BENTON, Ky. – The $5.76 million Wal-Mart FLW Tour will make a $500,000 stop May 14-17 on Kentucky Lake, home of FLW Outdoors headquarters. The tour, featuring the world’s best bass anglers representing 34 states, Canada and Japan, is making its first stop on the west Kentucky impoundment since 1998. That tournament was won by local angler Dan Morehead, who currently sits atop the 2003 Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year points standings and is expected to contend mightily for another Kentucky Lake crown.
According to Team Fujifilm’s Wesley Strader of Spring City, Tenn., Kentucky Lake should be a bass angler’s dream at tournament time, with quality bass ready for the catching in either the shallows around buck brush or near deeper ledges. Strader finished fifth at last season’s EverStart Series stop on the reservoir and 11th at the FLW Tour’s first stop in Kentucky in 1997. “Bass in the shallows will likely hit watermelon or green pumpkin jigs and creature baits,” he said. “Top deeper-water bait choices will probably include crankbaits in shad patterns or Carolina-rigged lizards and Ring Frys in watermelon, green pumpkin, and chartreuse and pepper.”
Presented by Energizer and hosted by the Marshall County Department of Economic Development, the four-day tournament will feature 175 Pro Division anglers and 175 Co-angler Division anglers competing for their share of a $500,000 cash purse. The winner of the Pro Division will take home a $100,000 cash award, with $15,000 going to the co-angler winner. The event is the fifth of six regular-season events, all of which lead up to the historic $1.5 million Jacobs Cup world championship of bass fishing and outdoor show to be held on the James River near Richmond, Va., Sept. 10-13. The winning pro at the Jacobs Cup will earn an unprecedented $500,000 cash – the largest guaranteed award in the sport’s history. In 2003, the road to Richmond, Va., is paved with gold!
Anglers will take off each morning from Kentucky Dam Marina in Gilbertsville at 6:30 a.m. except for Friday, May 16, when takeoff starts at 8 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday’s weigh-ins, May 14-15, will also be held at the marina starting at 3 p.m., and Friday and Saturday’s weigh-ins, May 16-17, will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 310 W. Fifth St. in Benton at 5 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively. The community is encouraged to attend the Family Fun Zone Friday and Saturday outside the weigh-in tent at Wal-Mart. The Family Fun Zone features interactive displays, product samples and games for the entire family to enjoy. The Fun Zone will open Friday at 3 p.m. and Saturday at 11 a.m.
Some of the FLW Tour’s most successful professional anglers will offer fishing fans tournament-winning tips and techniques Saturday, May 10, when they host the Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors Fishing and Automotive Clinic presented by BFGoodrich Tires, Castrol, EverStart Batteries, 7 UP, Snickers and Fujifilm. The free clinic will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Benton Wal-Mart Supercenter. The first hour will take place in the parking lot and focus on knot tying, casting and tackle selection. During the second hour, the anglers will move into the store, where they will answer questions, pose for photos and sign autographs. Presenting anglers include Team Castrol members Bobby Curtis, David Dudley, Johnny McCombs and Darrel Robertson; Team Snickers members John Sappington and David Lauer; Team 7 UP members Shad Schenck and Mark Goines; and Team Fujifilm members Wesley Strader and Joel Richardson.
On Wednesday, May 14, fishing fans are invited to Country Chevrolet at 104 W. Fifth St. in Benton to meet members of the Chevy Truck Pro Staff, including Kevin VanDam, Jay Yelas, Tommy Biffle, Jimmy Houston, David Fritts, Larry Nixon and Kim Stricker. These top bass-fishing pros will be available for autographs, fishing tips and photos from 6 to 8 p.m.
Complete coverage of the Kentucky Lake event will be broadcast to 55 million subscribers of the Outdoor Life Network in the weeks following the tournament on “FLW Outdoors.” Joining “FLW Outdoors” hosts Charlie Evans, Carlton Wing and Taylor Carr for the 2003 season are fishing legends Hank Parker and Larry Nixon.
Parker will preview the Kentucky Lake tournament Saturday, May 17, at 7 p.m. EST. The broadcast will be shown again Sunday, May 18, at 1 p.m. EST. “FLW Outdoors” will feature tournament highlights with Evans, Wing and Carr Saturday, May 24, and Sunday, May 25, followed by a strategic recap with Nixon Saturday, May 31, and Sunday, June 1. “FLW Outdoors” airs every Saturday at 7 p.m. and every Sunday at 1 p.m. EST on OLN through July 5. Special Jacobs Cup episodes air in September.
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