Beaver Lake battle commences

Anglers race to their respective fishing holes shortly after takeoff. Photo by Gary Mortenson.

April 17, 2002 • Gary Mortenson • Archives

FLW anglers soak in beautiful morning sun, mild temperatures during opening round takeoff of Wal-Mart Open

ROGERS, Ark. – With more than $1 million in cash and prizes on the line and crucial points for the FLW Angler of the Year contest hanging in the balance, 350 anglers representing 30 states and Japan made their way past Prairie Creek Marina shortly after 7 a.m. to kick off the start of the prestigious Wal-Mart Open – the fourth FLW Tour stop of the 2002 season.

As a gorgeous sunrise drifted over the horizon, anglers set out for the open waters of Beaver Lake with one goal in mind – to join J.T. Kenney (Lake Okeechobee), Larry Nixon (Lake Wheeler) and Wesley Strader (Lake Ouachita) as the only anglers to win an FLW title this year.

To be sure, it won’t be easy. With most of the nation’s top bass anglers in attendance and $210,000 awaiting the winner of the Pro Division and $40,000 earmarked for the eventual co-angler champion – nearly double the prize money available at regular FLW tournaments – the competition undoubtedly will be intense throughout the four-day event.

In addition, anglers vying for the 2002 FLW Angler of the Year title will have to turn in a stellar performance this week on Beaver Lake to keep pace with the highly competitive leaderboard. Currently, Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., leads the year-end standings race with 554 points. Sam Newby of Pocola, Okla., (550 points) and Jay Yelas of Tyler, Texas, (538 points) round out the top three.

Anglers receive 200 points for a first-place finish, 199 points for second place, 198 points for third place and so on. However, anglers who finish the tournament without bringing any fish to the weigh-in scales do not receive any year-end standings points at all.

FLW action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. at the Prairie Creek Marina, located at #1 Prairie Creek Marina Drive in Rogers, Ark.

Vital statistics:

Sunrise: 6:40 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 63 degrees
Expected high temperature: 84 degrees
Water temperature: 60 degrees
Wind: From the southwest at 10 mph
Relative humidity: 69 percent
Day’s outlook: Partly sunny

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Day-one pairings