Winning pro to claim $100,000 first-place purse
Tune in Sunday, April 15 to “FLW Outdoors” on FSN for the big-fish parade from the California Delta in Bethel Island, Calif. The show, which concludes with the winning pro claiming a cash prize of $100,000, will highlight one of the greatest bass fisheries in the United States. The California Delta was stop No. 2 of four regular-season Wal-Mart FLW Series National Guard Western events.
In FLW Series competition, a full field of pros and co-anglers competes for the first three days. Co-angler winners are determined on day three by the heaviest accumulated three-day weight. The top 10 professionals continue competition on day four, and the winner is determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all four days. The stories evolve and the suspense grows throughout the one-hour show until the final weigh-in results are announced.
After three days of big fish, unseasonably warm temperatures and sunny skies, pro Bobby Barrack of Oakley, Calif., is in the driver’s seat with a three-day total of 73 pounds, 13 ounces. Barrack continues to target most of his catch in 1 to 7 feet of water with a Dandy jig loaded with a Sweet Beaver trailer. In certain instances, he will pull out a spinnerbait or a swimbait in hopes of landing a 9- or 10-pound fish. Although things have gone nearly perfect for three consecutive days, Barrack is weary that his aggressive style may eventually come back to haunt him. Tune in to see the local legend swing for the fence in an attempt to capture first place.
On the strength of a three-day catch of 70 pounds, 2 ounces, pro Ken Mah moved up to second place overall and, most importantly, within striking distance of Barrack. The Elk Grove, Calif., native is targeting isolated cover and scattered grass beds in 2 to 8 feet of water.
Michael Rooke of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., used a three-day catch of 68 pounds, 7 ounces to grab third place in the Pro Division. And while he remains a little more than 5 pounds off the leader, he couldn’t be more pleased with his performance to date. Rooke is targeting largemouth bass in 2 to 4 feet of water on the inside of grass lines with a combination of Senkos and Robo Worms on a drop-shot rig. However, Rooke has been pounding the exact same 200-yard area for three straight days. If his spot pans out for the fourth consecutive day, he’ll be able to make a strong run for the title. But if it doesn’t, he’ll be out of luck as he has no other productive spots.
Brent Ehrler, the 2006 Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship winner, has also snuck into the top-10 in 10th place. With only one day on the Cal Delta remaining, Ehrler has his work cut out for him. But don’t count the Redlands, Calif., angler out, as Ehrler is no stranger to massive paychecks.
FSN broadcasts “FLW Outdoors” Sundays from 11 a.m. to noon ET. 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. 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
