FLW Outdoors donation helps improve fishing conditions on Beaver Lake

MINNEAPOLIS – FLW Outdoors continues to promote conservation in the communities that host its professional bass tournaments, as evidenced by a recent $5,000 donation to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The donation will help the commission continue to provide much-needed artificial shelter in Beaver Lake to protect fingerlings. The donation further establishes FLW Outdoors as an organization devoted to giving something back to the communities that host its tournaments. As it has in the past, FLW Outdoors is donating $5,000 at each of its seven Wal-Mart FLW Tour events as well as at a variety of other sanctioned tournaments.

For the FLW Tour’s 2003 Wal-Mart Open, held on Beaver Lake earlier this month, the contribution went toward the Beaver Lake Artificial PVC Habitat Structures Project that was established in 2002 with another $5,000 donation from FLW Outdoors. The commission will use the money to create artificial cover to supplement natural cover, which has long since decayed on the aging reservoir.

“The PVC shelters really have a twofold purpose,” said Chris Horton, black-bass biologist for the game and fish commission. “They provide cover for young fish from predators and, as a result, increase angling success.”

Over the years, the lack of cover has been subsidized with the addition of artificial structures made from discarded Christmas trees and wooden pallets, which, unfortunately, decay over time. The plastic PVC shelters do not experience decay and provide the same degree of benefits. With the donation from last year, the commission added 19 shelters and hopes to add at least that many to the lake this year.

“We would really like to add 19 to 20 more shelters near and around our nursery pond that is connected to Beaver Lake,” Horton said. “We produce and release a crop of fish each year from the pond into the lake when the fish are still small enough to need protection. Locating the structures near the pond outlet provides an excellent opportunity to protect many of the young fish from predators and a great spot for anglers to catch fish.”

FLW Outdoors remains committed to conservation in 2003 through its partnership with the FishAmerica Foundation, the conservation arm of the American Sportfishing Association. The donations go toward conservation efforts to benefit tournament host sites.

In 2000, FLW Outdoors announced its partnership with the FishAmerica Foundation. Since then, FLW Outdoors has helped to raise more than $400,000 for local conservation projects.

“In partnering with FishAmerica, our goal is to have a positive impact on the fisheries and host cities where our tournaments are held,” said Charlie Hoover, president and CEO of FLW Outdoors. “Beaver Lake is a perfect example of our continued commitment to preserving lakes for all anglers, from beginners to professionals, to enjoy.”