ICAST 2018: Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow with Todd Woods

California pro angler Todd Woods deals with high fishing pressure and clear water. Listen as he explains why the Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow is a great fishing catching bait. Todd uses it on the tournament trail and so should you.

Forrest Wood Cup 2019 Returns to Lake Ouachita

FLW, in conjunction with Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, announced Saturday that the Forrest Wood Cup will return to Hot Springs and Lake Ouachita Aug. 9-11, 2019. Hot Springs and Lake Ouachita, currently hosting the 2018 Cup, will become the first venue to host back-to-back Cups in the 24-year history of the FLW Tour.

The 2019 FLW Cup will mark the sixth time the central Arkansas area has hosted the sport’s most prestigious championship. It was held on Lake Hamilton in 2005, and on Lake Ouachita in 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2018. The 2019 FLW Cup will feature the most decorated anglers from across five tournament circuits: the FLW Tour, Costa FLW Series, T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League, YETI FLW College Fishing and The Bass Federation.

“Hot Springs and FLW have established a great relationship in the 20 years that we have hosted their great events, and we are thrilled and grateful that the FLW Cup is returning to our city,” says Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs. “FLW not only does the best job in the world at putting on a family-friendly event that literally has something for everyone, but it also does a tremendous job of highlighting the great fishing, great attractions and great facilities we have here in Hot Springs. Our entire community always benefits when FLW comes to town – not only economically and publicity-wise, but also from a great, wholesome time for our residents and visitors alike. We can’t wait to welcome them back again.”

ICAST 2018: Minn Kota MEGA Down Imaging Intergrated Trolling Motor with Koby Kreiger

Minn Kota did it again! Another ICAST win for advancements in trolling motor/electronic integration. The new MEGA Down imaging integrated trolling motor has so many advantages. Let's listen to FLW Tour Pro Koby Kreiger as he explains this award winning technology.

Clent Davis Wins 2018 Forest Wood Cup Lake Ouachita with 36-13lbs!

Davis restarts career with FLW victory

by Sean Ostruszka

FLW PRESS RELEASE

Little less than a year ago Clent Davis was contemplating giving up the sport of professional bass fishing for good. Now, he’s the Forrest Wood Cup champion.

Big worm and topwater proves to be key baits on win.
(Photo: FLW)

Despite starting the final day at Lake Ouachita in 10th place, Davis crushed the largest bag of the tournament – 17 pounds, 13 ounces – to be the first angler to make up nine places on the final day of the Cup. His 36 pounds, 13 ounces was more than 7 pounds better than second-place pro James Niggemeyer.

“I don’t even know what to do or what I’m feeling,” a stunned Davis said on stage after day-two leader Wes Logan lifted his hand to show he had only one fish in his bag. “This is incredible.”

Davis’ run to becoming Cup champion started last November when FLW Senior Director of Tournament Operations Bill Taylor called Davis about returning to the Tour after being on the Bassmaster Elite Series the previous two seasons. Admittedly, Davis was burnt out on the sport, but the itch came back after that call.

Fast-forward to the Cup, and Davis knew there was only one way he was going to have a chance to win.

“I’m a decent offshore fisherman, but I think I’m a really good brush pile fisherman,” Davis says. “So that was the only thing I was going to do since day one.”

Clent Davis Wins 2018 Forrest Wood Cup!

Congrats to Clent! Clent came all the way from 10th to take the cup.
Learn how he won the FLW Cup tomorrow right here on IBASSIN.com

2018 Forest Wood Cup Lake Ouachita Day 2: Wes Logan Leads with 23-13lbs!

3 Canadians Out of Top 10
by Sean Ostruszka
FLW PRESS RELEASE

After two days of fishing, pros are usually pretty dialed in on their patterns. Not this week. You’d be hard pressed to find a pro who feels confident in any sort of pattern on Saturday at the Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Ouachita.

Mixing shallow and deep working for Logan.
(Photo: FLW)

Case in point, day-one leader Alex Davis brought a lone fish to the scale today. Nick LeBrun, who was in second on day one, only caught three keepers. He was fortunate one of them weighed more than 6 pounds, which helped him stay in second.

At this point, even new leader Wes Logan is unsure if he’ll catch another fish with how random and tough the bites have been on Lake Ouachita. His catch thus far is 23 pounds, 13 ounces, including a 12-pound, 4-ounce bag that was the largest of day two. He has a 1-pound, 2-ounce lead over LeBrun going into the final day

“I’m just going with my gut, and so far it’s been right,” Logan says.

The Springville, Ala., pro has been running a two-pronged attack up shallow and out deep.

Two key offshore spots in 17 to 25 feet of water have been more consistent. He’s been able to catch multiple keepers there each day.

The shallow pattern is a lot more random. He doesn’t know where he’s going to go at any given moment.

“I must’ve hit 50 spots today,” Logan says. “I burnt a good amount of gas. I’m just running anywhere I see. No real reason to it. Just covering water.”

The end result has been him catching 10 keepers each day.

As for Sunday’s final day of competition, Logan doesn’t even know where he’ll start. While the deep bite has been more consistent, he’s not getting any big bites out there, and it seems to be better in the afternoon. That leaves him probably going shallow, but where is anybody’s guess.

The “anybody’s guess” part could be said about who’s going to win this event too. With such unpredictability in the bites and weights, most every pro in the top 10 has a shot to win if he has a good day.

Still, considering he’s a rookie who’s never been to Ouachita, Logan is just quite pleased to be where he’s sitting.

“I’m obviously excited [about leading the Cup],” Logan adds. “But you want to be leading after the third day, not the second.”

TOP 10 PROS

1. Wes Logan – Springville, Ala. – 23-13 (10)           

2. Nick LeBrun – Bossier City, La. – 22-11 (8)        

3. James Niggemeyer – Van, Texas – 20-14 (9)         

4. Zack Birge – Blanchard, Okla. – 20-6 (10)

5. Jason Lambert – Michie, Tenn. – 20-3 (10)          

6. John Cox – DeBary, Fla. – 19-14 (9)        

7. Bradford Beavers – Summerville, S.C. – 19-5 (8)  

8. Brandon Cobb – Greenwood, S.C. – 19-2 (10)     

9. Justin Atkins – Florence, Ala. – 19-0 (10)

10. Clent Davis – Montevallo, Ala. – 19-0 (10)        

2018 Forest Wood Cup Lake Ouachita Day 1: Alex Davis Leads with 13-10lbs!

Cory Johnston in 4th!
FLW PRESS RELEASE

Alex Davis best them all on difficult first day.
(Photo: FLW)

Alex Davis was talking with his dad, Jeff, before the Forrest Wood Cup about who was going to win it.

“I told him whoever was going to win this thing would do it on luck,” Alex says. “By God, that’s exactly what happened today for me.”

He’s not lying. The Albertville, Ala., pro went from a single 1-pounder at noon to a day-one-leading 13 pounds, 10 ounces through a comedy of randomness.

Setting the scene, Alex figured he had some solid stretches where he could catch them shallow on topwater, and they certainly showed they were there, as he had seven blowups throughout the morning. He only landed the lone dink, and he lost another three on a worm.

“I have no idea how,” he says.

Finally, he made a move and caught a pair of small fish. Another move prompted a fourth.

“My dad told me before I left today, ‘Don’t come back with four,’” Alex says. “I knew of one brush pile. So I went there, made one cast and the second it hit the bottom I set the hook. So then I had a limit and decided to head in.”

However, there was still a little time left before the 33-year-old had to check in. He decided to stop on one more area. First cast he caught a 3-pounder on something “special” he didn’t want to discuss until tomorrow.

Again, he was “done,” but he still had a little time left. So with 10 minutes to go he stopped at a random cove he’d never even been in before.

“My last cast I caught my biggest fish of the day,” Alex says. “I slung him in the boat, pulled up my trolling motor, tossed out my smallest and checked in. How crazy is that?”

Obviously, luck can be fickle, so when it comes to day two the pro has “no idea” what he’s going to do or how well.

“I may just go throw topwaters again tomorrow,” he says. “I had all those blowups. I do know I’ll check that one special thing. Everyone will see it tomorrow on live, but if it goes it could be awesome.”

TOP 10 PROS

1. Alex Davis – Albertville, Ala. – 13-10 (5)

2. Nick LeBrun – Bossier City, La. – 13-5 (5)

3. Zack Birge – Blanchard, Okla. – 13-1 (5)

4. Cory Johnston – Cavan, Ontario – 12-8 (5)

5. James Niggemeyer – Van, Texas – 12-2 (5)

6. Wes Logan – Springville, Ala. – 11-9 (5)

7. Bradford Beavers – Summerville, S.C. – 11-6 (3)

8. John Cox – DeBary, Fla. – 11-3 (5)

9. Jason Lambert – Michie, Tenn. – 10-0 (5)

10. Justin Atkins – Florence, Ala. – 9-14 (5)

ICAST 2018: Molix RA Shad Swimbait and SV Craw with Carl Jocumsen

Swimbaits are the hottest lures this year on both the FLW and BASS Tours. FLW Pro, Carl Jocumsen has been scoring well with the RA Shad Swimbait and the SV Craw across the U.S.A..
Molix is an amazing lure company that is making its mark North America. Listen as Carl explains these 2 cool baits from Molix.

ICAST 2018: Booyah Melee Bladed Jig with Zell Roland

Everyone loves a bladed jig. Legendary angler Zell Roland help inspire the new Booyah Melee bladed jig. The design has a unique head that give maximum vibration and great deflection when crashing into cover. Listen as Zell explains this new Booyah Melee bladed jig.