Eleven walleye pros to run wrapped boats

2006 Land O’Lakes AOY Tom Keenan to fish for Team Chevy, former AOY Jason Przekurat to run BP

MINNEAPOLIS – FLW Outdoors announced today a record 11 Ranger boats will be wrapped with sponsor logos for the 2007 Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour season. The most lucrative tournament trail in professional walleye fishing commences competition April 11 on the Detroit River in Trenton, Mich.

Team Chevy will sponsor 2006 Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year Tom Keenan. In addition to his AOY award, Keenan is also a former FLW Walleye Tour Championship winner, as the Hatley, Wis., pro claimed victory on the Mississippi River in 2003. Keenan also owns seven top-10 finishes on the FLW Walleye Tour, especially impressive considering he’s fished only 21 events in his career. To date, his FLW Outdoors career earnings sit at over $475,000, which is second to only Dean Arnoldussen, a close friend on tour. In 2007, he will join legendary anglers such as Larry Nixon, Luke Clausen and Dion Hibdon on perhaps the most illustrious professional angling team in the business.

“I’m very excited to be representing Chevy,” said Keenan. “To think that such a major company like Chevy is sponsoring little Tom Keenan, it doesn’t get any better than that. My new Chevy-wrapped boat is on the way from Ranger as we speak. I can’t wait until it gets here; I’m fired up to go fishing.”

After winning the AOY title last season, Keenan says he’s altered his goals for the 2007 season.

“I’m going to fish to win in every single tournament. Last year I fished conservatively at times, trying to secure Angler of the Year. This year I’m out to win another tournament. In particular, I’d really like to win Bays de Noc. That’s my home, and it’s the first time FLW has been there for a major tournament.”

Fellow Wisconsin angler Jason Przekurat will fish for the newly formed BP pro team. Przekurat won the prestigious AOY award in 2003 and narrowly missed becoming the first walleye pro to twice win AOY this past season. Further proving his consistency, Przekurat has six top-10 finishes to his name and has qualified for the FLW Walleye Tour Championship in each year of its existence.

“This is something that I’ve been aiming for since I started fishing competitively,” Przekurat said of his sponsor backing. “I’m happy to be recognized by FLW Outdoors and BP. It’s quite an honor to join the likes of (Shinichi) Fukae, (Ray) Scheide and (David) Walker on the BP pro team.”

Although he’s primarily a walleye angler, the Stevens Point, Wis., native plans to fish the Ranger Owners Tournament Championship Series event on Table Rock Lake in hopes of qualifying for the 2007 Forrest Wood Cup.

Port Clinton, Ohio, angler Julia Davis will run the Gain-wrapped Ranger boat. For the past five seasons, Davis was the only woman to fish full time on the FLW Walleye Tour as a professional. Rounding out the new wraps for 2007 are Dennis Lantzy of Warren, Mich., who will fish for Team Folgers; Paul Meleen of Isle, Minn., who will fish for Team Duracell; Ada, Mich., native David Kolb, who will be a Bounty-sponsored pro; and Bill Leonard of Estherville, Iowa, who will fish for Team Berkley.

Holdovers from last season include Castrol pro Nick Johnson, Land O’Lakes pro Eric Olson, BFGoodrich Tires pro Dustin Kjelden and Arnoldussen.

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 Wal-Mart.com.

For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournament programs, browse FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.