Qualifiers seek advancement to $1 million All-American and $2 million Forrest Wood Cup

BENTON, Ky. (Oct. 24, 2006) - The Bass Federation (TBF) and FLW Outdoors announced Monday that Lake Wylie in Charlotte, N.C., will host the 2007 TBF National Championship presented by the National Guard April 19-21, 2007.
Pros representing six TBF divisions nationwide will compete in the no-entry-fee championship for a "Living the Dream" prize package that includes use of a wrapped Chevy truck and Ranger boat powered by Yamaha, free entry into either the 2008 Wal-Mart FLW Series or the 2008 Wal-Mart FLW Tour, and an automatic berth into the 2007 $1 million Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League All-American and the 2007 $2 million Forrest Wood Cup.
"This is a chance for TBF anglers to launch a career," said TBF President Robert Cartlidge. "Not only will the winning pro have the option to fish the FLW Tour or FLW Series thanks to the 'Living the Dream' prize package, but he will also have a shot at winning $140,000 in the 2007 All-American and as much as $1 million in the 2007 Forrest Wood Cup. There is no other event that offers so many opportunities for grassroots anglers in our 1,500 clubs nationwide."
Thirty-seven pros and 37 co-anglers have qualified through a series of TBF club, TBF state and TBF divisional tournaments to compete in the TBF National Championship. These anglers will compete in tournament boats supplied by Ranger Boats. The highest finishing boater and co-angler from each of the six TBF divisions after two days of competition will advance to day three. The pro with the heaviest cumulative weight from all three days of competition will be crowned TBF National Champion and will receive the "Living the Dream" prize package. The top six pros and co-anglers will also advance to the 2007 All-American, and the co-angler with the heaviest cumulative weight will advance to the 2007 Forrest Wood Cup.
Lake Wylie will be off limits to championship anglers from April 2 through April 17, 2007. Official practice will be held April 18 with the tournament starting April 19. Anglers will take off from Copperhead Island Boat Launch located at 15200 Soldier Road in Charlotte at 7 each morning and weigh in at the Charlotte Merchandise Mart - Liberty Hall located at 800 Briar Creek Road in Charlotte beginning at 4 each evening. In conjunction with the tournament, TBF and FLW Outdoors will host a three-day sports show and Family Fun Zone at the Charlotte Merchandise Mart - Liberty Hall. Admission to the show is free and doors open at noon on Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday.
Coverage of the TBF National Championship presented by the National Guard will be broadcast to more than 80 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States as part of the "FLW Outdoors" television series. "FLW Outdoors" airs Sunday mornings at 11 Eastern time. "FLW Outdoors" is also broadcast internationally to more than 350 million households in Europe, Africa and Asia, 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 servicemembers stationed around the world in 177 countries and aboard Navy ships through broadcasts on the American Forces Network.
TBF is dedicated to the sport of fishing and owned by the 25,000 members it serves. TBF affiliated state federations and their 1,500 member clubs conduct more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events at the local level each year and have provided the foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 30 years.
For more information about TBF chapters in your area, visit bassfederation.com.
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 Trail, 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 will offer combined purses exceeding $43 million through 247 events in 2007.
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.
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.