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| Vanderweide Wins FLW at Bay de Noc |
 |  | Vanderweide stayed steady for the Bay de Noc Win
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ESCANABA, Mich. (July 26, 2008) -Joshua Vanderweide of Jenison, Mich., along with his partner, Jerry Miller of Lowell, Ind., caught five walleyes weighing 15 pounds, 12 ounces to win the Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour presented by Berkley event on Bays de Noc in Escanaba, Mich. Vanderweide had a four-day total of 14 walleyes weighing 78-14 to net him the win and $100,000.
�"This win really hasn't set in yet," said Vanderweide, who now has one win and three top-10 finishes in two seasons of FLW Walleye Tour competition. "It's amazing. It's everybody's goal to come out and do it, and now I can say that I've won. It's going to take a few days to sink in."
The 27-year-old angler said his key spot was located at the beginning of Big Bay - roughly 7 miles east of Peninsula Point and 20 miles east of Escanaba Harbor. The depth in the area varied anywhere from 16-30 feet and Vanderweide presented his baits in the middle of the water column.
"The morning started out fast, but I knew things had changed," Vanderweide said. "The wind switched from southwest to northwest.
"We got fish on our second, third and fourth pass. Our last fish went in the box at 9:50 this morning. After that, the water cooled down and the fish left. It was cold when we got there and it continued to plummet throughout the day. We were fortunate to get the fish when we did."
|  | Pete Harsh, FLW� Walleye Tour Angler of the Year
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Rounding out the top five pros are Chevy pro Tom Keenan of Hatley, Wis. (18 walleyes, 74 pounds, 4 ounces, $30,860); Kim Papineau of Escanaba (10 walleyes, 60 pounds, 13 ounces, $8,832); G3 pro Chad Shilling of Akaska, S.D. (14 walleyes, 58 pounds, 1 ounce, $13,227); and Lynn Hanisko of Escanaba (nine walleyes, 54 pounds, 7 ounces, $8,386).
Miller wins the co-angler division and $10,000 with a four-day total catch of 17 walleyes weighing 74-12 beating the closest competitor by more than 7 pounds.
"It's a new experience to be up here (on stage)," said Miller, who is fishing in only his second season of FLW Walleye Tour competition. "I've never made the cut. All I was hoping for was enough points to make the Walleye Tour Championship. I never expected to win."
Pros and co-anglers fish for a combined boat weight. Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Heath Fremstad of Mondovi, Wis. (15 walleyes, 66-10, $4,449), David Kerzee of Westerville, Ohio (12 walleyes, 54-09, $2,669), Chuck Jones of Michigan City, Ind. (nine walleyes, 51-03, $2,224) and Kim Knudson of Glendive, Mont. (nine walleyes, 51-00, $2,002).
Overall there were 17 walleyes weighing 96 pounds, 14 ounces caught by 10 boats Saturday. The catch included zero five-walleye limits.
Pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day and fish for a combined boat weight. Pros compete against other pros, and co-anglers compete against other co-anglers. The full field competes during the three-day opening round for one of 10 final-round slots based on their three-day accumulated weight. Weights carry over to day four, with winners determined by the heaviest four-day weight.
In addition to cash awards, anglers are competing for valuable points in the hope of qualifying for the $650,000 Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour Championship - the sport's richest event - in Bismarck, N.D., Sept. 24-27. The top 50 pros and top 50 co-anglers in the Land O'Lakes Angler of the Year points standings will advance to the Championship, where they will compete for top awards of $150,000 and $20,000, respectively.
Tournament pros aren't the only ones winning big this season. With the introduction of FLW Fantasy Fishing�, FLW Outdoors� offers anyone the opportunity to enter for their chance to land the catch of a lifetime with the opportunity to win $7.3 million in cash and prizes. Players can become a virtual pro angler by signing up for Player's Advantage, providing them with exclusive insider information that could guide them to a $100,000 victory at every Wal-Mart FLW Tour� stop and the Forrest Wood Cup. Player's Advantage will give them an edge over the competition and increase their shot for a $1 million cash grand prize that will be awarded to the FLW Fantasy Fishing cumulative points winner. Those who visit FantasyFishing.com today can sign up for Player's Advantage and FLW Outdoors will include a $15 Wal-Mart gift card.
Coverage of the FLW Walleye Tour stop on Bays de Noc will be broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States on Oct. 10 as part of the "FLW Outdoors" television program. "FLW Outdoors" is also broadcast in Canada on WFN (World Fishing Network) and to more than 429 million households in the United Kingdom, Europe, Russia, Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East through a distribution agreement with Matchroom Sport, making it the most widely distributed fishing program in the world. The program airs Sunday mornings at 11 Eastern time in most markets. Check local listings for times in your area.
FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. In 2008 alone the organization is offering more than 90,000 anglers the chance to win over $40 million through 230 tournaments in 10 circuits targeting bass, walleye, redfish, kingfish and striped bass. FLW Outdoors is also taking fishing mainstream with the largest cash awards in the history of fantasy sports, $7.3 million.
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player's Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com.
Awards are based on a full field of 150 boats in every tournament. |
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| NPAA Members Score Big at Bays De Noc |
|  | Kids clinic at the FLW Tour event in Escanaba, MI
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VALLEY CITY, ND, August 1, 2008 - NPAA members once again were up to the challenge of Bays de Noc with 4 members finishing in the top 10 in the final stop of the FLW walleye tour for 2008. Remaining is the FLW championship at Bismarck, North Dakota.
Leading the top finishing NPAA members was second place finisher Tom Keenan #907 from Hatley, Wisconsin. Ranger/Evinrude pro Keenan is no stranger to top ten finishes. Keenan has 9 top ten finishes with a Championship win in 2003 and FLW Angler of the Year award in 2006.
Chad Schilling #283 continues his successful year with a 4th place finish. The G3/Yamaha pro from Akaska, South Dakota was leading the tournament on day one and held on to score another top 10 win. Sixth place went to NPAA #733, Rick Franklin from Bemidji, Minnesota. Berkley pro Franklin credits his success at this tournament with "the new 17lb test Berkley 100% fluorocarbon leaders on his crawlers harnesses".
Rounding out the top ten NPAA anglers was John Gillman #871 who hails from Freeland, Michigan. Noted for his ultra-stealthy spinner techniques, Ranger/Yamaha pro Gillman, used this tactic, which has brought him great success on both the FLW and PWT circuits, to another top ten finish, finishing 7th over all.
The NPAA also wishes to recognize the FLW, the communities of Escanaba and Gladstone, Michigan, NPAA members in attendance for their support of the FLW/NPAA Youth and Family Fishing Clinic. The event ranked as one of the largest if not the largest of the season with 60-70 children with parents taking part. Tackle assortments, Ranger hats and other "goodies" were given to the participants. Event organizer Rick Zachowski #231 and Eric Olson #165 talked with children about the great fishing opportunities in their area along with a dozen other pro's making the kids day by signing autographs on their shirts and hats.
Special thanks to Mercury Marine, Evinrude Outboards, Lund Boats, Ranger Boats, Offshore Tackle, Northland Tackle, Fin-tech Tackle, Berkley, Navionics, Walleye's Inc., Greater Insurance Services, Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC), and FLW Outdoors, as they continue to grow the NPAA and the sport of fishing.
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| Vanderweide Leads FLW Top Ten into Finals |
|  | Vanderweide with part of his tournament-best limit |
ESCANABA, Mich. (July 25, 2008) -Joshua Vanderweide of Jenison, Mich., along with his partner, Timothy Tice of Barryton, Mich., caught five walleyes weighing 26 pounds, 1 ounce to lead day three of the Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour presented by Berkley event on Bays de Noc in Escanaba, Mich. Vanderweide now has a three-day catch of 11 walleyes weighing 63-02. He now holds a 5 pound, 3 ounce lead over the second place finisher going into the final day of competition.
The Bays de Noc event is a nationally televised tournament that features 248 competitors fishing for top awards of $100,000 in the Pro Division and $20,000 in the Co-angler Division
"It was the perfect fishing day on Bays de Noc," said Vanderweide, who is fishing in only his second season on the Walleye Tour. "We had four fish on at one time and we were done fishing at 10 this morning. I knew that it wasn't going to get any better than what we had. I knew that once we got the first four fish and they were all slots that we were going to have close to a perfect day in Escanaba."
Vanderweide is fishing Big Bay de Noc trolling spinners. He said that his key area is miles away from other anglers.
"I had the area all to myself which is always nice," Vanderweide said. "As far as tomorrow goes- Fish are always moving so I am not overly confident. I know that I will be able to locate fish somewhere in our area but whether or not they are in the same place as today- I don't know."
"I hope that I can win one tomorrow. I am getting a better bite each day and the wind has played in my favor."
Rounding out the top five pros are Chad Schilling of Akaska, S.D. (14 walleyes, 58 pounds, 1 ounce); Kim Papineau of Escanaba (nine walleyes, 53 pounds, 14 ounces); Tom Keenan of Hatley, Wis. (14 walleyes, 50 pounds, 14 ounces); and Pay Byle of Colgate, Wis. (11 walleyes, 44 pounds, 8 ounces).
Jerry Miller of Lowell, Ind., leads the co-angler division with a three day weight weighing 59-00.
"It's all about being a team on the water," Miller said. "I had the opportunity this week to fish with three great guys and we worked hard each day.
"Words don't even describe how I feel right now. To make the cut is a dream come true," Miller added.
Pros and co-anglers fish for a combined boat weight. Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Jimmy Cox of Bono, Ark. (11 walleyes, 50-05), Chuck Jones of Michigan City, Ind. (eight walleyes, 44-04), Heath Fremstad of Mondovi, Wis. (11 walleyes, 43-04) and Scott Peterson of Escanaba (10 walleyes, 42-10).
Saturday's takeoff will be at Escanaba Harbor at 6:30 a.m. Saturday's final weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 601 N. Lincoln Road beginning at 4:30 p.m. The community is invited to attend daily takeoffs and weigh-ins, which are free and open to the public.
Pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day and fish for a combined boat weight. Pros compete against other pros, and co-anglers compete against other co-anglers. The full field competes during the three-day opening round for one of 10 final-round slots based on their three-day accumulated weight.
In addition to cash awards, anglers are competing for valuable points in the hope of qualifying for the $650,000 Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour Championship - the sport's richest event - in Bismarck, N.D., Sept. 24-27. The top 50 pros and top 50 co-anglers in the Land O'Lakes Angler of the Year points standings will advance to the Championship, where they will compete for top awards of $150,000 and $20,000, respectively.
Tournament pros aren't the only ones winning big this season. With the introduction of FLW Fantasy Fishing�, FLW Outdoors� offers anyone the opportunity to enter for their chance to land the catch of a lifetime with the opportunity to win $7.3 million in cash and prizes. Players can become a virtual pro angler by signing up for Player's Advantage, providing them with exclusive insider information that could guide them to a $100,000 victory at every Wal-Mart FLW Tour� stop and the Forrest Wood Cup. Player's Advantage will give them an edge over the competition and increase their shot for a $1 million cash grand prize that will be awarded to the FLW Fantasy Fishing cumulative points winner. Those who visit FantasyFishing.com today can sign up for Player's Advantage and FLW Outdoors will include a $15 Wal-Mart gift card.
Coverage of the FLW Walleye Tour event on Bays de Noc will be broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States on Oct. 10 as part of the "FLW Outdoors" television program. "FLW Outdoors" is also broadcast in Canada on WFN (World Fishing Network) and to more than 429 million households in the United Kingdom, Europe, Russia, Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East through a distribution agreement with Matchroom Sport, making it the most widely distributed fishing program in the world. The program airs Sunday mornings at 11 Eastern time in most markets. Check local listings for times in your area.
FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. In 2008 alone the organization is offering more than 90,000 anglers the chance to win over $40 million through 230 tournaments in 10 circuits targeting bass, walleye, redfish, kingfish and striped bass. FLW Outdoors is also taking fishing mainstream with the largest cash awards in the history of fantasy sports, $7.3 million.
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player's Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com.
Awards are based on a full field of 150 boats in every tournament. |
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| Schilling Takes FLW Lead at Bay de Noc |
|  | Schilling on Day One
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ESCANABA, Mich. (July 23, 2008) - Pro Chad Schilling of Akaska, S.D., and co-angler Kim Knudson of Glendive, Mont., caught five walleyes weighing 22 pounds, 4 ounces to lead day one of the Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour presented by Berkley tournament on Bays de Noc in Escanaba, Mich. The pair now holds a 1-pound, 9-ounce lead over their closest rivals in the nationally televised tournament that features 248 competitors fishing for top awards of $100,000 in the Pro Division and $20,000 in the Co-angler Division.
"It was a good day," said Schilling, who is fishing his first season of FLW Walleye Tour competition. "We didn't get the big bites that we wanted- they just weren't there. Today, I felt like we ran around a lot looking at different key areas that I found in practice and one of those key areas was the one. I had no idea it would produce this quality of fish."
Schilling found his key area last year in a PWT tournament on Bays de Noc and placed 38th.
"We only caught a total of seven fish today," Shilling said. "I was getting worried because in the afternoon the fishing gets tough."
On a day when fish were few and far between, Schilling's big fish measured more than 27 inches and anchored the team's bag.
"This tournament is dependant on the wind," Schilling said. "I got lucky enough that it worked today and it was just right. I will pray for some wind tomorrow and go fishing."
"If there is half that many fish in that area tomorrow then it will be a good day."
Rounding out the top five pros and co-anglers are Nick Heelein of Genoa City, Wis., and Jerry Miller Lowell, Ind. (four walleyes, 20-11); Tom Keenan of Hatley, Wis., and John Hammond of Ixonia, Wis. (five walleyes, 20-08); Pat Byle of Colgate, Wis., and Kenneth Bundy of Pulaski, N.Y. (five walleyes, 20-01); Mark Courts of Harris, Minn., and David Kerzee of Westerville, Ohio (four walleyes, 17-15).
Overall there were 151 walleyes weighing 657 pounds caught by 72 boats Wednesday. The catch included six five-walleye limits.
Pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day and fish for a combined boat weight. Pros compete against other pros, and co-anglers compete against other co-anglers. The full field competes during the three-day opening round for one of 10 final-round slots based on their three-day accumulated weight. Weights carry over to day four, with winners determined by the heaviest four-day weight.
Escanaba Harbor in Escanaba will host daily takeoffs each morning at 7. Thursday and Friday's weigh-ins will be held at Escanaba Harbor beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday's takeoff will be at Escanaba Harbor at 6:30 a.m. Saturday's final weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 601 N. Lincoln Road in Escanaba beginning at 4 p.m. The community is invited to attend daily takeoffs and weigh-ins, which are free and open to the public.
In addition to cash awards, anglers are competing for valuable points in the hope of qualifying for the $650,000 Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour Championship - the sport's richest event - in Bismarck, N.D., Sept. 24-27. The top 50 pros and top 50 co-anglers in the Land O'Lakes Angler of the Year points standings will advance to the Championship, where they will compete for top awards of $150,000 and $20,000, respectively.
Coverage of the FLW Walleye Tour stop on Bays de Noc will be broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States on Oct. 10 as part of the "FLW Outdoors" television program. "FLW Outdoors" is also broadcast in Canada on WFN (World Fishing Network) and to more than 429 million households in the United Kingdom, Europe, Russia, Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East through a distribution agreement with Matchroom Sport, making it the most widely distributed fishing program in the world. The program airs Sunday mornings at 11 Eastern time in most markets. Check local listings for times in your area.
FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. In 2008 alone the organization is offering more than 90,000 anglers the chance to win over $40 million through 230 tournaments in 10 circuits targeting bass, walleye, redfish, kingfish and striped bass. FLW Outdoors is also taking fishing mainstream with the largest cash awards in the history of fantasy sports, $7.3 million.
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player's Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com.
Awards are based on a full field of 150 boats in every tournament.
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