DAVENPORT, Iowa (May 19, 2009) – The Walmart Bass Fishing League All-American presented by Chevy is set to take place on the Mississippi River May 28-30. This prestigious championship, hosted by the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau, annually shines an international media spotlight on the nation’s best weekend anglers.
“The Walmart BFL All-American presented by Chevy is a championship event unlike any other,” said Charlie Evans, president and CEO of FLW Outdoors. “This championship gives the best weekend anglers from all across this great country the chance to compete on one of the best fisheries, the Mississippi River, and ultimately vie for the chance to qualify for the Forrest Wood Cup, the crown jewel of bass fishing.”
In addition to incredible fishing, the All-American will feature a Free Family Fun Zone and Outdoor Show with children’s rod and reel giveaways courtesy of Cumulus Quad Cities and a home entertainment package giveaway on the final day of competition. For full details, visit
www.flwoutdoors.com/allamerican.
The three-day show will be held at the RiverCenter located at 136 E. 3rd St. in Davenport, Iowa. The Family Fun Zone and Outdoor Show will open at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 28 and Friday, May 29. On Saturday, May 30, the show will open at noon. Daily takeoffs will be conducted at 7 a.m. from Sunset Park Marina in Rock Island, Ill., and weigh-ins each day will be held at the RiverCenter at 4 p.m. The home entertainment package winner will be drawn from the crowd during the final weigh-in. Admission and all activities are free.
Prior to the event, Team Chevy will be in town for Chevy Pro Night at Lujack Chevrolet, located at 3700 N. Harrison St. in Davenport, from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27. The team, consisting of Jimmy Houston, Larry Nixon, Luke Clausen, Kim Stricker, Dion Hibdon, Anthony Gagliaradi and Jay Yelas, has accumulated seven tour-level victories in FLW Outdoors competition alone. This team also boasts combined FLW Outdoors earnings of more than $4.5 million. Hibdon and Clausen also are two of only five anglers in the history of the sport to have won both the Forrest Wood Cup and the Bassmaster Classic.
The first 100 fans attending Chevy Pro Night will receive a free FLW Outdoors hat. Additionally, fans can register to win fishing rods, fishing tackle, a die cast Ranger boat and children 14 and under can register to win youth rod and reels.
Coverage of the BFL All-American will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on VERSUS, the network which brings anglers the best fishing programming on television featuring the most-trusted authorities on the water. The Emmy-nominated “FLW Outdoors,” will air Aug. 23 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET. “FLW Outdoors,” hosted by Jason Harper, is broadcast to approximately 500 million households worldwide, including internationally through agreements with WFN (World Fishing Network) and Matchroom Sport making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoor-sports television show in the world.
