All knotted up in Pitt
With weights reset to zero, finalists hit the open waters of Three Rivers with sights set on Forrest Wood Cup title
PITTSBURGH – As the top-10 finalists departed North Shore Riverfront Park shortly after 7 a.m. against the backdrop of standing-room only crowds and a hazy Pittsburgh skyline, anglers were well aware that the 2009 Forrest Wood Cup title is theirs for the taking. With 67 pros and 67 co-anglers already sent packing, the remaining finalists know that every successful decision, every fish brings them one step closer to making history. But as close as they’ve gotten, they know that the hardest part has yet to come.
That’s why a Forrest Wood Cup title in unlike any other title in the sport of professional bass fishing.
“The highlight of my career so far was winning an FLW Tour Angler of the Year title,” said top pro qualifier Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La. “So winning the Cup would definitely be special.”
Hackney currently headlines an impressive final pro field which includes the likes of 2003 Bassmaster Classic champion Michael Iaconelli, legendary pro and 1983 Bassmaster Classic champion Larry Nixon, 1999 FLW Tour Angler of the Year David Walker, 2007 Forrest Wood Cup champion Scott Suggs and 2008 Forrest Wood Cup runner-up Dave Lefebre.
But while everyone is cognizant of the difficulty of fishing against the caliber of anglers comprising the final field, each of the finalists is aware that they control their own destiny.
“I’m definitely – no doubt about it – on the fish to win this,” said Lefebre, shortly before day-three takeoff. “But now it’s come down to a two-day slugfest with the best anglers in the world. The guy who wins this is probably going to have to have a limit both days and have one big bite. But it’s hard to get one of those bites, let alone land it and get it into the boat.”
Obviously, it won’t be easy. With Three Rivers relinquishing quality bass nearly as frequently as the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series, anglers know that five-fish limits will be the name of the game – regardless of size.
“Will I catch as big of a bag as I did yesterday,” Hackney asked rhetorically after recording an amazing 11-pound, 12-ounce stringer in yesterday’s competition – the largest sack to date at the 2009 Forrest Wood Cup. “Probably not. But then again, I don’t think I need to.”
In short, pros are ready to grind it out – nabbing a five-fish limit if possible and then trying to upgrade throughout the rest of the day.
As a result, pros will be keeping one eye on the water and another on the competition. Because the fact of the matter is that no pro can win the title this afternoon, but each can certainly lose it with a dismal performance.
However, with the field winnowed to 10 boats, anglers are finally sensing a degree of freedom that they haven’t experienced over the first two days of grueling tournament action – which saw good chunks of the field stacked on top of one other at many of the prime fishing locations.
“I’ve been running to the locks and sitting there over an hour every day just to make sure that I’m one of the first ones out so I can get to my spot,” said Lefebre. “But now that there are only 10 boats and everyone knows where everyone is fishing, I don’t have to worry about that so much. Today, I’m not going to run into the lock right away because I don’t have to. And that’s going to give me over an hour more of fishing time … which is nice.”
So what about the pressure of trying to fish with a potential $1 million payday on the line?
“There’s no pressure at all,” said Lefebre. “It’s just an awesome feeling.”
Co-angler crown awarded today
As the pros jockey for position during today’s semifinal round, the co-angler field will be gunning for a tournament title – which will be awarded shortly after 5 p.m. today at Mellon Arena. And like the pros, co-angler weights have also been reset to zero meaning that today’s co-angler competition is truly up for grabs.
Tournament format
Although co-angler competition will conclude after today’s weigh-in, pro finalists will take to the water again on Sunday for the final day of Forrest Wood Cup action. Takeoff will again commence at 7 a.m. from Steelers Quay, North Shore Riverfront Park, located at North Shore Drive and Art Rooney Avenue (across North Shore Drive from the South Plaza of Heinz Field) in Pittsburgh. Final weigh-in will take place at Mellon Arena.
Bass-fishing fans, outdoors enthusiasts take note
FLW Outdoors will host a free Family Fun Zone and outdoor show today and Sunday at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center located at 1000 Ft. Duquesne Boulevard in Pittsburgh. The Family Fun Zone will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The Family Fun Zone offers fans a chance to meet pro anglers face-to-face and review the latest products from Berkley, Lowrance, Ranger, Evinrude, Yamaha and other sponsors while children are treated to giveaways, fishing themed games and rides like the Ranger Boat simulator. Children 14 and under visiting the Family Fun Zone on Sunday will receive a free rod and reel combo while supplies last. One lucky member of the audience will even win a new special edition Three Rivers Ranger Z20 boat powered by Evinrude during the final 5 p.m. weigh-in Sunday, Aug. 2, courtesy of Froggy Radio. Admission is free, and you must be present to win.
All activities are free and open to the public.
Fantasy Fishing $1 million winner announcement
The winner of this year’s FLW Fantasy Fishing $1 million prize will also be announced today at Mellon Arena shortly after 5 p.m. Eastern Time. The five finalists who have made the cut include:
* Chris Chappel, a utility maintenance manager resident of Oologah, Okla., a suburb of Tulsa;
* Andre Daniel, an athletic trainer from Oak Creek, Wis., a suburb of Milwaukee;
* Terry Moberly, an auto production worker from Berea, Ky., located near Lexington;
* Daniel Richardson, a manager with UPS from Knoxville, Tenn.
* Jeff Short, a cabinet-making instructor from Tompkinsville, Ky., located near Nashville, Tenn.
FLW Live
Want to watch the weigh in live but can’t make it in person? Then log onto ForrestWoodCup.com and click on the “FLW Live” tab shortly before 5 p.m. Eastern Time to watch live streaming video and audio of Saturday’s events.
Vital statistics:
Sunrise: 6:17 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 64 degrees
Expected high temperature: 83 degrees
Wind: From the south-southwest at 9 mph
Water temp: Mid-70s
Maximum humidity: 66 percent
Day’s outlook: Areas of fog early, becoming mostly sunny this afternoon
Forrest Wood Cup action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. Eastern Time at Mellon Arena, located at 66 Mario Lemieux Place in Pittsburgh, Pa.