Hot Springs to Host 2018 Forrest Wood Cup - Major League Fishing

Hot Springs to Host 2018 Forrest Wood Cup

FLW will host its championship event on Lake Ouachita for the fifth time
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Lake Ouachita
August 12, 2017 • FLW • Archives

FLW, in conjunction with Visit Hot Springs and the State of Arkansas, announced Saturday that Hot Springs, Ark., will host the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Ouachita Aug. 10-12.

Hot Springs has previously hosted four Forrest Wood Cup championships – one on Lake Hamilton (2005) and three on Lake Ouachita (2007, 2011 and 2015). The 2018 Forrest Wood Cup will again feature the most successful anglers from the FLW Tour, Costa FLW Series, T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League, YETI FLW College Fishing and The Bass Federation.

“Our whole city is excited by the fact that FLW has chosen Hot Springs for the fifth time as the host for the Forrest Wood Cup,” says Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs. “Hot Springs has established a wonderful relationship with FLW, and our audiences for the Cup and other FLW events have been large and enthusiastic. I know the 2018 Cup will find the same level of enthusiasm and warm hospitality that FLW has come to associate with the great fishing in Hot Springs.”

When the Forrest Wood Cup last visited Lake Ouachita and Hot Springs in 2015, seven-year Tour veteran Brad Knight of Lancing, Tenn., outlasted the competition to earn the first victory of his career and claim the sport’s most coveted trophy. Hometown favorites George Cochran of Hot Springs and Scott Suggs of Alexander have also claimed Forrest Wood Cup victories in Hot Springs, along with Scott Martin of Clewiston, Florida.

“After another fantastic Forrest Wood Cup experience in 2015, we knew it wouldn’t be long before we returned to Hot Springs and Lake Ouachita,” says Kathy Fennel, FLW president of operations. “The Hot Springs community is extremely passionate about bass fishing, and the great attendance makes it the perfect destination for an exciting and memorable championship event. We expect the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup to be our best yet.”

In conjunction with the tournament, the Cup will also include the FLW Expo at the Hot Springs Convention Center, with live weigh-ins to be held at Bank of the Ozarks Arena.