Final Wal-Mart FLW Series event to air Dec. 17 on FSN - Major League Fishing

Final Wal-Mart FLW Series event to air Dec. 17 on FSN

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Magnolia, Texas, pro Sean Hoernke sets the hook on a spotted bass. Photo by Brett Carlson. Angler: Sean Hoernke.
December 11, 2006 • MLF • Archives

MINNEAPOLIS – Tune in Sunday, Dec. 17 to “FLW Outdoors” on FSN for the $900,000 Wal-Mart FLW Series event held on Lewis Smith Lake in Jasper, Ala. The fifth and final tournament of the $6.5 million FLW Series season concludes with the winning pro claiming a cash prize of $100,000. The stories evolve and the suspense grows throughout the one-hour show until the final weigh-in results are announced.

In addition to the top prize of $100,000 anglers are competing for berths in the coveted $2 million 2007 Forrest Wood Cup. Only the top 30 pros and top 25 co-anglers from the FLW Series qualify for the Cup, the richest championship tournament in the history of professional bass fishing. The winning pro in that event will earn $1 million if he or she is the registered owner of a Ranger boat. The bite on Lewis Smith Lake has been tough all week, but with this much at stake, every cast counts.

Sean Hoernke of Magnolia, Texas is still in command on Lewis Smith Lake after day three of the FLW Series eventOne angler who has been able to adjust to the wretched conditions is pro Sean Hoernke. Hoernke owns a 1-pound, 6-ounce lead after catching a three-day total of 27 pounds, 12 ounces. Hoernke has been trying different baits and different areas throughout the four-day tournament. Early in the week, he relied on shallow-running crankbaits and buzzbaits fished along runouts. But as the rainy weather passed through the Jasper area, Hoernke knew he was going to have to change his plan. Tune in as the Magnolia, Texas, native opts for a homemade 1/8-ounce finesse jig on day four as he aims for his first tour-level victory.

Pro David Fritts of Lexington, N.C., is in second place, 1 pound, 6 ounces behind the leader.FSN also follows David Fritts of Lexington, N.C., who is in second place with a three-day total of 26 pounds, 6 ounces. To no one’s surprise, Fritts has been bombarding Lewis Smith Lake with an assortment of crankbaits. This is what Fritts does best, and perhaps no other angler does it better. The Chevy pro has been targeting suspended fish over small ditch channels in the back of creeks. With four tour-level victories to date in FLW Outdoors competition, Fritts is well within striking distance of number five.

Jeff Shelton of Cullman, Ala., finished second with a four-day total of 34 pounds, 3 ounces.Also in contention is local angler Jeff Shelton. Shelton fished each of the four previous qualifying events from the back of the boat as a co-angler. But with the FLW Series coming to his home lake, he figured he had to test his mettle against the best bass anglers in the world. So far, the results have been impressive, as the Cullman, Ala., pro has a three-day total of 23 pounds, 13 ounces. Shelton is targeting deep brush piles with a 3/8-ounce jig. With plenty of local knowledge, look for the hometown favorite to pull out a wild card in an attempt to claim the $100,000 first-place award.

FSN broadcasts “FLW Outdoors” Sundays from 11 a.m. to noon Eastern time. Check local listings for show times and channels in your area. FLWOutdoors.com also provides an online show guide listing what events are coming up on “FLW Outdoors.”

FSN is available in 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 over 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 350 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, Stratos Owners’ Tournament Trail, 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 exceeding $37.9 million through 249 events in 2006.

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 tournaments, browse FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.