Northwest Arkansas Good Fit For FLW Event
Last updated Saturday, May 19, 2007 8:13 PM CDT in Sports
By Joe Mosby
Special To The Morning News
ROGERS -- Beaver Lake and the FLW Tour's showcase Wal-Mart Open could be bass fishing's version of ham and eggs.
"We've been coming here since 1983," said Charlie Evans, president of FLW Outdoors.
Since 1996 it has been a Wal-Mart and FLW Tour event. Previously, the Red Man circuit then the Operation Bass major tournaments made annual Beaver Lake visits. These became FLW Outdoors under entrepreneur Irwin Jacobs.
Nice Digs
The John Q. Hammons Center won numerous "wows" and "this is really something" comments at Saturday's Wal-Mart Open weigh-in.
It's the first time the center has been used for the tournament. Previously, qualifying rounds were at Prairie Creek Park and finals under huge tents at Wal-Mart SuperCenters.
Sign, Sign, Everywhere A Sign
Casual fishing observers wonder where the bass pro tournament scenes are going next with the decor of anglers, of boats and of vehicles. They seem to out-do NASCAR participants.
Some of the colorful outfits are emblazoned with familiar-fishing names like Ranger, Evinrude, Yamaha, Berkley. Others proclaim National Guard, Snickers, Land of Lakes, Banana Boat.
And some doubletakes may greet the pros weighing logos of Imodium A-D E-Z Chews.
Go Light!
Fishing hint from both the pros and the co-anglers: Go light on Beaver this time of the year. Many of the better catches came after fishermen downsized on line weights -- down to 6-pound, 4-pound, even 3-pound test weights.
Clear water and finicky bass have that effect.
Nice Check
Co-angler winner J.R. Grubb of Hamburg said he caught his winning fish Saturday on a topwater lure early then a Fluke soft plastic lure later. His $30,000 first place check was boosted by a $500 Wal-mart gift card.
Hanging Tough
J.R. Beehler of Bella Vista is holding strong in his first FLW competition, and he knows the territory. Beehler is in sixth place for today's windup fishing, a tad over six pounds behind leader Jay Yelas.
Beehler is a fishing guide on Beaver and said, "It is still anybody's ball game. These bass are in transition, moving to bluff ends and points. The water temperature has stabilized too."
Military Time
Before the weigh-in began Saturday, there was a swearing in ceremony. Matthew Freeman, a Navy veteran, headed back to military days by joining the Army National Guard, and he was sworn in by Maj. Gen. Raymond Carpenter of Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C., in front of the large crowd. Freeman is a Wal-Mart associate.
Ups And Downs
Pro leader Jay Yelas quickly admitted bass fishing is hard to predict. "This is a game of ups and downs. The tide goes in and out, and the tide may be coming in for me this year." This is his third straight top 10 performance on the FLW Tour.
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