FLW Anticipating Largest Expo of All Time
Hot Springs Convention Center to host packed crowd at Forrest Wood Cup
Bass fishing history and Arkansas walk hand-in-hand it seems. The Natural State was home to the first bass tournament. It’s where Ranger Boats was founded. And it’s hosted some of FLW’s most noteworthy events.
In fact, the last two times that the Forrest Wood Cup was held in Hot Springs, Ark., in 2007 and 2011, fans packed the Hot Springs Convention Center, even setting an attendance record in 2007 with more than 60,000 people.
A new attendance record was set last year when Anthony Gagliardi won the Cup on Lake Murray in front of a hometown crowd in Columbia, S.C. However, it looks like that record is in danger of being broken once again in Arkansas in just a few weeks when the Cup returns to Hot Springs and Lake Ouachita Aug. 20-23, for FLW's capstone event, which is hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
FLW projects that the FLW Expo could be the biggest of all time. The entire vendor roster is full, and staff is making arrangements to fit even more tackle and outdoor exhibitors into the space.
What does that mean for fans that are interested in coming? It’s simple: There’s no better place to find awesome deals on new fishing tackle and accessories than at the FLW Expo in Hot Springs. In fact, this is the first consumer trade show where anglers can purchase new products that were released at the 2015 ICAST show. Perhaps your favorite brand’s newest releases will be on display.
Here’s a current roster of all the companies, organizations and FLW displays that’ll be exhibited at the Cup, along with their booth numbers:
Booth Exhibitor
11 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
47 5×3 Fishing
160 A.R.E. Accessories
153 Academy Sports + Outdoors
37 Advocare
64 American Tackle Company
68 Arkansas – The Natural State
66 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Ranger Z520C Giveaway Drop Box
146 Arkansas Game & Fish Commission
122 Army Bass Anglers
12 Basskwondo Custom Bass Tackle
63 Bass Miltia Fishing Team
62 Bath Fitter
43 Boing Lures
121 Biobor EB
178 Boat Bling
125 BoatU.S.
79 Bob's Machine Shop
29 Boy Scouts of America
177 Bridgford
175 Buck Knives
166 Camping World
84 Carrot Stix
32 Cashion Rods
57 Casting Area
30 Champions for Kids
13 Chattanooga Strong Memorial Benefit Bass Tournament
27 Christian Waterfowlers
36 Commerce Bank FLW Visa Rewards
49 Core Strike
180 Costa Del Mar
71 Daisy
70 Defenders for Children
149a Denali Rods
124 Dr. Dan's
92 Enigma Fishing
133 Evinrude
19 Fishers of Men
65 Fitzgerald Rods
15 Florence/Lauderdale Tourism
10 FLW Membership, Merchandise & BBQ Tickets
35 FLW Membership, Merchandise & BBQ Tickets
56 FLW Membership, Merchandise & BBQ Tickets
192 FLW Membership, Merchandise & BBQ Tickets
141 FLW Tout Pond
34 Forrest Wood Cup Trophy
76 Fringe Tackle Company
46 Gamma Fishing
182 Gene Larew Lures
17 Goodsell Truck Accessories
183 Hamby's Beaching Bumpers
60 Hot Springs Village Property Owners Association
18 Huntsville Convention and Visitors Bureau
163 Igloo
184 ION
150 Jackson Kayak
45 JR Simple Salsa
185 Keystone Light
115 Kid Casters
25 Lake Hamilton Fishing Club
87 Lakelands Tackle Company
159 Lance Camper
61 Level Rods
164 Lew's
154 Livingston Lures
144 Lowrance
50 Luck E Strike
147 Mercury
151 Minn Kota
86 Motormate
77 Mr. Powerlight
127 Mud Hole Rod Building & Tackle Crafting
31 NASCAR Pole Position
186 Navionics
41 New Pro Products
40 Nichols Lures
193 Penzoil
191 Plano
161 Power-Pole
74 Primary Tackle Co.
78 Pro Tec Products
9 RAM
145 Ranger Boats
189 Ranger, Stratos & Triton Clothing
187 Rayovac
111 Rigid Industries
22 Roland and Mary Ann Martin's Marina & Resort
119 Sam Houston Knives
88 Seal Smart
89 Shane's Baits
14 Smart Baits
91 Smith's
190 Special Olympics Arkansas
52 SpoolTek Lures Sportsmanfrenzy.com
113 Sportsmanfrenzy.com
82 Stan Sloan's Zorro Bait Company
152 Stratos Boats
176 Strike King
42 SUM Bible College
44 Sweet Creations
70a T. Allen Rods
188 TH Marine
20 Tightlines UV
24 Tonka Customs
75 Tow Mate
155 Trader Bills
165 Triton Boats
38 Typhoon Polarized Sunglasses
53 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
23 U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
162 UnderCover Truck Bed Covers
33 University of Arkansas – Fort Smith
28 Visit Anderson
67 Visit Hot Springs
14 Visit Rogers
85 Wild River
69 Will Fish For Kids – TrackingPoint Opportunity Tickets
128 Winn Grips
26 Wrap Enterprises
58 Xcite Baits
16 True Bass
118 Yo-Zuri
194 Z-Man
More Details
The Forrest Wood Cup begins on Thursday, Aug. 20 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 23. The Expo opens on Friday, Aug. 21 and continues through the weekend, with doors opening at 10 a.m. and closing at 4:30 p.m. just before each weigh-in begins.
The Hot Springs Convention Center is the site of the FLW Expo. It’s located at 134 Convention Blvd., Hot Springs, AR 71901.
Other Attractions
In addition to the world’s richest bass tournament, there’s plenty to see and do at the Forrest Wood Cup and FLW Expo.
Some of the more noteworthy attractions:
– Free rods and reels will be given to the first 500 children ages 14 and under who arrive at the Expo on Saturday and Sunday. Kids must stay until the end of the weigh-in to claim their freebies.
– Someone will win a Ranger Boat after Sunday’s weigh-in. Must be present to win.
– The second annual Bass & BBQ competition and festival will take place outside the convention center on Saturday and Sunday. Teams from across the world – yes, the world – will be cooking pulled pork, ribs, chicken and more, with samples and meals available to the public.
– Three free country concerts are open to all who attend. The list includes Shari Bales and Southbound at the Bass & BBQ stage on Saturday, Luke Williams Band at the Bass & BBQ stage on Sunday and Justin Moore on the main FLW weigh-in stage on Sunday right before weigh-in begins.
For more information, visit FLWFishing.com