ROGERS -- More than 320 anglers will compete for up to $125,000 in the FLW Tour's unofficial "homecoming" tournament today through Sunday at Beaver Lake.
As always, the field will be divided into professional and amateur co-angler divisions. All of the pro anglers will compete the first two days. The top 20 with the heaviest combined two-day weights will fish Saturday, and the field will be cut to the top 10 for Sunday's championship round. The winner will earn $125,000.
FLW Tour
WHERE Beaver Lake
WHO 322 professional and amateur co-anglers.
MONEY The total purse is $800,000. The professional champion will win $125,000. The co-angler champion will win $25,000.
TAKE-OFFS 6:30 p.m. Daily at Prairie Creek Marina.
WEIGH-INS Thursday and Friday at Prairie Creek Marina, 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Walmart, 2110 W. Walnut St., in Rogers, beginning at 4 p.m
The co-anglers will fish the first two days only. The co-angler with the heaviest cumulative two-day total will earn $25,000.
All of the anglers will try to accumulate points toward qualifying for the Forrest Wood Cup, the championship event for all of FLW's various tours.
FLW has held a spring tournament on Beaver Lake 18 times, and the lake is the Tour's only permanent venue. This year's event is about a month later than usual. Greg Bohannan of Rogers, a four-time Forrest Wood Cup qualifier, said it will fish differently than in previous years.
"The last couple of years we've hit the lake right before the spawn," Bohannan said. "I think this year we're going to see a lot of spawning fish. But, like most Ozark lakes, not all of the bass spawn at the same time. So we're going to have all three phases going on -- prespawn, bedding fish and postspawn."
Anglers will rely on a full range of baits and presentations, depending on where they fish, Bohannan said.
"For anglers that are fishing for sight fish, shaky-head rigs and finesse-type baits are going to be really big. About a third of the lake is stained, so spinnerbaits and crankbaits will do well for the power fishermen. I think there will be a little bit of a topwater bite going on as well. This is going to be a tournament where a guy can pick what suits him best and just go fishing."
Bohannan predicted the winner would likely have a four-day total around 58 pounds.
"The weights have been excellent in all of the local tournaments the past three months," he said. "A 14- to 15-pound limit on Beaver Lake is a really good day, and if someone can do that four days in a row -- if you don't win, you're going to be right there on the final day."
Takeoffs will occur at 6:30 a.m daily at Prairie Creek Park Marina, at 9300 N. Park Road in Rogers. Weigh-ins will be held today and Friday at Prairie Creek Park, beginning at 3 p.m. Weigh-ins on Saturday and Sunday will be held at Wal-Mart, 2110 W. Walnut St., in Rogers beginning at 4 p.m.
Before the weigh-ins on Saturday and Sunday, FLW will host a free fishing expo at Wal-Mart from noon to 4 p.m. Fishing fans can meet their favorite anglers, enjoy interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by FLW sponsors.
Sports on 04/27/2017