Reelin' And Rockin'

FILE PHOTO FLIP PUTTHOFF 
Steven Meador of Bella Vista, right, celebrates his FLW co-angler championship in last year's Walmart FLW bass tournament at Beaver Lake. At left is second-place co-angler David Lauer of Florida. Chris Jones, emcee, is at center.
FILE PHOTO FLIP PUTTHOFF Steven Meador of Bella Vista, right, celebrates his FLW co-angler championship in last year's Walmart FLW bass tournament at Beaver Lake. At left is second-place co-angler David Lauer of Florida. Chris Jones, emcee, is at center.

A rising sun will be the curtain that goes up on the fishing stage today as the Walmart FLW Tour bass tournament begins at Beaver Lake.

Some 175 pro-division anglers and 175 co-anglers from around the nation take part in the tournament that runs today through Sunday. They'll compete for thousands in prize money, including up to $125,000 for first place in the pro division.

Infotext

Walmart FLW Tour Payout

  1. $100,000 pro or $125,000 if pro drives a Ranger boat. Co-angler $20,000, or $25,000 if co-angler drives a Ranger boat.

  2. $30,000 pro, $7,500 co-angler.

  3. $25,ooo, $5,000.

  4. $20,000, $4,000.

  5. $19,000, $3,000.

  6. $18,000, $2,500.

  7. $17,000, $2,000.

  8. $16,000, $1,800.

  9. $15,000, $1,700.

  10. $14,000, $1,600.

11-20. $12,000, $1,500.

21-60. $10,000, $1,000.

Big bass, $500, $250, paid on days one and two.

—Source: FLW Outdoors

Co-anglers fish from the back of the pro's boat and compete for a top prize of $20,000. Entry fee for pro-division fishermen is $4,000. Co-anglers pay a $700 entry fee.

Fishing starts each day at 7 a.m. at Prairie Creek park. Weigh-ins today and Friday are at 3 p.m. at Prairie Creek. The public is welcome.

Weigh-ins shift to the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers on Saturday and Sunday and begin at 4 p.m.

The FLW Expo is also open Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at the Hammons Center. Sponsor booths, tackle exhibits, prize drawings and games for kids are part of the expo.

FLW angler Rich Dalby will sponsor a food drive at the expo to benefit the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank. A contribution of five cans of food get the donor entered into a drawing for a $100 Walmart gift card.

On Sunday, country music star Rodney Atkins will do a show at 3 p.m. At the Hammons Center.

Here's how the tournament works.

All anglers fish on Thursday and Friday. They may bring five black bass to the weigh-in. All three species of black bass -- smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass -- may be weighed. Other species such as white bass, striped bass, crappie and walleye are not eligible.

All bass are released back into Beaver Lake after the fish are weighed.

Anglers may use artificial lures only. Live bait isn't allowed. Trolling is prohibited.

The field is cut to the top 10 pros and co-anglers for competition Saturday and Sunday. The co-angler champion is crowned after Saturday's weigh-in. The top 10 pros compete on Sunday.

The winning pro gets $100,000, or $125,000 if the angler drives a Ranger boat.

Beaver Lake has been off limits to FLW anglers for most of March. They were allowed to fish Sunday through Tuesday this week to learn the lake and form their fishing strategy for the tournament. Beaver Lake was off limits again on Wednesday.

Weigh-ins at the Hammons Center are taped for later broadcast on the NBC Sports Network. Coverage will air June 14 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The public is welcome at all FLW activities and weigh-ins at no charge.

How's The Fishing?

A harsh winter sank its teeth into most of the country and the cold weather could affect the fishing for FLW anglers this week. Steven Meador of Bella Vista, who was the co-angler champion in the 2013 tournament, said conditions are about two weeks behind normal at the lake because the winter was so cold. He fishes regularly at Beaver.

After a milder winter, black bass could be spawning at this time in April, Meador said. Few if any bass will be in spawning mode for the tournament, he predicted.

"We've had some warm rain and some warm nights. The warming water will have the fish moving into shallower water and they may be easier to catch," Meador predicted.

Another plus to the rain is that anglers can fish any color of water they like, from muddy to crystal clear. The southern half of the reservoir is muddy because the White and War Eagle rivers turned brown from recent rain. The middle section of Beaver Lake is stained to clear. The northern end of the reservoir remains clear.

The average water temperature at Beaver Lake is 49 to 53 degrees. It may be slightly warmer on the south end of the lake, Meador said. If there is any spawning activity, he thinks it'll be on the lake's south end.

So Long A-Rig

The rules are the same as last year's tournament with one exception. The popular Alabama rig fishing lure is no longer allowed.

Some anglers consider the A-rig to be five or six six lures in one. The A-rig looks like an umbrella without the fabric. An artificial grub is attached to each spoke of the "umbrella" and the whole thing is cast and retrieved.

FLW and other tournament organizations have banned the Alabama rig. That could affect catch weights this year, said Mark Rose, a top FLW Tour pro.

"Not being able to throw an Alabama rig is definitely going to be a factor in this tournament," Rose continued. "That bait and that profile really seems to catch the upper-class fish that are in Beaver Lake. It really showed off the quality of fish that live there. But, with the new rules, I think we may see a return to the days where catching 10 pounds is a pretty good day."

Rose predicts a four day total of 49 pounds will win the tournament.

Anglers have their eyes on Beaver Lake, but also the entire 2014 FLW Tour season. They can earn points at each tournament to qualify for the Forrest Wood Cup, which is the FLW championship tournament. Top prize is as much as $500,000.

This year's championship is at Lake Murray in South Carolina.

All the more reason anglers hope to do well at Beaver Lake this week.

Outdoors on 04/10/2014

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