MINNEAPOLIS — Tune in Sunday, April 13 to “FLW Outdoors” on FSN for the Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series event from Sarasota, Fla. The second of four Eastern Division tournaments will highlight the best redfish anglers in the world as they compete for a top prize of $50,000 cash.
The “FLW Outdoors” saltwater series is a reality-format show told from the anglers’ perspective. Each week the top-five finalists are followed from takeoff to weigh-in, allowing the audience to feel the anglers’ nerves, listen to their strategy and learn from their mistakes. The stories evolve and the suspense grows throughout the one-hour show until the final weigh-in results are announced.
After hanging up his redfish tackle and announcing his retirement from the sport immediately after winning the 2006 Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series Championship, Capt. Blair Wiggins of Cocoa, Fla., is back on the tournament trail. With a two-day catch of four redfish weighing 29 pounds, 6 ounces, Wiggins and his new partner, Travis Tanner of Titusville, Fla., lead the field with one day of competition remaining. The team is targeting their fish with a combination of DOA Cal Series lures and Mirrodines suspending twitch baits. Their best area is located 30 miles from the launch site across Tampa Bay, which could be problematic with blustery weather in the forecast. But if they are able to persevere and deliver another solid catch, the tournament title and the $50,000 first-place purse is theirs.
After suffering through some misfortune during the season-opening Eastern Division event, the team of Geoffrey Page of Venice, Fla., and Terry Brantley of Arcadia, Fla., is once again hitting their stride. Using a two-day catch of 28 pounds, 7 ounces, the duo leapfrogged from fifth place after day one to second place heading into the finals. At the very least, grabbing a spot in the finals has allowed the team to forget the headaches they faced during last month’s Redfish Series Punta Gorda event. At that tournament, Page and Brantley caught a 7-pound redfish on day two that was close to the slot limit. To be safe, they decided to measure it again shortly before returning to the marina. As they laid it down, the fish bounced off the boat and landed back in the water. Now that they have another chance, they intend on making the most of it. But there’s yet another problem. Page has a sponsor-related commitment that won’t allow him to fish on day three. In his absence, the team has turned to an emergency substitute – veteran Redfish Series pro Mark Sepe – to help fill the void.
FSN also follows the team of Daniel Benson of Brandon, Fla., and Matthew Ryan of Belleair Bluffs, Fla., who parlayed a total catch of 27 pounds, 14 ounces into the third-place qualifying position with one day remaining. The team is only traveling approximately three miles to their prime fishing location, targeting redfish on gold spoons and 4-inch Berkley Gulp sinking minnows.
FSN broadcasts “FLW Outdoors” Sunday mornings. Check local listings for show times and channels in your area. FLWOutdoors.com also provides an online guide listing upcoming episodes on “FLW Outdoors.”
FSN is broadcast to more than 81 million homes through its network of 20 regional sports channels. Established in 1996, FSN is the only cable network that supplies national, regional and local sports programming. FSN serves as the cable TV home to 62 of the 82 MLB, NHL and NBA teams based in the United States, and produces more than 4,500 live events each year. FSN has an extensive catalog of original national programs, including “Best Damn Sports Show Period” and “Beyond the Glory” documentary series, along with national packages of collegiate sports. Based in Los Angeles, FSN is part of the vast FOX Sports television family. For the latest up-to-the-minute sports news and opinions, visit the FOX Sports/FSN Web site at www.FoxSports.com.
“FLW Outdoors” is also broadcast internationally to more than 429 million households in such countries as Germany, China, South Africa, Australia, Malaysia, Russia, Hungary and the United Kingdom, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoor-sports television show in the world.
Tournament anglers aren’t the only ones winning big this season. With the introduction of FLW Fantasy Fishing, FLW Outdoors offers anyone the opportunity to enter for their chance to land the catch of a lifetime with the opportunity to win $7.3 million in cash and prizes. Players can become a virtual pro angler by signing up for Player’s Advantage, providing them with exclusive insider information that could guide them to a $100,000 victory at every Wal-Mart FLW Tour stop and the Forrest Wood Cup. Player’s Advantage will give them an edge over the competition and increase their shot for a $1 million cash grand prize that will be awarded to the FLW Fantasy Fishing cumulative points winner. Those who visit FantasyFishing.com today can sign up for Player’s Advantage and FLW Outdoors will include a $15 Wal-Mart gift card.
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 targeting bass, walleye, redfish, kingfish and striped bass. FLW Outdoors is also taking fishing mainstream with the largest cash awards in the history of fantasy sports, $7.3 million.
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, browse FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player’s Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com.
ZAPATA, Texas – When he reached the Zapata County Community Center for the final weigh-in of the Stren Series Texas Division season opener on Falcon Lake, pro Jeremy Guidry thought he had 22 or 23 pounds in his bag. As it turns out, he greatly underestimated his catch due to grappling with 9- and 10-pound bass all week.
After catching 27 pounds, 13 ounces Saturday, Guidry finished the event with 110 pounds, 2 ounces. That’s the heaviest four-day cumulative tournament weight in the history of both the Stren Series and FLW Outdoors as a whole. Guidry’s catch shattered the previous record of 105 pounds, 8 ounces set by David Mauldin of Tomball, Texas, during the 2006 Stren Series tournament on Lake Amistad. In fact, the top three finishers on Falcon all surpassed the previous record.
The cat is officially out of the bag: Falcon Lake is the hottest bass fishery in the country.
“I keep waiting for someone to pinch me,” said the pro winner. “Yesterday at noon I didn’t even know if I was going to stay in the top 10. I just fished hard and got it done.”
Guidry started each day by throwing a ChatterBait, a lure that built its reputation as a grass bait, around huisache trees. He tipped the ChatterBait with a Lake Fork Live Magic Shad swimbait. Guidry said the lure had the versatility of a spinnerbait but did a better job of mimicking tilapia, the primary bass forage in Falcon. Later in the day, he would switch to flipping a V&M Super High Tail creature bait. He rigged the creature bait with 65-pound braid and the ChatterBait with 20-pound monofilament.
“Using mono around trees, especially with these mean fish, was nerve-wracking. I caught more fish on the V&M bait, but the bigger fish came on the ChatterBait.”
Guidry fished two locations. His primary spot was in a small creek on the Mexico side of the lake, approximately four miles south of the Beacon Lodge. His secondary area was in a larger creek on the Mexico side, due west of the marina.
During the final day of competition, the Opelousas, La., native caught 25 keepers. His first five fish weighed only 12 pounds, but he continued to upgrade throughout the day.
“I guess I culled my last keeper at 2 p.m. My limit was pretty much all 5- and 6-pounders.”
Guidry’s record weight earned him a $25,000 cash purse and a fully loaded Ranger boat. The total value of his first victory was $69,500.
Heaviest day-four catch not enough for Reneau
While Guidry caught the heaviest four-day total weight in company history, pro Tim Reneau caught the heaviest day-four weight in both Stren Series and FLW Outdoors history. Reneau fished for the win throughout the tournament and nearly attained his lofty goal.
Starting the day in fifth place, the Del Rio, Texas, angler caught a five-bass limit on day four that weighed 33 pounds. His fish were so large they wouldn’t all fit in the underwater aquarium. Instead, his 9-pound, 8-ounce kicker had to be weighed separately.
“Wow is right,” exclaimed Reneau. “I had found a whole bunch of fish deep in practice. I was averaging around 30 pounds a day. I lost two big fish the first two days, and that really hurt me. The first day I should have had 35 pounds. But in those deep trees, you’re going to lose some. There’s a lot of brush down there and a lot of mean fish.”
Reneau’s total weight of 107 pounds, 12 ounces is even more impressive considering he failed to catch a fifth keeper on the second day.
“I was only averaging seven or eight bites a day. I was going for the quality bites, trying to win. I’m just happy to fish flawlessly the last two days and give myself a chance.”
The Amistad expert used a 3/4-ounce Oldham jig with a Strike King Rage craw trailer on 80-pound braid. Reneau fished channel edges in 10 feet of water, and his primary area was located on the U.S. side in Big Tiger Creek.
For finishing runner-up, he earned $13,082.
McNeely third
Fishing in the first pro event of his career, Nicky McNeely lost his grip on the lead after catching only 20 pounds, 11 ounces on day four.
“I’ve been sightfishing all week, but today they wouldn’t eat,” said the 2007 Louisiana TBF champion. “The water was slick as glass and they wouldn’t budge.”
McNeely was seemingly the only pro who was actually looking at spawning bass. For most competitors the water was too dark. His key baits this week were a double-wide Reactions Innovations Sweet Beaver, a Yum Sooie and a V&M Magnum lizard. He fished two banks near Old Guerrero, located on the Mexico side of the lake, 12 miles southwest of the takeoff site. With $70,000 on the line today, he had two 8-pound fish pull off his hook.
“I’m just thrilled to come out here and make the top 10. It’s a dream come true to do this in my first tournament.”
With a four-day weight of 105 pounds, 9 ounces, the father of five young children will bring home $12,274.
Haralson fourth
Local hero Charles Haralson of Laredo, Texas, finished fourth with a four-day total of 102 pounds, 12 ounces worth $6,466. Haralson guides on the lake, has won numerous local events and was among a handful of favorites coming into the tournament.
On day four, he caught a five-bass limit weighing 23 pounds, 3 ounces. His lure of choice was a 3/4-ounce Jo Charles spinnerbait in white and chartreuse color. Occasionally, he would flip and when he did he would opt for a 3/4-ounce Oldham jig with a Strike King Rage craw trailer.
“Most of them came on the blade, but today I caught them all flipping,” Haralson said.
He fished near Marker 8 on the U.S. side of the lake, five miles south of the Beacon Lodge. Despite knowing the lake better than anyone, Haralson never caught a bass heavier than 7 pounds – which makes his total weight all the more impressive.
“It’s been a little disappointing, but it’s been fun. I really expected to do better and had the opportunity to do better. Sometimes the home-lake advantage can actually hurt you. I knew some good spots that I never checked.”
Truax fifth
Stren Series veteran David Truax of Beaumont, Texas, finished fifth with a combined total of 98 pounds, 1 ounce, earning him $5,657. Truax caught the third-heaviest limit of the day on day four. That limit, which weighed 25 pounds, 7 ounces, moved him up one spot.
“The stories are true,” he said. “You’ve got to be on 30 pounds to win here.”
Truax, who caught a limit on day three that weighed 32 pounds, 8 ounces, used a 1-ounce Santone spinnerbait and a Zoom Brush Hog. His line of choice was 80-pound Stren Superbraid.
“It’s the smoothest braid I’ve ever used.”
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top 10 pros at the Stren Series Texas Division event on Falcon Lake:
6th: Andy Gaia of Tomball, Texas, four-day total of 95-5, $4,849
7th: Peter Daniels of Shreveport, La., 90-14, $4,446
8th: Stephen Johnston of Hemphill, Texas, 90-13, $4,041
9th: Toby Hartsell of Livingston, Texas, 88-1, $3,637
10th: Russell Cecil of Willis, Texas, 87-3, $3,234
The next Stren Series event will take place Jan 30-Feb. 2. on Lake Seminole, the season-opening qualifier in the Southeast Division. The next Texas Division event is slated for Feb. 20-23 on the Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Jasper, Texas.
