The FLW-Outdoors Western Series bass tournament returns to Clear Lake starting today. The tournament is expected to draw about 100 boats (100 pros and 100 amateurs) with an expected purse of $900,000. The winning pro could take home as much as $100,000 in cash as well as an additional $25,000 if he/she is a registered owner of a 2005 or newer Ranger boat.
Second place in the pro division is worth a cool $40,000, third place is worth $30,000, $25,000 will go to the fourth-place pro and $20,000 to the fifth-place finisher. The tournament pays down to 30 places with the 30th-place pro receiving $8,000.
The winning co-angler receives $15,000 and an additional $5,000 if he/she is the registered owner of a 2001 or newer Ranger boat. Those payouts are based on a 100-boat field. The pros paid an entry fee of $4,500 and the co-anglers $800.
The four-day event starts at daylight today and winds up on Saturday. The first three days the tournament operates out of Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa. On Saturday, the final day of the tournament, the weigh-in switches to Clearlake and operates out of the Walmart parking lot located on Dam Road. The weigh-in time for the first three days is 3 p.m. and on Saturday it”s 4 p.m. Children will be treated to a Family Fun Zone prior to Saturday”s weigh-in from noon to 4 p.m. at Walmart. Activities in the Family Fun Zone include a trout pond, a Ranger boat simulator and assorted fishing-themed games. All activities are free and open to the public.
The full field will compete each of the first three days, however, only the top 10 pros advance to the final day based on their three-day accumulated weight. Winners are determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all four days. The co-anglers end their tournament on Friday.
The tournament is a true pro/am format where both the pros and co-anglers fish separately. Each fisherman will be allowed to weigh in five fish per day.
The pros supply the boats, fish from the front of the boat and compete against other pros. The co-anglers fish from the back of the boat and compete against other co-anglers.
A list of Lake County fishermen competing in the tournament wasn”t available from FLW-Outdoors, but one local bass pro, Jimmy Reese of Witter Springs, has always fished in the FLW series and is expected to be entered in this tournament. Few fishermen know Clear Lake as well as Reese and if entered he would have to be among the favorites.
It”s doubtful any new records will be set during this tournament. The lake level is only .82 on the Rumsey Gauge and most of the fishermen will be concentrated in the deeper water in the south end. The water temperatures also have been as cold as 60 degrees in the mornings and the fishing has been a little slow.
The tournament will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on VERSUS, the network that brings anglers the best fishing programming on television featuring the most-trusted authorities on the water. The Emmy-nominated “FLW Outdoors” will air Nov. 22 from 12:30 to 1:30 ET.
The good news is the approximately 200 fishermen in the tournament are expected to spend more than $100,000 in local motels, gas stations, tackle shops and restaurants.
This could be the last bass tournament to operate out of Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa for some time. The resort is scheduled to close Nov. 11 and it”s unknown what will happen to the facility.
The FLW is one of the largest professional bass tournament organizations in the nation. They also sponsor walleye tournaments in the Midwest as well as ocean fishing tournaments.
