by Robin Thweatt

(Apr. 09, 2009 – Benton, KY)… The $8.8 million Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League will visit on April 18th for the third of five regular-season events listed below. As many as 200 boaters and 200 co-anglers are expected to compete in the tournament, which will award as much as $45,000 in cash, including a top award of $6,000 in the Boater Division.

If the winner is a participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program, he or she will receive a $2,000 bonus from Ranger Boats. If the winner is not a Ranger Cup participant, Ranger will award $1,000 to the highest-finishing Ranger Cup participant. That’s a potential top award of $8,000 for anglers who meet contingency guidelines.

Bombardier will award $1,000 to the winning boater if the winner’s boat is equipped with a qualifying Evinrude E-TEC or Direct Injection outboard.

The winning co-angler will earn as much as $3,000 cash.

Big Bass awards of up to $1,000 and $500, respectively, will also be awarded in the Boater and Co-angler Divisions.

1. The Savannah River Division will visit Lake Hartwell in Clemson, S.C. Clemson Marina in Seneca will host the takeoff and weigh-in at 6:45 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.

Anglers may register for the tournament online at the FLWOutdoors website or by calling (270) 252-1000. Onsite registration will be held April 17 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Walmart store located at 1636 Sandifer Blvd. in Seneca, S.C. Entry fees are $200 for boaters and $100 for co-anglers.

2. The Ozark Division will visit Table Rock Lake in Branson, Mo. Kimberling Inn Resort in Kimberling City, Mo., will host the takeoff and weigh-in at 6:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.

Anglers may register for the tournament online at the FLWOutdoors website or by calling (270) 252-1000. Onsite registration will be held April 17 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Walmart store located at 18401 State Highway 13 in Branson. Entry fees are $200 for boaters and $100 for co-anglers.

3. The Music City Division will visit Center Hill Lake in Sparta, Tenn. Ragland Bottoms Recreation Area in Sparta will host the takeoff and weigh-in at 6 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.

Anglers may register for the tournament online at the FLWOutdoors website or by calling (270) 252-1000. Onsite registration will be held April 17 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Walmart store located at 515 W. Broad St. in Smithville, Tenn. Entry fees are $200 for boaters and $100 for co-anglers.

The top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers in each of the BFL’s 28 divisions at the end of the season advance to a no-entry-fee Regional Championship where boaters fish for a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck and co-anglers fish for a new Ranger boat. Seven regional championships will each send six boaters and six co-anglers to the no-entry-fee Walmart BFL All-American presented by Chevy, which features a $1 million purse and a top award of $140,000 in the Boater Division and $70,000 in the Co-angler Division. Anglers who compete in all five regular-season events within a division but do not advance to a Regional Championship are eligible to compete in the Chevy Wild Card, which will also send six boaters and six co-anglers to the All-American for a total of 48 boaters and 48 co-anglers advancing through BFL competition.

The winning boater and winning co-angler at the All-American will advance to the no-entry-fee $2.5 million Forrest Wood Cup in Atlanta in 2010. This event, featuring a top award of $1 million, is the most lucrative tournament in all of competitive bass fishing. In all, the BFL offers weekend anglers the opportunity to qualify for three no-entry-fee championships with total cash awards exceeding $3.5 million. Plus, the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers from each BFL division may move up to the Stren Series for 2010 while All-American champions have the option to advance directly to the Walmart FLW Tour.

A two-day Super Tournament, the division’s fifth and final event, will be held on the Kissimmee River in Lake Wales, Fla., Sept. 19-20.

Following the end of regular-season competition, the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers in the Everglades Division will advance to the Lake Seminole Regional Championship in Bainbridge, Ga., Oct. 22-24 and will compete against anglers from the Bulldog, Bama and Dixie divisions for an All-American berth.

In BFL competition, boaters supply the boat and compete from the front deck against other boaters. Co-anglers compete from the back deck against other co-anglers.

As the nation’s leading provider of affordable, close-to-home weekend tournaments, the BFL is widely credited with opening competitive bass fishing to the masses. It also serves as a steppingstone for anglers who wish to advance to the Stren Series and ultimately the FLW Tour – bass fishing’s most lucrative tournament circuit.

Total awards are based on a full field of 200 boats in every tournament.

FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. FLW Outdoors also is taking fishing mainstream with FLW Fantasy Fishing, offering the largest awards possible in the history of fantasy sports, $10 million in cash and prizes. Sign up for Player’s Advantage for only $10 to get your edge and win.

For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, call (270) 252-1000.

article source : http://www.fishingworld.com/News/Read.php?ArtID=000025058

(Nov. 25, 2008 – Minneapolis, MN)… FLW Outdoors has announced its 2009 Walmart FLW Walleye League schedule featuring four divisions, each with three one-day qualifying tournaments.

The Heartland Division will kick off the 2009 season March 21 on the Illinois River in Spring Valley, Ill., followed by events April 25 on the Mississippi River in Dubuque, Iowa, and May 30 on Lake Rathbun in Centerville, Iowa.

Anglers fishing the Michigan Division will visit Lake Erie in Port Clinton, Ohio, April 4, followed by tournaments June 20 on Lake Erie in Monroe, Mich., and Aug. 22 on Saginaw Bay in Au Gres, Mich.

Competition in the Minnesota Division will begin May 2 on the Mississippi River in Red Wing, Minn., followed by tournaments June 6 on Leech Lake in Walker, Minn., and July 11 on Lake Bemidji in Bemidji, Minn.

Wisconsin Division competition will start May 16 on Lake Petenwell in Arkdale, Wis., followed by tournaments June 27 on Green Bay in Oconto, Wis., and Aug. 8 on Lake Winnebago in Oshkosh, Wis.

After all qualifying events are complete, the top 30 boaters and co-anglers in the points standings from each division will advance to the no-entry-fee Walmart FLW Walleye League Finals to be held Sept. 17-19 on Lake Wissota in Chippewa Falls, Wis. The boater and co-angler points champions from each division will also advance to the Walmart FLW Walleye Tour Championship on the Missouri River in Bismarck, N.D., Sept. 30-Oct. 3, where they can win as much as $150,000 and $20,000, respectively. The top 10 boaters and co-anglers from each division will receive priority entry into the 2010 FLW Walleye Tour.

The top boater award in each qualifier jumps from $7,500 to $9,000 for 2009 thanks to a $2,000 Ranger Cup bonus. If the winning boater is not Ranger Cup qualified, the highest finishing Ranger Cup boater will receive a $1,000 bonus. The top co-angler award is $3,500.

Entry fees are $300 per event for boaters and $150 per event for co-anglers. Entry dates will be released soon.

Please see the 2009 Walleye League schedule and payouts below or go to the FLWOutdoors website for complete details.

FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. In 2008 alone the organization is offering more than 90,000 anglers the chance to win over $40 million through 230 tournaments in 10 circuits. FLW Outdoors also took fishing mainstream with FLW Fantasy Fishing, awarding a historic $1 million prize to Michael Thompson of St. Michael, Minn. Details on an enhanced 2009 FLW Fantasy Fishing league will be announced soon.

For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, call (270) 252-1000.

article source : http://www.fishingworld.com/News/Read.php?ArtID=000024298

Annual Rainbow Trout Stockings Begin Dec. 3

by Tom Harvey, TPWD Staff

(Nov. 27, 2008 – Austin, TX)… For an inexpensive, entry-level fishing experience the entire family can enjoy, it doesn’t get much easier than winter rainbow trout fishing in Texas.

Beginning Dec. 3 and continuing until mid-March, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will stock upwards of 260,000 hatchery-reared rainbow trout at 119 sites across the state. Many of the fish stockings will be conducted at small community fishing lakes, state park lakes and popular river tailraces offering easy angling access.

TPWD has been stocking rainbow trout each winter since the 1970s, providing Texans a simple and economical opportunity to go fishing.

Catching these hungry fish can be easy, making the experience ideal for both novice anglers and kids. The fish will bite almost immediately after stocking and typically will take a variety of baits, from whole kernel canned corn or commercial soft bait to artificial flies and even small spinner baits.

Fishing gear can be as basic as an inexpensive spincast rod and reel combo, a small plastic bobber, a fishing weight and a hook. It’s also a good idea to carry along a pair of needle-nosed pliers to help remove hooks, and a five gallon bucket, small ice chest or a fish stringer to keep your catch. Be sure to keep freshly caught trout cold on ice or refrigerated.

The complete 2008-2009 Rainbow Trout Stocking Schedule is on the TPWD Web site. Here anglers can find stocking locations, stocking dates and driving directions to each site. Many locations offer special events for youth prior to allowing the public to fish. Check with local parks and recreation departments or water authorities for additional information. Most sites get an annual dose of more than 1,000 trout.

Among the winter trout stocking sites are 13 Neighborhood Fishin’ locations in city suburbs across the state. These spots get trout stocked every two weeks in the winter, but catfish are also stocked there in the summer, making them year-round family fishing destinations. Details are on the Neighborhood Fishin’ Web page, which lists the urban area, lake or pond, driving directions, and a TPWD name and contact phone number for each site. Money donated to TPWD from the Toyota Texas Bass Classic is being used to support Neighborhood Fishin’.

Other popular fishing holes like the Guadalupe River below the Canyon Reservoir Dam, which includes the tailrace, also receive multiple stockings from December into March. As the only fishable place in Texas where rainbow trout can survive during the summer months, the Guadalupe River will get almost 17,000 trout stocked this winter.

One public access point along the Guadalupe River has been leased by TPWD specifically for trout fishing, Camp Hueco Springs. A map and directions to this site are on the TPWD Web site.

Anglers should note there are special harvest restrictions in place along a 10-mile stretch of the Guadalupe River below the tailrace. In this area, anglers may retain only one trout per day, which must be at least 18-inches in length, and any trout harvested must be caught on artificial lures.

For additional details about the special harvest regulations and the location of that river stretch, please consult the TPWD Outdoor Annual. The special regulations zone does not include the area immediately below Canyon Lake Dam. There, as in other Texas waters, the daily bag limit is five trout and there is no minimum length.

A valid Texas freshwater fishing package is required to fish for trout. Youth ages 16 and younger and all anglers fishing from the bank in state parks are exempt from the fishing package requirement.

by Betty Bauman

(Nov. 24, 2008 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL)… Registrations are still available for women to learn fishing skills from fly fishing guru Sandy Moret and other celebrity speakers at the 9th Annual “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!”® seminar, Dec. 5-7 at Holiday Isle Beach Resorts and Marina, Islamorada, FL. This award-winning fishing seminar series for women, held in conjunction with the Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and presented by Mercury Outboards, kicks off with a welcome reception at Holiday Isle on Friday, Dec. 5 from 6 – 8pm. The seminar is at Holiday Isle on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 7:20am – 4:30pm. Attendees will be treated to a reception on Saturday night at the Keys to Life Studio of Art, hosted by artist Pasta Pantaleo. An optional, full day of fishing out of Whale Harbor is on Sunday, Dec. 7 from 7:00am – 3:30pm, followed by fillet demonstration.

The class session starts at 7:20am on Saturday where fishing techniques are taught at beginner and intermediate/advanced levels. Topics and respective speakers are Offshore/Capt. George Mittler, Bottom/Capt. Skip Bradeen, Inshore/Capt. Mark Johnson and Capt. Hank Brown, Basics/Capt. Lee Lavery and Fly Fishing/Sandy Moret. Moret is the eight-time grand champion of the Keys’ most prestigious fly tournaments and is often featured on the Walker’s Cay Chronicles, The Reel Guys and Andy Mill’s Sportsman’s Adventures. Capt. Skip Bradeen is the Florida Keys fishing expert on several radio stations. Capt. Hank Brown is the founder of Hookup Lures.

After lunch, the women will participate in several “hands-on” fishing stations, such as conservation techniques, spin casting, net casting, knot tying, gaffing grapefruits, boat handling, trailer backing, ballyhoo rigging and reeling against pressure, until 4:30pm. On Sunday the ladies go fishing, followed by fillet demonstration.

Featured on Inside Edition, NBC’s Nightly News and more, the series is partially supported by the FWC through the Sport Fish Restoration Program and by partners such as Mercury Outboards, Bass Pro Shops, Ranger, BoatU.S. ANGLER Insurance, Gulfstream Int’l Airlines, and Shimano. Other partners include Magic Tilt Trailers, Eagle Claw Hooks, Minn Kota and more.

Registration is $160, including instruction, use of equipment, meals, T-shirt, goody bag and more. The full-day fishing adventure from charter boats, with fishing tackle and bait provided, will range from $55 to $330 in addition. It’s best to reserve at least one week in advance at the latest to allow for securing a fishing spot. Contact: phone: (954) 475-9068; email: info@ladiesletsgofishing.com;

(Oct. 31, 2008 – Plymouth, WI)… Anglers Insight Marketing™ (AIM™) will conduct a series of four Pro-Am walleye fishing tournaments in 2009. The “AIM™ Pro Walleye Series” will host fields of 100 of the top walleye fishing professionals and 100 Co-anglers at each tournament.

AIM™ is pleased to announce that the August 2009 tournament will be held in Akaska, South Dakota. This “AIM™ Pro Walleye Series” event will be held August 13 – 15, 2009. This tournament will be held in conjunction with the annual South Dakota Walleye Classic, a large regional festival with attractions for the entire family.

Bill Waeckerle, President of the SD Walleye Classic, reports that Akaska is centrally located on beautiful Lake Oahe. This stretch of the Missouri River is an extremely diverse fishery offering a bountiful walleye population and a wide variety of structures that allow dozens of presentation options. In total, the Pros will be searching for winning limits of walleyes on a 100-mile long expanse of Lake Oahe and its tributaries.

The “AIM™ Pro Walleye Series” tournaments will all be three day events. The full field of 100 boats (Professionals and Co-anglers) will fish the first two days. The Professional provides the boat and all the fishing tackle and bait for the day. Both members of the “team” of Professional and Co-angler will be credited with the weight of their daily catch. Each day the Co-angler will be paired with a different Professional and have the opportunity to learn “secret” techniques. The top ten Professionals and Co-anglers – based on cumulative weight over the first two days – will fish the third day of the tournament.

Anglers Insight Marketing, LLC is a unique tournament organization which is owned by stockholders, the majority of which are active Professional walleye anglers. AIM™ Professionals are among the “All Stars” of professional fishing, with cumulative HUNDREDS of years of tournament experience, including countless tournament victories, series championships, and Angler of the Year titles. This insight and knowledge is now being employed to provide the finest tournament experience for the participants, and the maximum exposure for the host tournament sites and corporate sponsors.

For more information, contact: Scott Matheson, President CEO, Anglers Insight Marketing™ – PO Box 110, Plymouth, WI 53073, or 920-526-3399; smatheson@aimfishing.com.

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