GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. – Dion Hibdon of Gravois, Mo., will attempt to extend his slight lead in the Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year points race Feb. 16 when bass fishing’s most lucrative series heads to the Pascagoula River where 350 of the world’s best anglers will square off for a share of the tournament’s $500,000 purse.
Anglers in the event, presented by EverStart Batteries, are traveling to Biloxi for a shot at the tournament’s $100,000 first place cash in the Pro Division. The event marks the first time Biloxi has hosted a major bass tournament.
Hibdon, the son of legendary angler, Guido Hibdon, with 75 points, holds a 2 pound, 13 ounce lead over runner-up Takahiro Omori of Emory, Texas, with 74 points. Omori will also be fishing the event. Jeff Simes of Punta Gorda, Fla., is third with 73 points and 21 pounds, 10 ounces, followed closely by Craig Powers of Rockwood, Tenn., with 72 points and 21 pounds, 6 ounces. The winner of the race will be featured on a series of Kellogg’s cereal boxes, receive $25,000 and an Evinrude-powered Ranger bass boat.
Also making the trip to Biloxi are new NASCAR-like Chevy tow vehicles that are styled with vivid colors and graphics to match the Ranger Comanche fishing machines used on the final competition days. Each truck features a specific Wal-Mart FLW Tour sponsor using the company’s colors, graphics and logos. BFGoodrich Tires, CITGO, Coleman, Energizer, EverStart, Fujifilm, Kellogg’s, Land O’Lakes, Poulan/Weed Eater, Timex, Visa USA, Wrangler and Wal-Mart each sponsor one of the custom trucks. Other tour sponsors include: Black & Decker, Chevrolet, Coca-Cola, Eagle Electronics, Evinrude outboards, Mitchell, Ranger boats, Shop-Vac and Spiderline.
Coverage of the Pascagoula River tournament on ESPN is scheduled to air April 1 at 1 p.m. EST. Additionally, the tournament’s final weigh-in will be broadcast live to the electronics department of more than 2,400 Wal-Mart stores nationwide beginning at 3:30 p.m. EST Saturday, Feb. 19.
A field of 175 anglers from the Professional Division and 175 from the Co-Angler Division take to the water Feb. 16 for two days of competition, in which they will attempt to make the first round cut. The top 10 anglers from each division advance to the second round of competition on Feb. 18.
Weigh-ins for the first two days of competition also will be held at Indian Point at 3 p.m. Weigh-ins Friday, Feb. 18, and Saturday, Feb. 19, will be held at the Wal-Mart Supercenter located at 3715 Sangani Blvd. In D’Iberville, Miss., at 5 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. respectively.
Already the most lucrative tournament series in history, the FLW Tour has increased cash awards for the fifth consecutive year, bringing the total purse for the seven-event season to $4.4 million.