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Bass circuits catching on

Pro angler Ish Monroe scouts Alabama waters preceding the recent Bassmasters Classic. Born in the South, big-time national bass tournaments are expanding to the Columbia River this fall. (File photos Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Story Rich Landers Outdoors editor
Pro angler Ish Monroe scouts Alabama waters preceding the recent Bassmasters Classic. Born in the South, big-time national bass tournaments are expanding to the Columbia River this fall. (File photos Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

The Columbia River’s world-class – but generally underappreciated – smallmouth bass fishery is a secret that soon will be broadcast to more than 400 million households around the world. A national professional bass fishing circuit event with a record Western purse of $1 million is scheduled for Sep. 19-22, based out of Columbia Point Marina in Richland.

FLW Outdoors has announced its 2007 Wal-Mart FLW Series schedule will include the new National Guard Western Division with four $1 million events that qualify anglers for a $2 million championship.

Named for Forrest L. Wood, founder of Ranger Boats, FLW Outdoors administers eight national tournament circuits with cash prizes totaling nearly $40 million this year, thanks primarily to corporate sponsorship.

“Since the introduction of the Stren Series Western Division in 2003, FLW Outdoors has developed a large, loyal following in the Western United States and has advanced a number of world-class pros to the Wal-Mart FLW Tour,” said FLW Outdoors President and CEO Charlie Evans. “Now we are expanding the opportunities for these anglers to showcase their tremendous fishing ability on their home waters, which are some of the nation’s best bass fisheries.”

In addition to the Columbia River event, the National Guard Western Division tour includes tournaments at Lake Havasu, Ariz., on Jan. 31-Feb. 3, California Delta at Bethel Island on March 14-17 and Clear Lake, Calif., on Oct. 24-27.

“The Columbia River is one of the best-kept smallmouth bass secrets in the nation,’ said Dave Washburn, spokesman for FLW Outdoors. “It’s a terrific fishery, and we’re already getting great feedback from the pros that will be coming there for the event.

“It’s a place the world deserves to know about. It will make for some terrific TV.”

Every FLW tournament has a 12-day off-limits period prior to four practice days.

FLW Series events are broadcast Sunday mornings to 81 million Fox Sports Net subscribers in the United States plus more than 350 million households in countries such as Germany, China, South Africa, Australia, Malaysia, Russia, Hungary and the United Kingdom. Washburn said it’s the most widely distributed weekly outdoor-sports television show in the world.

The exposure means fame and fortune for a few.

George Cochran, 56, of Hot Springs, Ark., was the FLW tournaments’ top earner in 2006, raking in $547,250, the company says. Pro angler Mike Iaconelli says Fox Studios has optioned the rights to make a film or TV series about his life.

Every FLW Series qualifier offers a $1 million purse with $10,000 cash being awarded through 50th place and $2,000 cash through 75th place in the Pro Division.

However, the $3,500 entry fee for each pro in each qualifying event tends to make the circuit exclusive.

With big-money sponsors still in short supply in the West, many participants will have to pay the expense out of their own wallets.