MINNEAPOLIS – Tune in Sunday, March 4, to “FLW Outdoors” on FSN for the inaugural Wal-Mart FLW Series BP Eastern Division event on Lake Okeechobee in Clewiston, Fla. The first tournament of the $10 million FLW Series season concludes with the winning pro claiming a cash prize of $125,000.
A full field of 200 pros and 200 co-anglers competes for the first three days of FLW Series events. 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.
Lynchburg, Va., pro David Dudley has always had a sixth sense for being in the right place at the right time when bass are biting, especially when big money is on the line. His uncanny talent has led him to one of the most impressive resumes in tournament bass fishing: three FLW Outdoors wins, including the Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship in 2004 and the Ranger M1 in 2002, and two BASS wins, not to mention being the FLW Outdoors leading money winner and youngest pro in history to surpass $2 million in career winnings.
With $125,000 on the line in southern Florida, Dudley is at it again. On day three at Lake Okeechobee, the Castrol pro loaded the scales with 20 pounds, 2 ounces to take the tournament lead with a three-day total of 45 pounds, 10 ounces. In the midst of an extremely harsh cold front, Dudley is targeting the intersections of ditches and canals with a Fat Free Shad and a Rabbit Dog shaky head with a Zoom Trick Worm, both tied to 10-pound-test Berkley Trilene XT. Tune in as Dudley attempts to add another winner’s trophy to his mantle.
FSN also shadows pro Todd Auten, who is pitching a jig in Taylor Creek. Auten is presenting his 1/2-ounce jig with the intention of receiving a reaction bite. Covering as much water as possible, the Lake Wylie, S.C., native has accumulated a three-day total of 41 pounds even.
Wesley Strader of Spring City, Tenn., toted a 21-pound, 5-ounce bag to the scales on day three, vaulting from 82nd place to third place with a three-day total of 36 pounds, 6 ounces. Strader is catching his fish on rattling lipless crankbaits early in the morning. The Fujifilm pro is one of the few anglers to venture up the Kissimmee River, despite its muddy appearance.
Also in contention is National Guard pro Scott Martin of Clewiston, Fla., who sits in 10th place after three days on his home lake. Much like Strader, Martin switched to canals on the third day of competition and was rewarded with a huge catch. Using both a Yozuri Rattlin’ Vibe and a Berkley Frenzy crankbait tied to 12-pound Berkley Vanish, Martin caught a 19-pound, 7-ounce five-bass limit and qualified for the final round after sitting in 112th place after day two.
FSN broadcasts “FLW Outdoors” Sundays from 11 a.m. to noon ET. Check local listings for show times and channels in your area. FLWOutdoors.com also provides an online guide listing upcoming episodes on “FLW Outdoors.”
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 Web site at www.FoxSports.com.
“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 238 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 Wal-Mart, visit Wal-Mart.com.
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournament programs, browse FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.