Englewood Redfish Series event to air Sunday on FSN

June 17 program to highlight $200,000 qualifying event

MINNEAPOLIS – Tune in Sunday, June 17 to “FLW Outdoors” on FSN for the $200,000 Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series event presented by Yamaha in Englewood, Fla. The third Eastern Division event of the $1.9 million season will highlight the best redfish anglers in the world as they compete for a cash prize of up to $50,000.

The “FLW Outdoors” saltwater series is a reality-format show told from the anglers’ perspective. Each week the top-five finalists are followed from takeoff to weigh-in, allowing the audience to feel the anglers’ nerves, listen to their strategy and learn from their mistakes. The stories evolve and the suspense grows throughout the one-hour show until the final weigh-in results are announced.

With nearly ideal fishing conditions, the two-day opening round was all about execution. And no team executed better than tournament veterans Chuck Cress and Gary Weishaar. Cress of Sarasota, Fla., and Weishaar of Nokomis, Fla., are running 35 miles north to Sarasota Bay. The two are fishing in 18 inches of water over grass flats interspersed with shell and sand bottom. On day two, the team had both of their weigh fish in the box by 9:30 a.m., falling victim to 5-inch Berkley Gulp Jerk Shads in new-penny color. Just weeks ago, Cress and Weishaar won an Inshore Fish Association tournament held out of Sarasota. At that event, their prize was a fully loaded Ranger Banshee boat and trailer. On day three, they have a chance to win back-to-back tournaments and earn some serious cash. Heading into the final day of competition, they have a 5-ounce lead and a two-day total of 26 pounds, 2 ounces.

Making a 35-mile run each way to Pine Island Sound is the well-known redfish team of Bo Johnson and Richard Hudec. And for the second day in a row, the long run paid off. Their long run isn’t surprising, as the area is a long-established redfish factory and a favorite among the team. Although Pine Island Sound is a popular destination, they claim to have an area pretty much to themselves. The Florida team, Johnson of Cape Coral and Hudec of Naples, brought in two redfish for 13 pounds, 1 ounce on day two for a total weight of 25 pounds, 13 ounces. Although they have two top-10 finishes on their Redfish Series resume, this event might be their best chance at win No.1. Last season the team took fourth place in Englewood, and earlier this year they finished fourth in Clearwater, Fla. With one day of competition remaining, they start second, just a few ounces out of the lead.

FSN also follows the rookie redfish team of John Jernigan and Chris Joseph as the two work docks on the south end of Sarasota Bay. This is Jernigan and Joseph’s first FLW Outdoors-administered tournament of any kind. As Ranger-Yamaha anglers, they could be walking home with a first-place check worth $50,000. Tune in as Jernigan, a deputy sheriff in Sarasota, and Joseph, a shipping manager at DHL in Sarasota, attempt to shock the redfish world.

FSN broadcasts “FLW Outdoors” Sundays from 11 a.m. to noon ET. Check local listings for show times and channels in your area. FLWOutdoors.com also provides an online guide listing upcoming episodes on “FLW Outdoors.”

FSN is broadcast to 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 more than 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 429 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, 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 Walmart.com.

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