an extremely popular tactic on the Great Lakes.
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.
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
