MINNEAPOLIS – FLW Outdoors announced that the 2011 National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship will be hosted by Murray State University in Murray, Ky., April 7-9, on legendary Kentucky Lake.

“We are extremely excited to have Murray State University host the 2011 National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship,” said Kathy Fennel, President of FLW Outdoors Operations Division. “The facilities at Murray State are some of the finest we’ve encountered while producing fishing tournaments around the country. Add to that a region passionate about fishing, an enthusiastic student body and Kentucky Lake, and you have an incredible event in the making.”

“We wanted to be the site of the FLW College Fishing National Championship from the very first day we learned about the championship,” said Jim Carter, vice president for institutional advancement. “Murray State is the perfect spot because we’re close to the lake and close to FLW Outdoors’ headquarters.

“We were excited when we learned we would host a 2009 regional championship,” Carter added. “Needless to say two years later we are honored and excited to host an event of this magnitude that puts the world spotlight on MSU. It’s a dream come true.”

The University of Florida team of Matthew Wercinski of Gainesville, Fla., and Jake Gipson of Niceville, Fla., won the first National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship on Fort Loudoun Lake in Knoxville, Tenn., in 2009. The national championship, featuring a $100,000 first-place award, was a three-day nationally televised event hosting the top 25 teams in the country.

Each regular-season College Fishing event boasts a top cash award of $10,000 to be split evenly between the university and the university’s bass-fishing club. Regional events tout a top award of a Ranger 177TR with a 90-horsepower engine wrapped in school colors for their school’s bass club and $25,000 for the school they represent. The national championship awards the top team with $25,000 cash, a Ranger 177TR with a 90-horsepower engine wrapped in school colors for their school’s bass club and $50,000 for the school they represent. The Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing, offers anglers the chance to compete for $500,000.

For more information about the 2011 National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship, visit CollegeFishing.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, call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FantasyFishing.com.