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FLW Outdoors, National Guard Team Up To Bring $7.1 Million Walmart FLW Series To Columbia River
National Guard Western Division event first of its kind in Oregon
Umatilla, Ore. -(FishNLand.com) – The $7.1 million Walmart FLW Series® will visit the Columbia River in Umatilla, Ore., June 24-27 for the second National Guard Western Division tournament of the season. The tournament, hosted by the City of Umatilla, is the first major bass-fishing event in the state of Oregon and will feature as many as 300 top bass anglers casting for top awards of $125,000 in the Pro Division and $25,000 in the Co-angler Division.

“We’re excited to be in a new venue and honored to bring the first big bass fishing event in Oregon to the tremendous fishery that is the Columbia River,” said SFC Frank O’Laughlin.

“I think there will be some fish just getting off the spawn,” said National Guard pro Brent Ehrler. “Lots of fish will be caught.”

Ehrler said anglers will find bass with a variety of techniques – including using a spinnerbait for shallow fish. However, Ehrler said the Columbia River tends toward slower methods.

“It’s the Columbia River,” Ehrler said. “You can’t go wrong with the Carolina rig or a drop-shot rig.”

Anglers will take off from Umatilla Marina and RV Park located at 1710 Quincy in Umatilla at 6:30 each morning. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins will also be held at Umatilla Marina and RV Park beginning at 2:30 p.m. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at the Walmart store located at 1350 N 1st St. in Hermiston beginning at 4 p.m. Children will also be treated to a Family Fun Zone prior to Saturday’s weigh-in from noon to 4 p.m. at Walmart. Activities in the Family Fun Zone include a trout pond, a Ranger boat simulator and assorted fishing-themed games. All activities are free and open to the public.

The entire field competes for the first three days of FLW Series events. Co-angler winners are determined on day three based on the heaviest accumulated three-day weight. The top 10 professionals continue competition on day four, and the winner is determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all four days.

In FLW Series competition, pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day, with pros supplying the boat, controlling boat movement and competing against other pros. Co-anglers fish from the back deck against other co-anglers. The total purse for the Lake Eufaula tournament is nearly $900,000, including $10,000 through 50th place in the Pro Division. Ultimately, all anglers in the tournament will also be competing for valuable points in the hope of qualifying for a shot at advancing to the $2.5 million 2010 Forrest Wood Cup, where the winning pro will earn as much as $1 million – the sport’s biggest award.

Coverage of the Columbia River FLW Series tournament will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on VERSUS, the network which brings anglers the best fishing programming on television featuring the most-trusted authorities on the water. The Emmy-nominated “FLW Outdoors,” will air Aug. 2 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. ET. “FLW Outdoors,” hosted by Jason Harper, is broadcast to approximately 500 million households worldwide, including internationally through agreements with WFN (World Fishing Network) and Matchroom Sport to such countries as Canada, 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.

Total awards are based on a full field of 150 boats in every tournament.

About:
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 has taken 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, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player’s Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com.

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Nebraska Fishing Instructor Training Set for June 23

LINCOLN, Neb. –(FishNLand.com)- Any adult interested in becoming a youth fishing instructor may attend a training workshop June 23 at the Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium near Gretna, according to Andrea Faas, outdoor education specialist with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

The workshop is from 6-8 p.m. and adults will be certified to be volunteer instructors for Nebraska’s Youth Fishing Program. The training is free, but preregistration by June 22 is required for any adult who wants to learn how to put on fishing programs, derbies or club activities for children and families.

Visit OutdoorNebraska.org to learn more about the Youth Fishing Program and contact Faas at (402) 332-3901 or andrea.faas@nebraska.gov to register.

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West Virginia Celebrates National Fishing And Boating Week June 6-14 Free Fishing Weekend June 13-14
Charleston, W.VA -(FishNland.com)- National Fishing and Boating Week 2009 will be highlighted by the 20th annual Free Fishing Weekend on June 13 and 14, according to Frank Jezioro, Director of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR). During these two days, residents and nonresidents can fish in West Virginia without a license.

“It is a great opportunity to remind people of the fun of fishing, especially with family and friends. If you already have a license, take someone fishing. It may be your children, spouse, or co-worker, and you will be introducing them to a lifetime of outdoor enjoyment,” said Jezioro.

The National Fishing and Boating Week concept began as a promotional activity sponsored by the sportfishing industry. With the hope of increasing tackle sales, the industry promoted fishing around Father’s Day. The recreational boating industry partnered with its sportfishing counterparts to develop an effective educational campaign.

From those beginnings, National Fishing and Boating Week has evolved into one of the largest private/public partnerships in existence. The sportfishing and boating industries, fishing organizations, and local, state, and federal agencies are working together to bring the message home that fishing is great fun and that healthy aquatic ecosystems are important.

DNR participates in a number of activities during National Fishing and Boating Week and the Free Fishing Weekend, said Jezioro.  Two of the largest and most successful events are the Bowden Fishing Derby held at the Bowden Hatchery in Randolph County and the Fishing Derby at Little Beaver State Park in Raleigh County.  These events will be held on June 13. Children receive basic fishing instruction and will get the opportunity to enjoy time fishing with friends and family.

There are other fishing events planned across the state.  Please contact the DNR district office closest to you for more information.

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