FLW Championship Boat and Outdoor Show opens Wednesday in Hot Springs
Boats, tackle, seminars, giveaways, high-stakes weigh-ins highlight outdoor show
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The state of Arkansas has some fantastic fishing and outdoor opportunities, and if you want to take advantage of them, you must have the right stuff.
What exactly is the right stuff?
The Forrest L. Wood Championship Boat and Outdoor Show, being held in conjunction with the Wal-Mart FLW Tour’s season-ending championship, can show you.
This week, the Hot Springs Convention Center and Summit Arena in Hot Springs, Ark., is packed to the gills, so to speak, with all the right stuff needed to enjoy the outdoors.
The show opens today and runs through Saturday, July 16.
Boats, motors, rods, reels, lures, line, electronics, trolling motors, trucks, tents, tires, clothing, apparel and just about any outdoor accessory you can think of is on display at the show.
Over 140 companies are representing their products at the show this week.
Giveaways
When the show opens each day, FLW Outdoors will be giving away free fishing gear
to kids 12 and younger who are accompanied by an adult.
On Wednesday, children will receive a free hat and T-shirt. On Thursday, it’s free tackle kits. Friday will feature free tackle boxes. And on Saturday, rod-and-reel combos will be given away to youngsters.
Supplies are limited and the show openings vary, so check the show times below to get there early.
And what about the adults? Well, there is free stuff for the big kids, too.
The first 500 guests through the door each day will receive a Fujifilm QuickSnap Camera and a pair of Solar Bat sunglasses.
Each day, show attendees can register for a free Ranger Z-20 Comanche powered by a Yamaha outboard engine. Two names will be drawn at each day’s weigh-in to participate in the final drawing Saturday. At Saturday’s weigh-in, the final drawing will be made, and one of the lucky eight names entered will win the Z-20 being given away by Allen Tillery Chevrolet.
In addition, there will be plenty of product samples given away by FLW Tour sponsors in the Family Fun Zone, where kids can enjoy various games and activities for prizes.
Seminars and appearances
Each day of the FLW Championship Boat and Outdoor Show will be punctuated with a series of fishing seminars given by well-known industry experts like Luke Clausen, who won last year’s FLW Tour Championship and Forrest L. Wood, who founded Ranger Boats.
Seminar schedule:
Wednesday, July 13, 2005:
3-3:25 p.m. – Guido Hibdon
3:30-4:05 p.m. – Dion Hibdon
Thursday, July 14:
3-3:25 p.m. – Dion Hibdon
3:30-4:05 p.m. – Guido Hibdon
Friday, July 15:
1-1:25 p.m. – Luke Clausen
1:30-1:55 p.m. – Guido Hibdon
2-2:35 p.m. – Jimmy Houston
3-3:35 p.m. – Jay Yelas
Saturday, July 16:
12-12:35 p.m. – Forrest L. Wood and Charlie Evans
1-1:25 p.m. – Dion Hibdon
1:30-1:55 p.m. – Jimmy Houston
2-2:35 p.m. – Mark Davis
3-3:35 p.m. – Hank Parker
Outdoor show times and locations
The FLW Championship Boat and Outdoor Show and weigh-ins are being held at the Hot Springs Convention Center and Summit Arena in Hot Springs, Ark.
Show times:
Wednesday: 2-8 p.m.
Thursday: 2-8 p.m.
Friday: 12-9 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Each day the weigh-in preshow will begin at 4 p.m., including a free country music concert on Saturday, and the anglers will begin weighing fish at 5 p.m.
And the best part: admission to all shows, seminars, concerts and weigh-ins is free.
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