FLW Cup to return in 2019
Fishing League Worldwide, in conjunction with Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, announced Saturday that the Forrest Wood Cup will return here in 2019, marking the first time a venue has hosted back-to-back Cups in the
24-year history of the FLW Tour.
The event, billed as the world championship of professional bass fishing, will return to Hot Springs and Lake Ouachita Aug. 9-11,
2019, the three entities announced Saturday in a news release. Hot Springs and Lake Ouachita are currently hosting the 2018 FLW Cup.
“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,” Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot
Springs, said Saturday.
“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.”
The 2019 FLW Cup will mark the sixth time the central Arkansas area has hosted championship. The championship was held on Lake Hamilton in 2005, and four times on Lake Ouachita, in 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2018. Weigh-ins are held in Hot Springs at Bank OZK Arena.
The 2019 FLW Cup will feature the most-decorated anglers from across five tournament circuits — the FLW Tour, Costa FLW Series, T-H Marine Bass Fishing League, YETI FLW College Fishing and The Bass Federation, the release said.
The 2019 FLW Cup will also include the three-day FLW Expo at the Hot Springs Convention Center.
“The FLW Cup is an incredibly special event where we celebrate our anglers’ achievements both on and off the water alongside the biggest names in the outdoor industry. It requires the right kind of facilities and a community dedicated to the outdoors, and Hot Springs offers up both and more,” Kathy Fennel, FLW president of operations, said in the release.
“The central Arkansas region has a storied bass-fishing history and has long been a destination for outdoor enthusiasts. We’re excited to continue showcasing it on the international stage,” Fennel said.
Television coverage of the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup will premiere in high-definition on NBC Sports Network on Sept. 27 from 11 a.m. to noon. The Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show airs on NBCSN and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world, the release said.