FLW announced the dates and location for the 2018 BFL All-American and the College Fishing National Championship. The 35th annual All-American will be held May 31-June 2 on Cross Lake in Shreveport, La., while the College Fishing National Championship will take place on the Red River on May 30-June 2, also in Shreveport.
The two fisheries have played host to multiple FLW championship events over the years, including the 2002 and 2011 BFL All-American (Cross Lake), the 2002 Forrest Wood Cup (Cross Lake) and the 2013 Forrest Wood Cup (Red River). Both the All-American and the College Fishing National Championship are being hosted by the Shreveport-Bossier City Sports Commission and the Red River Waterway Commission.
“The Shreveport-Bossier City area and north Louisiana are known as the Sportsman’s Paradise,” said Kelly Wells, executive director of the Shreveport-Bossier City Sports Commission. “The Red River and Cross Lake are two of the crown jewels of our region and we are excited to partner with FLW on these two prestigious championships next June.
"While the anglers are competing on the water, families will have plenty to do on shore. Dozens of museums, shopping and family attractions, hundreds of restaurants, and of course the casinos will ensure everyone in the family has something to enjoy during their stay with us in Shreveport-Bossier City.”
Anglers competing in the All-American will cast for a cash prize of up to $120,000 in the boater division and $60,000 in the co-angler division. In addition to the six-figure payday, the top boater will also receive an invitation to compete in the Forrest Wood Cup, to be held Aug. 10-12 on Lake Ouachita in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
The 2018 FLW College Fishing National Championship awards the top team a $30,000 prize package, including a Ranger Z175 boat with a 90-horsepower outboard engine and an entry into the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup. The winning team will compete against each other on June 2 on a yet-to-be-disclosed location to determine which team member will compete as a professional at the Forrest Wood Cup.
The complete schedule and rules for the 2018 BFL and FLW College Fishing season will be announced soon. The full schedule and rules for both circuits will be posted online at FLWFishing.com.
