National Guard Open on Lake Norman concludes with crowning of pro champion
Tune in Sunday, June 10, to “FLW Outdoors” on FSN for the conclusion of the $1.5 million National Guard Open on Lake Norman near Charlotte, N.C. Watch as FSN takes viewers through the final weigh-in and awards the winning pro angler up to $200,000. The one-hour show is the second of a two-part series covering the third event of the $9.5 million FLW Tour season.
The bass tournament, which ranks as the richest ever held in the state of North Carolina, is winding down in dramatic fashion. On day three, local pros Hank Cherry and Bryan Thrift left the door ajar, and legendary angler Larry Nixon didn’t even bother to knock as he marched in and took the lead with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 9 ounces. Rather than employing the conventional tactic of fishing Lake Norman’s numerous docks, the Chevy pro is targeting lay-downs and stumps with a Berkley Power Wacky Crawler. Another solid day on the water could mean win No. 3 for Nixon. In an in-depth feature, the Bee Branch, Ark., native flashes back to the 2002 FLW Tour qualifier on Wheeler Lake. Nixon won that event, which he described as similar to the tournament at hand.
Behind Nixon is fellow Arkansan Scott Suggs, who moved into his best position of the week, second, with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 4 ounces.
In fifth place is second-year pro Gabe Bolivar with five bass weighing 10 pounds, 2 ounces. Throughout the year, Bolivar has suffered from a tendency of having a great first day and a poor second day. At Norman this week, he set out to remedy that by searching for discreet, off-the-wall fishing locations. With a solid pattern, the 2006 Gain Rookie of the Year is primed for his first tour-level victory. In this all-access feature, FSN goes behind the scenes with the Ramona, Calif., pro as he prepares for the final day of competition.
In the Duracell Angler Spotlight, Jay Yelas speaks about his past successes, his current season and what he likes to do when he’s not fishing. This tournament marks Yelas’ third trip to the top-10 in the young 2007 season.
In addition, National Guard pro Jonathan Newton of Rogersville, Ala., participates in this edition of Fishing 101. Newton, who has accumulated over $275,000 in FLW Outdoors career earnings, gives viewers valuable tips on how to fish docks.
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” Sundays from 11 a.m. to noon ET. Check local listings for show times and channels in your area. FLW Outdoors 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. For the latest up-to-the-minute sports news and opinions, visit the FOX Sports/FSN website.
“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. Additionally, FLW Outdoors is proud to provide tournament coverage to more than 800,000 service men and women stationed around the world in 177 countries and aboard Navy ships through broadcasts on the American Forces Network.
Named after the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, Forrest L. Wood, FLW Outdoors administers the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Stren Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail presented by Abu Garcia, Ranger Owners Tournament Championship Series, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series, Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series and Wal-Mart FLW Striper Series. These circuits offer combined purses of nearly $43 million through 241 events in 2007.
Wal-Mart and many of America’s largest and most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its tournament trails. Wal-Mart signed on as an FLW Outdoors sponsor in 1997 and today is the world’s leading supporter of tournament fishing.
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournament programs, call (270) 252-1000.
By: Dave Washburn, vp comm, FLW Outdoors
