‘The Bachelor’ gets back to business of finding love

After week off, FLW Outdoors angler ‘Bachelor’ Byron Velvick gets chance to show his passion, narrow down field

Everything's coming up roses: Boulder City, Nev., pro angler Byron Velvick hopes to find true love on 'The Bachelor.' Photo by ABC Television Network.

October 21, 2004 • Rebecca Czaplewski • Archives

With only eight women remaining, the stakes were high for both Velvick and the bachelorettes. Velvick has said that he’s falling for more than one woman – and it definitely looks like all the ladies still think that he’s a real catch. On the fourth episode, each of the women tried their hardest to get some time with the angler-turned-`Bachelor.’

The first to snag a date was Tanya, a 31-year-old teacher from Plano, Texas. With news of their date, both Velvick and Tanya got dressed up for a night on the town. And, at first, it sure seemed that they’d be stepping out in style. With Velvick behind the wheel of a fancy red convertible, the pair cruised around his childhood stomping grounds – Newport Beach, Calif. As they drove alongside the water, Velvick would point out the spots where he used to fish as a child. It all seemed very romantic until Velvick drove the car straight for the water. It was quickly apparent that this was no ordinary convertible. With a license plate that read “WTRCAR,” this vehicle could handle just as well on the water as the road. Their entry into the water at the boat launch got both of them a little wet, but Tanya seemed to be a good sport. “I want someone who’s adventurous and fun-loving,” Tanya said. “And there we are, driving a car into the water and it becomes a boat! It’s perfect.” It may not have been a Ranger Boat, but we’re betting that Velvick was just happy to be on the water again!

Next up, both Mary and Elizabeth were chosen for their own dates with Velvick. Mary and Velvick got a chance to talk while enjoying spa-like massages. It’s clear that Mary, a 35-year-old sales manager from Florida, is a favorite of Byron’s. “I feel something towards Mary. I feel comfortable with Mary,” said Velvick. “If I had a type, she’d fit the description.”

The date that Velvick and Elizabeth shared was fittingly centered around fish – but not the freshwater type. The two spent their date at a California aquarium and even had a romantic dinner surrounded by the glass walls of the aquarium. Velvick seemed right at home with this idea: “Eating with the fish – a once-in-a-lifetime experience!” Elizabeth, a 28-year-old from Chicago, seemed to have more on her mind. She put Velvick through what he called a “husband interview” by asking him some tough questions about his life.

Those dates may have been fun for Velvick, but they were nowhere near as dramatic as what they had in store for him. A late-night `pajama party’ with the entire group, complete with games and dancing, had some of the ladies a little jealous. Once a front-runner for Velvick’s affections, Jayne seemed to be very possessive of his time, even yelling at him for taking time to talk with the other bachelorettes.

All the drama made an already tough choice even harder – narrowing down the field to six women who would stay to win his affections. Wednesday night’s rose ceremony meant roses for these six bachelorettes: Mary, Tanya, Andrea, Cindy, Cheresse and Jayne. Kyrsta and Elizabeth were sent home. With the preview of the upcoming episodes, it looks like Velvick’s decisions won’t be getting any easier.