World's Best Bass Anglers Heading to Columbia, S.C., Aug. 14-17 for Sport's Biggest Week

World's Best Bass Anglers Heading to Columbia, S.C., Aug. 14-17 for Sport's Biggest Week

$1 million award on the line for Forrest Wood Cup champion

COLUMBIA, S.C., July 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The top 77 professionals and 77 co-anglers in the world will compete for a $1 million top award in the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup presented by BP and Castrol -- bass fishing's world championship -- on Lake Murray in Columbia, S.C., Aug. 14-17. Many of these anglers, representing 31 states and Japan, are fishing on teams sponsored by some of the nation's leading brands.

"The Forrest Wood Cup is the crown jewel of professional fishing and the biggest sporting event of any kind held in South Carolina this year," said FLW Outdoors President and CEO Charlie Evans. "It is the most important, most competitive and most difficult to qualify for tournament in our sport. Forrest Wood Cup competitors are world-class athletes with skills that are second to none. These are the absolute best men and women in the sport, and the best of the best will win as much as $1 million in Columbia on August 17."

Anglers from all 50 states plus Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Mexico and Spain competed in the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Stren Series Championship, Wal-Mart BFL All-American and TBF National Championship to qualify for the 2008 Forrest Wood Cup. California, a state known for phenomenal bass fishing, is sending the most qualifiers with 24. Arkansas has the second most anglers in the field with 17, followed by Alabama with 13 contenders.

This year's field includes six former Forrest Wood Cup champions led by 2008 Land O'Lakes Angler of the Year, 2003 Forrest Wood Cup champion and FLW Outdoors all-time leading money winner David Dudley of Lynchburg, Va. Other champions in the field are Brent Ehrler of Redlands, Calif. (2006); George Cochran of Hot Springs, Ark. (2005); Luke Clausen of Spokane, Wash. (2004); Dion Hibdon of Stover, Mo. (2000); and David Fritts of Lexington, N.C. (1997).

"We could see records fall during the Forrest Wood Cup," Evans said. "During our last visit to Lake Murray we set a single day FLW Tour weight record with five bass weighing 30 pounds, 15 ounces. The fishing will be fantastic, and with the caliber of anglers competing, it will be a real shoot out."

In addition to seeing top pros weigh-in during the Forrest Wood Cup, fishing fans will be treated to hundreds of exhibits, fishing seminars by Hank Parker, Jimmy Houston and other bass-fishing legends and free daily giveaways for children 14 and under during the Family Fun Zone and Outdoor Show at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center located at 1101 Lincoln St. in Columbia. Daily weigh-ins will be held at the Colonial Center located at 801 Lincoln St. in Columbia each afternoon at 5.

The first 500 children visiting the Family Fun Zone and Outdoor Show Aug. 14 will receive free Berkley fishing line from WIS-TV NBC. The first 500 children visiting the show Aug. 15 will receive a free tackle kit from WIS-TV NBC. The first 750 children through the doors Aug. 16 will receive a free pair of Solar Bat sunglasses from WACH-TV FOX. And on Aug. 17, the first 1,500 children visiting the show will receive a free rod and reel from WLTX-TV CBS. One lucky fan over 16 attending the final weigh-in Sunday, Aug. 17, will even win a new Ranger Z-Comanche bass boat powered by Yamaha from The State. Doors open at 2 p.m. Aug. 14-15, and 11 a.m. Aug. 16-17.

The "Best Damn Sports Show Period" will tape a show Aug. 16 from noon to 2 p.m. in the Colonial Center, and country music fans will be treated to a free Tracy Byrd concert hosted by WCOS-97.5 FM at the Colonial Center Aug. 17 at 4 p.m. Admission to all activities is free, and participants in the Ranger boat drawing must be present during the Aug. 17 weigh-in at 5 p.m. to win.

Forrest Wood Cup contenders will launch at 7 each morning from Lake Murray Marina and Yacht Club located at 1600 Marina Rd., in Irmo, S.C.

Coverage of the Forrest Wood Cup, hosted by the Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board, will be broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States Sept. 28 and Oct. 5 as part of the "FLW Outdoors" television program. "FLW Outdoors" is also broadcast in Canada on WFN (World Fishing Network) and to more than 429 million households in the Europe, Africa, and Asia through a distribution agreement with Matchroom Sport, making it the most widely distributed fishing program in the world. The program airs Sunday mornings at 11 Eastern time. Check local listings for times in your area.

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.

For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit http://www.flwoutdoors.com/ or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player's Advantage, visit http://www.fantasyfishing.com/ .

   PRO FIELD   NAME                CITY            STATE        QUALIFYING CIRCUIT   ANDRE MOORE         ALABASTER         AL         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   STEVE KENNEDY       AUBURN            AL         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   GREG PUGH           CULLMAN           AL         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   DEREK REMITZ        GRANT             AL         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   KYLE MABREY         MCCALLA           AL         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   SCOTT CANTERBURY    ODENVILLE         AL         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   GREG VINSON         WETUMPKA          AL         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   JIM DILLARD         BAUXITE           AR         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   LARRY NIXON         BEE BRANCH        AR         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   RON SHUFFIELD       BISMARCK          AR         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   GEORGE E. COCHRAN   HOT SPRINGS       AR         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   TERRY BOLTON        JONESBORO         AR         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   MARK ROSE           MARION            AR         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   GREG BOHANNAN       ROGERS            AR         STREN SERIES   RAY SCHEIDE         RUSSELLVILLE      AR         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   CARL SVEBEK III     SILOAM SPRINGS    AR         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   MICHAEL ROOKE       LAKE HAVASU CITY  AZ         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   BRETT HITE          PHOENIX           AZ         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   MICHAEL C. TUCK     ANTELOPE          CA         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   MICHAEL BENNETT     LINCOLN           CA         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   BOBBY BARRACK       OAKLEY            CA         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   GABE BOLIVAR        RAMONA            CA         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   MATHEW SAAVEDRA     REDDING           CA         STREN SERIES   BRENT EHRLER        REDLANDS          CA         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   CLAYTON MEYER       SAN DIEGO         CA         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   CHRIS ZALDAIN       SAN JOSE          CA         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   ROB RIEHL           TRACY             CA         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   JIMMY REESE         WITTER SPRINGS    CA         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   TERRY BAKSAY        EASTON            CT         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   SCOTT R. MARTIN     CLEWISTON         FL         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   GLENN BROWNE        OCALA             FL         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   KOBY KREIGER        OKEECHOBEE        FL         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   JT KENNEY           PORT CHARLOTTE    FL         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   MIKE JACKSON        SAN MATEO         FL         STREN SERIES   MARK HARDIN         JASPER            GA         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   NEIL RUSSELL        NAMPA             ID         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   KEN WICK            STAR              ID         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   JASON HICKEY        WEISER            ID         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   JOHN DEVERE         BEREA             KY         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   DAN MOREHEAD        PADUCAH           KY         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   DANNY CORREIA       MARLBOROUGH       MA         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   KEVIN VIDA          CLARE             MI         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   NATE WELLMAN        JENISON           MI         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   ART FERGUSON III    ST. CLAIR SHORES  MI         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   JIM MOYNAGH         CARVER            MN         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   CHAD GRIGSBY        MAPLE GROVE       MN         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   RANDY BLAUKAT       JASPER            MO         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   DION HIBDON         STOVER            MO         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   BRIAN TRAVIS        CONOVER           NC         TBF - THE BASS FEDERATION   CHRIS BAUMGARDNER   GASTONIA          NC         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   JOEL RICHARDSON     KERNERSVILLE      NC         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   DAVID FRITTS        LEXINGTON         NC         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   CHRIS ELLIOTT       MOREHEAD CITY     NC         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   BRYAN THRIFT        SHELBY            NC         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   ALVIN SHAW          STATE ROAD        NC         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   KEVIN BISHOP        HILTON            NY         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   VIC VATALARO        KENT              OH         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   JAY YELAS           CORVALLIS         OR         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   DAVE LEFEBRE        UNION CITY        PA         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   ANDY MONTGOMERY     BLACKSBURG        SC         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   NICK GAINEY         CHARLESTON        SC         STREN SERIES   ANTHONY GAGLIARDI   PROSPERITY        SC         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   ANDY MORGAN         DAYTON            TN         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   BRANDON COULTER     KNOXVILLE         TN         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   OTT DEFOE           KNOXVILLE         TN         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   CRAIG POWERS        ROCKWOOD          TN         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   CHARLIE INGRAM      SANTA FE          TN         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   JERRY GREEN         DEL RIO           TX         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   BUD PRUITT          HOUSTON           TX         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   CLARK WENDLANDT     LEANDER           TX         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   SHINICHI FUKAE      MINEOLA           TX         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   DAVID CURTIS        TRINITY           TX         STREN SERIES   DAVID P. DUDLEY     LYNCHBURG         VA         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   JACOB POWROZNIK     PRINCE GEORGE     VA         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   SHAYNE BERLO        VIENNA            VA         BFL   CURT LYTLE          ZUNI              VA         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   LUKE CLAUSEN        SPOKANE           WA         WAL-MART FLW TOUR     CO-ANGLER FIELD   NAME                CITY            STATE        QUALIFYING CIRCUIT   SHANE PATTERSON     ALEXANDER CITY    AL         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   DAVID HUDSON        JASPER            AL         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   TODD LEE            JASPER            AL         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   BRYAN TALMADGE      PELL CITY         AL         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   TY HESTER           RUSSELLVILLE      AL         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   BARRY ISBELL        TRUSSVILLE        AL         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   BILL GIFT           ALIX              AR         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   STETSON BLAYLOCK    BENTON            AR         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   SPENCER SHUFFIELD   BISMARCK          AR         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   FRANK DIVIS SR      FAYETTEVILLE      AR         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   KEVIN KOONE         GREENBRIER        AR         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   PAMELA BOLTON       JONESBORO         AR         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   LARRY CARTER        LITTLE ROCK       AR         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   DOUG WEISER         SPRINGDALE        AR         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   LEWIS E. SOUTHARD   CHANDLER          AZ         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   TERRENCE RATH       LAKE HAVASU CITY  AZ         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   TROY CRAWFORD       PHOENIX           AZ         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   MICHAEL SPENCER     ALPINE            CA         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   GAYLE JANES         BERMUDA DUNES     CA         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   MIKE ILOSKI         ESCONDIDO         CA         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   JUSTIN LUCAS        FOLSOM            CA         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   STEVE LINDNER       LAKEWOOD          CA         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   MARVY TUTSON        LOS ANGELES       CA         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   YOUNG YANG          LOS ANGELES       CA         STREN SERIES   BILL SCHARTON       OAKDALE           CA         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   PAT WILSON          PENNGROVE         CA         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   CLAUDIO SILVA       RIVERBANK         CA         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   RICHARD TAYLOR      SHINGLE SPRINGS   CA         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   MARK DANIELS JR     SUISUN CITY       CA         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   DARRELL HAGOOD      WILTON            CA         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   PHILIP GARCIA       YUBA CITY         CA         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   BOB BJORKLUND       CENTENNIAL        CO         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   JESS CARABALLO      DANBURY           CT         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   PAUL MUELLER        SOUTHBURY         CT         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   ROBERT CROSNOE      INVERNESS         FL         BFL   MICHAEL MARSHALL    DAWSONVILLE       GA         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   JUSTIN SOPPE        MIDDLETON         ID         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   AARON MCMANAWAY     ALTAMONT          IL         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   DEREK JENKEL        PINCKNEYVILLE     IL         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   MARK VOS            WHITE HEATH       IL         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   LARRY HOSTETLER     FLOYDS KNOBS      IN         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   LEO REITER          GOSHEN            IN         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   TEDDY BRADLEY       MISHAWAKA         IN         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   RON FABISZAK        SOUTH BEND        IN         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   MASAHIRO YANASE     NAGOYA            JAPAN      WAL-MART FLW TOUR   BRANDON HUNTER      BENTON            KY         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   JIM SMITH           GEORGETOWN        KY         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   MIKE WILLIAMS       LANCASTER         KY         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   BRAD ROBERTS        NANCY             KY         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   JEFF TAYLOR         OLMSTEAD          KY         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   BEECHER STRUNK      SOMERSET          KY         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   JASON SHERWOOD      DAMASCUS          MD         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   MOO BAE             WEST FRIENDSHIP   MD         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   CHAD PIPKENS        HOLT              MI         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   JOSH CLARK          HORTON            MI         STREN SERIES   BEN KURTH           WEST SAINT PAUL   MN         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   JACQUES FLEISCHMANN SHELL KNOB        MO         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   KEVIN MCKNIGHT      VERSAILLES        MO         STREN SERIES   SCOTT GIBSON        BILOXI            MS         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   CHRIS HULTS         VANCLEAVE         MS         STREN SERIES   NATHAN WEBBER       BOONE             NC         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   BURLEY HAMILL III   WAKE FOREST       NC         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   ANDY SCHOLZ         RENO              NV         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   STEVE REDWINE       BLUE ASH          OH         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   DIRK DAVENPORT      DELAWARE          OH         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   ANDREW LEMLE        PERRYSBURG        OH         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   KEN KEIRSEY         OWASSO            OK         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   MIKE DRAIN          PURCELL           OK         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   JEFF GENGLER        TULSA             OK         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   JERRY WEISINGER     WYANDOTTE         OK         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   DOUG CALDWELL       KANE              PA         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   DEARAL RODGERS      CAMDEN            SC         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   CRAIG FREDRYCHOWSKI LEXINGTON         SC         TBF - THE BASS FEDERATION   BRIAN TIDWELL       SENECA            SC         WAL-MART FLW SERIES   HECTOR DELAGARZA    GARLAND           TX         WAL-MART FLW TOUR   KEITH HONEYCUTT     TEMPLE            TX         STREN SERIES   WADE HEADRICK       DRAPER            UT         WAL-MART FLW SERIES  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: FLW Outdoors

CONTACT: Dave Washburn, Vice President of Communications, FLW Outdoors,
+1-270-252-1607

Web site: http://www.flwoutdoors.com/
http://www.fantasyfishing.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Visit the FLW Outdoors Media Center at http://mc.flwoutdoors.com for additional information and photos.

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