Arkansas River site of BFL Okie Division event
Recent flooding changes typical river patterns
MUSKOGEE Okla. – The FLW Bass Fishing League is headed to the Arkansas River June 26 for the fourth of five stops in the Okie Division. As many as 400 boaters and co-anglers will compete for top awards of up to $8,000 and $3,000, respectively.
“Anglers should bring a lot of water and sunscreen,” said FLW Tour pro Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., who loves shallow-water flipping. “This is probably the hottest place on earth right now, and the fish are feeling it.
“The river usually fishes pretty big, but with the recent flooding, the river is high and the amount of water available to fish is going to be limited. Most of the fishing is going to have to take place in the backwater creeks, sloughs and oxbows. The fish are going to be shallow, about 5 feet or less, so baits of choice are going to be spinnerbaits, soft plastics for flipping and shallow-water crankbaits.”
Christie added that the locks always play a role in this tournament; if anglers take the chance of locking through the river, there is always the chance they may not make it back in time for weigh-in. He believes that it will take about 16 to 17 pounds to win this tournament.
Takeoff and weigh-in will be at Three Forks Harbor located at 5201 Three Forks Road in Muskogee, Okla. Takeoff is scheduled for 6 a.m., while weigh-in will begin at 2 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.
The Arkansas River BFL tournament is being hosted by the Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce.
The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, offering even bigger prizes to those who qualify for regional championships and those who make it to one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American presented by Chevy. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the American Fishing Series or even the FLW Tour.
About FLW Outdoors
FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world offering anglers worldwide the opportunity to compete for millions over the course of 189 tournaments in 2010. FLW Outdoors has also taken fishing mainstream with FLW Fantasy Fishing awarding the largest prizes in the history of fantasy sports. FLW Outdoors memberships are available featuring numerous benefits including Player’s Advantage. For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FantasyFishing.com.