EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE ANOTHER JIMMY HOUSTON
Veteran pro Jimmy houston got a surprise prior to the cup’s final weigh-in. he was greeted by a stadium full of fans
wearing blond wigs reminiscent of the oklahoma angler’s trademark blond mop. the houston aspirants even had sun-
glasses that matched their hero’s. the promotion was organized by Quaker State in recognition of houston’s 50th
anniversary as a tournament fisherman. he started competing in oklahoma tournaments when he was still a schoolboy.
houston was pleased by all the recognition, but couldn’t pass up a chance for a wisecrack aimed at spectators wear-
ing the wigs.
“it looks like a roomful of donald trumps,” he joked.
help me hitch up one of these Rangers. I’m taking it home. ” – Country music singer
SEEN & HEARD “Somebody
Dustin Lynch, who performed for the standing-room-only crowd Sunday prior to the final weigh-in.
FLW CANADA PUTS IN AN APPEARANCE
cory banford, director of operations for FlW canada, was in attendance at the Forrest Wood cup, and, who knows,
next year he might be there more in an official capacity when the championship takes place at lake murray.
Since canada joined FlW’s international division along with china, South Korea and mexico, banford’s bunch has
staged its qualifying tournaments and is set to designate two of its teams as competitors in the costa FlW Series
championship on table rock lake in early november. the top two pros from the international division there will
advance to the 2017 cup.
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BIG BUCKS FOR RANGER CUP WINNERS
the pre-cup banquet for anglers and their families was also
payday for the 2016 ranger cup winners, starting with chris
Johnston of canada, who was the top finisher. Johnston got a
fully equipped ranger Z518c with an evinrude outboard. other
winners, in order of their ranger cup finishes, included hoosier
pro Jacob Wheeler (2nd, $10,000), Scott martin (3rd, $8,000),
mark rose (4th, $7,000) and Shinichi Fukae (5th, $5,000).
martin and Scott canterbury also earned an extra $25,000
apiece for winning at lake champlain and beaver lake,
respectively.
ranger boats promotions manager Scott arms (left) made
the check presentations and noted that anglers earned
$155,000 in ranger cup bonuses in 2016, and the program
has paid out more than $17 million in its existence.
FLWFISHING.COM I OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2016