‘FLW Outdoors’ returns to Versus Oct. 3
One-hour show features Brent Long’s first FLW Tour win on Lake Guntersville
MINNEAPOLIS – The 2010 FLW Tour season finale took place on legendary Lake Guntersville in northern Alabama. But two North Carolina fishermen stole the spotlight. While Damiki pro Bryan Thrift claimed the prestigious Angler of the Year award, his buddy Brent Long pinned down his first FLW Tour victory. Complete coverage of the event will air Oct. 3 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. ET on VERSUS as part of the weekly “FLW Outdoors” program.
Thrift’s incredible 2010 season included five top-10 finishes and a victory on his home lake – Lake Norman. At Guntersville, Thrift demonstrated the remarkable consistency that led to his Angler of the Year title. On day one he wasted little time – sacking nearly 20 pounds in the first hour of the day en route to a 22-pound, 1-ounce stringer. On day two he managed another 21 pounds and on day three he clinched AOY with over 18 pounds.
Long fished all four days and each one of them he spent probing the depths of one particular ledge, located at the intersection of Siebold Creek and the main-river channel. His two main baits were a Norman DD22 crankbait and a hand-tied Ernest Langley 3/4-ounce football head jig with a Zoom Fat Albert Twin-Tail grub. Unlike most competitors, Long burned the crankbait as fast as possible to generate reaction strikes from suspended fish. When the bass were schooling and chasing bait, he’d mix in a Strike King Shadalicious swimbait.
With a total weight of 95 pounds, 7 ounces, Long earned $125,000. To add to the moment, his wife and two daughters drove from North Carolina to be in attendance.
In second place with 87 pounds, 4 ounces was Marion, Ark., pro Mark Rose. Over the past few years, Rose has become an excellent TVA ledge fisherman. He too used a variety of baits but his best was the Strike King 6XD crankbait. He’d take a rattling 6XD and make precise casts to the deepest sides of the ledge corner. He’d then follow up with the same 6XD only in the Silent Stalker model. Rose’s second-place finish earned him $36,077.
David Fritts of Lexington, N.C., took third and earned nearly $30,000 with a total weight of 87 pounds, 2 ounces. Fritts alternated between throwing a Rapala DT20 and Carolina rigging a Zoom Brush Hog, depending on the conditions.
VERSUS Country broadcasts “FLW Outdoors” in high-definition (HD) Sundays from 12:30-1:30 p.m. ET. FLWOutdoors.com also provides an online guide listing upcoming episodes of “FLW Outdoors.” In addition, each episode of “FLW Outdoors” will be available on demand in its entirety on FLWOutdoors.com.
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 call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FantasyFishing.com.