Forrest Wood Cup | Young Gun Ready to Fish for Championship

8/9/2011 2:40:40 PM

20-year-old Wheeler Fishing for Half a Million

When 58 pro anglers cast for the $500,000 top prize at the Forrest Wood Cup tournament on Lake Ouachita this week, young Jacob Wheeler, age 20, will be one of them.  

Wheeler, who has temporarily put college on hold to chase dreams of becoming a pro angler, has already created a financial pillow for himself through the $100,000 top prize he won as the 2011 BFL All-American champion back in May.

In good timing, the Indianapolis young gun also signed up and became eligible for the BoatUS Angler contingency program days before his six-figure win.  Consequently, he collected an additional $1,000 in BoatUS Angler “Weigh-to-Win” cash as a result of his BFL Championship win.

If he wins this week on Ouachita, he’ll get a $1,500 bonus from BoatUS Angler.  And while that may seem like peanuts compared to the half-a-million top prize, Wheeler, who started fishing tournaments at age 9 with his dad and Uncle Morry, will tell you the peace of mind alone from his BoatUS Angler membership is worth the college student friendly registration fee.

“You’re foolish to go out on the water, or tow your boat down the highway without a membership to BoatUS Angler,” said Wheeler.  “If something goes wrong – and things do happen out there – you have the security of knowing BoatUS will dispatch somebody to help you.”

Wheeler lists BoatUS Angler “Weigh-to-Win” members Kevin VanDam, David Dudley and Edwin Evers as his favorite pros, and he will actually compete against Dudley this week.

“There’s nothing in the world to me like tournament fishing,” said the aspiring pro. “Every day on the water is different, and the guy who puts all the pieces of the puzzle together the fastest gets the prize."

If Wheeler is the fastest puzzle builder on Lake Ouachita this weekend, not only will he get the half-a-million top prize and the BoatUS Angler “Weigh-to-Win” bonus, but also a likely extension on his collegiate sabbatical.

Getting a BoatUS Angler membership, and signing-up for their Weigh-to-Win program like Jacob did, is easy. Memberships are as affordable as $38. Just dial (918) 742-6424 and ask for Kendell. She’ll make sure you’re registered.


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