May 29, 2011- Smallwood State Park was bursting with professional anglers pre fishing for Walmart’s FLW Outdoor tournament scheduled to begin this Thursday. The event is part of the largest bass fishing competition in the world, offering entrants the chance to compete for millions of dollars over the course of 191 tournaments this year. Participants prepare by practicing casting techniques, studying maps and pre fishing according to seasonal patterns in order to identify productive fishing areas during the days leading up to a competition. 152 anglers have paid $4,000 each to compete and although staged at the National Harbor, anglers can fish anywhere along the Potomac. Those who enjoy the challenge of fishing through the hydrilla filled waters seek the top prize of $100,000. These “grasses” which provide cover for the rivers bass population, require a special fishing technique. “I look forward to flipping some heavy jigs or top water frogging”, said angler Lance Vick of Texas. Although this is his first time on the Potomac, he said, he enjoys fishing grass lakes and discussed his technique of flipping jigs as putting the bait beneath the grasses or top water frogging as using bait to lure the bass to the surface. Vick arrived in Maryland after competing in Louisiana, Florida, Kentucky and Missouri, “This is a heavy year, I’m doing 16 tournaments this year and I usually do 10”. 16 tournaments may be a heavy year for Vick, but angler Steve Kennedy from Alabama, regularly competes in 20 plus events a year all over the country. Kennedy just came off of a big win with a 64.14-pound bass giving him the first place prize of $100,000 at the Elite series pride of Georgia on May 8th. “We haven’t won the FLW yet, but we love all this grass, it makes it fun,” said Kennedy as he did a few test casts along the shoreline. As the sponsor boats and their anglers sliced through the water seeking out their prize winning location, you could hear the excitement from the onlookers as the M&M candy boat, the CHEEZ-IT boat, the NASCAR boat, the Pop Tart boat, and others passed by. The main event runs from June 2-5 at the National Harbor Marina. June 4-5 is the Expo from Noon-4pm, where you can meet the Pros, get sponsor give-aways, try the casting pond, ride in the ranger boat simulator, play interactive games or enjoy the Walmart Kid’s Zone. The FLW tournament, named after the founder of Ranger Boats and fishing industry legend, Forrest L Wood is a competition for professional anglers, but planned for all to enjoy.
