The Forrest Wood Cup, billed as the world championship of professional bass fishing, will return to Hot Springs and Lake Ouachita in 2018, Fishing League Worldwide announced Saturday in conjunction with Visit Hot Springs and the state of Arkansas.
"Our whole city is excited by the fact that FLW has chosen Hot Springs for the fifth time as the host for the Forrest Wood Cup," Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs, said in a news release. The championship will be held Aug. 10-12, 2018.
"Hot Springs has established a wonderful relationship with FLW and our audiences for the Cup and other FLW events have been large and enthusiastic. I know the 2018 Cup will find the same level of enthusiasm and warm hospitality that FLW has come to associate with the great fishing in Hot Springs," Arrison said.
Hot Springs hosted the championships on Lake Hamilton in 2005 and three on Lake Ouachita, in 2007, 2011 and 2015.
The championship made history in Hot Springs in 2007 when Scott Suggs, of Bryant, became the first pro tour angler to win $1 million in a single tournament.
The 2018 Forrest Wood Cup will feature anglers from the FLW Tour, the Costa FLW Series, the T-H Marine Bass Fishing League, YETI FLW College Fishing and The Bass Federation.
In 2015, seven-year tour veteran Brad Knight, of Lancing, Tenn., outlasted the competition to earn the first victory of his career. Hometown favorites George Cochran, of Hot Springs, and Scott Suggs, of Alexander, also claimed Forrest Wood Cup victories in Hot Springs, along with Scott Martin of Clewiston, Florida.
"After another fantastic Forrest Wood Cup experience in 2015, we knew it wouldn't be long before we returned to Hot Springs and Lake Ouachita," Kathy Fennel, FLW president of operations, said in the release.
"The Hot Springs community is extremely passionate about bass fishing and the great attendance makes it the perfect destination for an exciting and memorable championship event. We expect the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup to be our best yet," she said.
"In addition to the tournament and the international media coverage it will receive, the FLW Expo, which will feature hundreds of exhibitors and activities, will be held at the Hot Springs Convention Center and the live weigh-ins will be held at the Bank of the Ozarks Arena. Visitors from around the globe will not only catch the world's best bass-fishing action, they'll also receive great deals on everything from crankbaits to bass boats at the outdoor show," the release said.
"The tournament will be featured on the 'FLW' television show. The Emmy-nominated "FLW" television show airs on NBC Sports Network, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world," it said.
Local on 08/13/2017