All-American qualifiers represent the best of more than 30,000 BFL participants nationwide. On-the-water cameras give viewers an intimate look at the 10 boaters who advanced to the final round of competition and competed for a career-changing top prize. The winner of the $1 million no-entry-fee championship was determined by the heaviest three-day weight.
Although the fishing has been tough, Indiana boater Calvin Davidson has found some success with what he calls the “blind squirrel” pattern, which consists of keeping his 3/16-ounce Prowler tube wet and hoping to get lucky. Thus far it has worked, as Davidson leads with a two-day total of eight bass weighing 12 pounds, 12 ounces. Davidson finished 29th in the 2006 Hoosier Division points standings, which sent him to the Kentucky Lake Regional, where he finished fifth. Although it’s his first All-American appearance, Davidson does have one distinct advantage – he fishes the Ohio River, albeit a section a couple hundred miles upstream, on a regular basis.
In second place is Curtis Samo of Rochelle, Ill., with an opening-round weight of 11 pounds, 4 ounces. The veteran angler is throwing a variety of baits to catch his bass, including a jig, a crankbait and a topwater bait. Competing in his seventh All-American, Samo has come close to victory many times, but has never sealed the deal. In fact, he has finished in the top 10 in five of his seven All-American appearances. Samo was the 17th-ranked angler in 2006 Illini Division points standings, which qualified him for the Fort Madison Regional, which he won to advance to the All-American. His FLW Outdoors resume includes 29 top-10 finishes and three wins since 1995.
Catching one of the three five-bass limits on day two, Moore, Okla., angler Shonn Goodwin moved up from 12th place to third place with a two-day catch of 11 pounds, 1 ounce. He caught 3 pounds, 15 ounces on day one but rallied on day two with 7 pounds, 2 ounces. Goodwin is fishing 125 miles to the south of the launch, near the Rocky Point-Deer Creek area. The long run leaves him only about two and a half hours per day to try to catch fish. While most anglers are trying to finesse the lethargic Ohio River bass, Goodwin is burning a square-billed crankbait. He finished fifth at the Wright Patman Regional to earn a ticket to the All-American, having advanced to the regional by ranking fourth in the Okie Division in 2006. This is his first All-American and another successful day could mean a six-figure payday. FSN is the industry leader in providing the most up-to-date technology in TV production. FSN puts viewers in the boats with the pros, shadowing them from sunrise until the final weigh-in using innovative camera work that gives fishing fans the most intimate viewing experience available.
FSN broadcasts “FLW Outdoors” Sundays from 11 a.m. to noon ET. 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 website 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. Additionally, FLW Outdoors is proud to provide tournament coverage to more than 800,000 service men and women stationed around the world in 177 countries and aboard Navy ships through broadcasts on the American Forces Network.
Named after the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, Forrest L. Wood, FLW Outdoors administers the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Stren Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail presented by Abu Garcia, Ranger Owners Tournament Championship Series, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series, Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series and Wal-Mart FLW Striper Series. These circuits offer combined purses of nearly $43 million through 241 events in 2007.
Wal-Mart and many of America’s largest and most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its tournament trails. Wal-Mart signed on as an FLW Outdoors sponsor in 1997 and today is the world’s leading supporter of tournament fishing. For more information about Wal-Mart, visit Walmart.com .
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournament programs, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.
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