FLW tournament expected pump $1 million-plus into economy

This weeks FLW Western Division Tournament at Roosevelt Lake on Sept. 22-25 features around 300 top anglers from around the country while also pumping approximately a million dollars or more into the local economy. We currently have an economic impact per tournament to generate 1-1.5 million dollar in revenue, said Al Chapman, the FLW director of advertising. This FLW tournament is the final stop of the National Guard Western Division circuit. In conjunction with this nationally televised bass tournament, FLW is also conducting the National Guard FLW College Fishing, with a team from Arizona State University participating. The Town of Payson, which is hosting the tournament, held an FLW Day at Green Valley Lake in Payson last Saturday that included lots of activities including a free family fishing day conducted by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and a Fun Zone set up by the Army National Guard. Fifteen of the top tournament anglers also participated in the event, with lots of youngsters and other fans vying to get autographs and tips from pros such as Clifford Pirch, Brett Hite, John Murray, Tim Klinger, Justin Lucas, and Rusty Salewske. Perch is from Payson. Both Hite and Murray are from Phoenix. Johnny Johnson, who has a locally-televised fishing show, is also fishing the tournament and was on hand for the FLW Days. During a media question-and-answer session at the FLW Day event, many of the professional anglers commented that they have never experienced such a remarkable welcoming event from a hosting community. We have never seen anything like this where a whole town comes together to support us, commented Brent Ahler, who is vying for angler of the year honors on the FLW circuit. Veteran pro Mike Folkestad, who has been fishing tournaments for 35 years, said, I signed more autographs today than any other event except maybe a tournament in Japan. Payson Mayor Kenny Evans has said that the televised FLW tournament will put Roosevelt and Payson on the map and show the world how great the fishing is here. Brett Hite, a professional angler from Phoenix, said besides Roosevelts potential for producing big bass, The televised tournament will also show how beautiful Roosevelt is as well. For the ASU fishing team, the Roosevelt tournament is a chance to rub elbows with and learn from the pros. One ASU angler, Craig Carol of Chandler, said the National Guard FLW College Series is a huge stepping stone that veteran anglers fishing tournaments didnt have when they were young. "I want to be just like each one of these guys here," Carol said while gesturing to the assembled pro anglers. "This is an opportunity to chase my dream. During the tournament, anglers will take off from Cholla Recreation Site located five miles NW of Roosevelt Dam on Highway 188 in Roosevelt at 7 each morning. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday weigh-ins will also be held at the Cholla beginning at 2:30 p.m. Saturdays final weigh-in will be held at Chapman Auto Center located at 198 N. Beeline Highway in Payson beginning at 4 p.m. Coverage of the Lake Roosevelt tournament will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on VERSUS. FLW Outdoors, will air Oct. 31 from 12:30 to 1:30 ET. FLW Outdoors, hosted by Jason Harper, is broadcast to approximately 500 million households worldwide. FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world offering anglers worldwide the opportunity to compete for millions over the course of 189 tournaments in 2010. For more information on the tournament, visit the FLW website.