RAYOVAC FLW SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP READIES FOR OHIO RIVER
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PADUCAH, Ky. (Oct. 13, 2015) – The Rayovac FLW Series is headed to the Ohio River at Paducah, Kentucky, October 29-31 when 200 boaters and co-anglers from the five Rayovac FLW Series divisions will take to the water for the Rayovac FLW Series Championship. The highest finishing pro from each of the five Rayovac FLW Series divisions based on final results qualifies for the 2016 Forrest Wood Cup, along with the top five pros not already selected as the highest finisher from a division. A total of 10 Rayovac FLW Series boaters in this event will punch their ticket to the Forrest Wood Cup, the richest payday in bass fishing.
“There are a few different patterns that could play out in this tournament,” said Walmart FLW Tour pro Dan Morehead of Paducah, Kentucky, a 14-time Forrest Wood Cup qualifier. “We’ll likely see anglers either heading up the main river to the Smithland Pool or picking apart the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, or a combination of the three.
“Guys who make a run to the Smithland Pool will be targeting the laydowns and isolated wood in the feeder creeks and backwaters,” continued Morehead. “Bass will be chasing shad up those creeks which means it’ll likely be a shallow-water deal. The water is stained so I’d be reaching for black and blue spinnerbaits, jigs, square-billed crankbaits and buzzbaits.
“On the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers there isn’t a lot of visible cover to fish right now besides some laydowns here and there,” said Morehead. “Anglers will primarily be focusing on dissecting the current near eddy pockets where bass are active. The water in these areas is much clearer than the main river, so natural-colored shaky-head rigs, tubes and drop-shot rigs will be the baits of choice. I could see the smallmouth bite near deeper rock piles playing a role as well.”
Morehead predicted a three-day catch nearing 42 pounds will be enough to take top honors.
“The biggest challenge in this tournament will be trying to catch weights that are consistent with those brought in on day one, especially with a field of this caliber,” Morehead went on to say.
The Rayovac FLW Series Championship at the Ohio River is hosted by the Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau. Along with the Forrest Wood Cup qualifications, boaters will also fish for a top award of $50,000 plus a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard if Ranger Cup guidelines are met. Co-anglers will cast for a top award consisting of a Ranger Z117 with a 90-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $5,000 if Ranger Cup guidelines are met.
Anglers will take off from the Foot of Broadway Ramp, located at 100 S. Riverfront in Paducah, at 7 a.m. CST each day. Weigh-in on days one and two will be held at the boat launch beginning at 3 p.m. Weigh-in on day three will take place at Walmart located at 5130 Hinkleville Road in Paducah, at 4 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.
Also on Saturday, fans will also be treated to the FLW Expo at Walmart prior to the final championship weigh-in. The Expo includes a Ranger boat simulator, a unique opportunity to interact with anglers who did not make the weekend cut, interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by sponsors, and a chance to learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities. All activities are free and open to the public.
The Rayovac FLW Series consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Southeast, Texas and Western. Each division consists of three tournaments, with competitors vying for valuable points to earn their way into the top 40 and the opportunity to fish in the Rayovac FLW Series Championship.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Rayovac FLW Series on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
