Winning bass pro to claim $100,000 first-place award
Tune in Sunday, July 2, to “FLW Outdoors” on FSN for the conclusion of the $900,000 Wal-Mart FLW Tour event presented by Pedigree from Kentucky Lake. Watch as co-hosts Charlie Evans and Keith Lebowitz take viewers through the nail-biting final weigh-in and award the winning pro angler $100,000. The one-hour show is the second of a two-part series covering the fifth event of the $7.6 million FLW Tour season.
The July 2 show presents several mini-features with the 10 pros that made the cutoff after two days of competition. The features include FLW Tour stalwarts Steve Kennedy and David Walker.
Kennedy, a veteran pro from Auburn, Ala., has earned more than $475,000 competing in FLW Outdoors events. His career also includes seven victories and 25 top-10 tournament finishes. Kennedy, who camps at most tournaments with his wife Julia and dog Louie, talks about life on the road. FSN also flashes back to 2003 on Kentucky Lake, when Kennedy caught 10 bass during the final round that weighed 44 pounds, 14 ounces, to claim $100,000 and his first FLW Tour victory.
One of the most consistent anglers on tour, Walker admittedly struggled out of the gate in 2006. His turnaround happened on day two of the Wal-Mart FLW Series event on Lake Cumberland. After finishing the opening day in 111th place, Walker rebounded on day two with a five-bass limit that weighed 13 pounds, 7 ounces. Combined with a strong day three, the Sevierville, Tenn., pro finished the Cumberland event in 11th place. Next up for Walker was a visit to Kentucky Lake where he caught 10 bass in the opening round that weighed 36 pounds, 7 ounces. Walker is catching his fish on a combination of baits – jigs, a Carolina rig and crankbaits – mainly fishing points in deeper water offshore.
FSN will also air a segment on the influence of Japanese anglers and their approach to tournament fishing in the United States. While there are only a handful of full-time pros from Japan, most are making a name for themselves through perseverance, a grueling on-the-water practice schedule and an analytical approach to the sport unlike any seen before. Thanks to finesse tactics honed west of the Mississippi, anglers like Toshinari Namiki, Shinichi Fukae and Takahiro Omori are proving that there is no substitute for hard work when it comes to winning at bass fishing’s highest levels.
In addition, Gain co-angler Real Andrews of Milford, Conn., participates in this edition of Fishing 101. Andrews, who is also a fitness instructor, introduces anglers to a 10-minute workout designed to minimize carpal tunnel injuries and back pain.
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.
During each tournament show, “FLW Outdoors” hosts Charlie Evans and Keith Lebowitz go on location to provide on-the-water coverage. “FLW Outdoors” is tape-delayed to bring audiences nationwide the best tournament footage possible throughout the season.
FSN reaches 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 over 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 350 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, Stratos Owners’ Tournament Trail, 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 exceeding $37.9 million through 249 events in 2006.
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
