Out-Cast

A behind-the-scenes reflection on the recent Wal-Mart FLW Series event on Lake of the Ozarks from ‘FLW Outdoors’ TV personality Keith Lebowitz

When I jetted off to my latest tour stop last week to check out the Wal-Mart FLW Series at Lake of the Ozarks – the fourth Series event of the 2006 season – I was told in no uncertain terms to lower my expectations.

I heard repeatedly that “weights are going to be down,” that “36 pounds easily should be enough to make the cut,” that “the cold snap is going to wreak havoc on Lake of the Ozarks,” etc. Then, upon arriving at Osage Beach, Mo., a location FLW Outdoors is sure to revisit in years to come, I came to realize that all of those pre-tournament predictions would prove to be just about as accurate as your local weather forecast.

As it turned out, it actually took more than 44 pounds to make the cut. The Lake of the Ozarks tourney also produced a top-10 field that had all of the makings of a who’s-who list of big-gun competitive anglers. But it was even more impressive than just that. There were hometown heroes, bass-fishing legends and some of the sport’s hottest young guns, all seeking the coveted $100,000 top prize.

It was amazing just to contemplate the combined years of experience that some of the top 10 finalists – Guido Hibdon, Dion Hibdon, Larry Nixon and Clark Wendlandt – possessed. At one point during the final day of competition, each held the lead. Each had to hold off Dave Lefebre, Andy Morgan, Steve Kennedy, Matt Herren and then some, just to have a shot.

Is there truly any argument that this is the toughest circuit anywhere in bass fishing?

When the dust had settled, what unfolded was a perfect ending to a perfect week in Osage Beach. A Hibdon won, although it honestly didn’t matter for the fans which one it was (in this case, Dion), as long as one of Missouri’s native sons took home the title.

“This was one of the highlight moments of my career,” said Dion Hibdon, after landing more than 71 pounds of bass over four days to win the title and the $100,000 first-place prize.

I personally spoke with every one of the anglers who made the top-10, and they described to me what it was like fishing against a field this tough, especially after the cut was determined.

“Without question, this was the most unbelievable top-10 field I’ve ever fished against,” said two-time Land O’ Lakes Angler of the Year Clark Wendlandt. That from a Kellogg’s pro with 23 career top-10 finishes on the Wal-Mart FLW Tour and FLW Series combined, including three straight top-10 finishes in the FLW Series.

Larry Nixon was equally amazed by the pedigree of the final field.

“Think of the mix of anglers who are in this field,” he said. “Many of these guys used to fish BASS, a majority fish the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, so just making a top-10 nowadays is extremely difficult. But against this field, it’s nearly impossible, which makes being here even more rewarding. This is my first top-10 of the season. I finished eighth in the points on the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, but never made a top-10 this year, so this is exciting for me.”

Troy Eakins, who had a tremendous week on his “home lake,” said, “I looked down the line of who was with me in the top 10 here, and it was pretty intimidating.”

For the standing-room-only crowd, the FLW Series finale at Lake of the Ozarks was probably a day that each will remember for the rest of their lives. Safe to say, we may never again have a top-10 field like the one we just witnessed. The father-son storyline of Guido and Dion making the top-10 would have been special enough for this crowd, but this tournament wound up being much more than that.

“This is special; I mean, look at all these people in the crowd,” said Guido Hibdon, who qualified for the finals with his son for the first time in his career. “To make this cut with my son Dion, it is something I’ll never forget.”

Osage Beach rolled out quite a welcome mat to our anglers last week, and the anglers delivered quite a result. It was a resounding “thank you” to all of the fishing fans who came and watched Dion Hibdon steal the show and put the final exclamation point on the fourth event of the 2006 FLW Series.

However, if you think this FLW Series is tough now, wait until next year when FLW Outdoors unveils eight regular-season FLW Series events and two new divisions: the BP Eastern Division and the National Guard Western Division. To make it even more exciting, the top 30 in the year-end standings from each division will clash at year’s end. As such, the strength of the fields will toughen up even more, and the top 30 who survive the East/West Fish-Off will advance to the 2008 FLW Tour Championship with a shot at a top prize of $1 million.

A quick, personal note to the people of Osage Beach, especially John “The Preacher” and Rose “The Flower” (they thought I would remember them if they gave catch phrases with their names, and they were right): Thank you for the tremendous courtesy and support that you showed, not only to me, but to the entire FLW Outdoors staff and our anglers during the week’s stay.

One final thought: If you’ve never been to Lake of the Ozarks, you need to go.

Now.

Because as Ranger pro Guido Hibdon says, “The fishing has never been better!”