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Time management will be ‘critical’ for anglers in tourney presented by OFF!
06.May.2011
SHREVEPORT, La. — The Walmart FLW Tour will visit the Red River in Shreveport, La., May 19-22 for the fifth tournament of the season. Hosted by the Shreveport-Bossier City Regional Sports Authority, the tournament will feature as many as 300 bass anglers casting for top awards of up to $125,000 cash in the Pro Division and up to $25,000 cash in the Co-angler Division.
“This is going to be a tough tournament,” said Kellogg's Rice Krispie Treats pro Jim Tutt of Longview, Texas. “The main river right now is really, really muddy. So it’s going to be pretty much limited to the backwater to really catch them. And it really fishes pretty small for a big place.
“The best way I can describe this tournament is that it’s going to be a deal breaker,” Tutt added. “And what I mean by that is you’re either going to do good or you’re going to do bad.”
Tutt said fish tend to get into small groups in the backwaters of the Red, and anglers will have to find the groups in order to be successful in the tournament.
“Otherwise you’re just kind of flailing around out there,” Tutt said.
Tutt said there are a variety of ways to catch fish on the Red River in May. Tutt mentioned spinnerbaits, crankbaits and flipping soft plastics as the preferred methods as well as throwing the occasional topwater bait.
“A critical key in this tournament is going to be time management,” Tutt said of the system of locks that separates different pools of the river. “If you’re going to lock once or twice, you’re going to have a limited amount of time to fish. And there could be a 30- to 45-minute idle and then idle back out of some of the backwater areas. Time management is going to be critical to the bite.”
Anglers will take off from Red River South Marina located at 250 Red River South Road in Bossier City, La., at 6:30 each morning. Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins will also be held at Red River South Marina beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday’s final weigh-ins will be held at the Shreveport Convention Center located at 400 Caddo St. in Shreveport beginning at 4 p.m.
Fans will be treated to the FLW Outdoors Expo at the Shreveport Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. prior to the final weigh-ins. The first 300 kids 14 and under on Sunday will receive a free rod and reel combo compliments of KTBS 3. Fans can also register to win a Can-Am ATV courtesy of Kiss Country 93.7 and 99X which will be given away following the final weigh-in. The Expo includes Ranger boat simulators, the opportunity to interact with professional anglers, enjoy interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by sponsors, and fans can learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities. All activities are free and open to the public.
In FLW Tour competition, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2011 Forrest Wood Cup presented by Walmart, the world championship of bass fishing. This year’s Cup will be in Hot Springs, Ark., Aug. 11-14 on Lake Ouachita where they could win as much as $600,000 – the sport’s biggest award. Anglers are also vying for the prestigious 2011 Walmart FLW Tour Angler of the Year title that will be determined by the most points accumulated over the six Tour Majors.
Coverage of the Red River tournament will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on VERSUS. “FLW Outdoors” will air June 26 from 1 to 2 p.m. ET. “FLW Outdoors,” hosted by Jason Harper, is broadcast to more than 500 million households worldwide.
