Casting for millions : Siloam angler qualifies for Forrest Wood Cup
Posted on Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Siloam Springs resident Carl Svebek III is living out a fisherman's dream.
On Aug. 14-17, Svebek will be among the Top 77 anglers on the Wal-Mart FLW Tour competing in the 2008 Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Murray in Columbia, S. C., for a shot at $ 1 million dollars.
"The Forrest Wood Cup is what all of us fishermen shoot for," Svebek said. "It's the Super Bowl of bass fishing."
Anglers from all 50 states plus Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Mexico and Spain competed in the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Stren Series Championship, Wal-Mart BFL All-American and TBF National Championship to qualify for the 2008 Forrest Wood Cup.
Arkansas ranks second behind California with the most representation at the Forrest Wood Cup, sending 17 anglers to the traditionally-rich four-day tournament.
According to FLW Outdoors President and CEO Charlie Evans in a press release," The Forrest Wood Cup is the crown jewel of professional fishing and the biggest sporting event of any kind held in South Carolina this year.
"It is the most important, most competitive and most difficult to qualify for tournament in our sport. Forrest Wood Cup competitors are world-class athletes with skills that are second to none. These are the absolute best men and women in the sport."
Svebek qualified for the Forrest Wood Cup following a 76 th place finish on July 10 at Detroit River in the final tournament before next week's big event.
"I was pretty surprised and relieved at the same time," Svebek said on qualifying for his third Forrest Wood Cup in his career, which started 10 years ago on Lake Sam Rayburn in Texas.
"I knew I had to catch a big sack in order to qualify."
Svebek's two-day total of 30-pounds, 13 ounces, not only netted him $ 5, 000 in prize money, but also kept him in the hunt for the Cup.
"It's definitely a big burden off my shoulder," Svebek said. "Only a select few get to go, and I am very fortunate to have this opportunity. I really appreciate all the support from the Siloam Springs community and hopefully we can have a big party when I get back."
Svebek, in six qualifying tournaments this year on the FLW Tour professional circuit, has totaled $ 70, 100 in earnings, extending his overall career winnings to $ 572, 714.
Since 1995, Svebek has competed in 140 tournaments, posting two top finishes and 14 Top 10 placements.
His best finish this year came on Feb. 28 at Lake Toho, where Svebek placed second with a fivefish limit of 35 pounds, 2 ounces and a total purse of $ 50, 000.
Svebek said his career in professional fishing isn't necessarily about the money.
"It's more about the enjoyment of being on the lake and getting to do something I love," he added. "How many people get to go fishing almost every day ? I'm pretty fortunate and God has blessed me in more ways than I could ever imagine."
This year's field of anglers competing in the Forrest Wood Cup includes six former Cup champions led by 2008 Land O'Lakes Angler of the Year, 2003 Forrest Wood Cup champion and FLW Outdoors all-time leading money winner David Dudley of Lynchburg, Va.
The last Forrest Wood Cup champion from Arkansas was George Cochran, of Hot Springs, in 2005.
"We could see records fall during the Forrest Wood Cup," Evans said. "During our last visit to Lake Murray we set a single day FLW Tour weight record with five bass weighing 30 pounds, 15 ounces. The fishing will be fantastic, and with the caliber of anglers competing, it will be a real shootout."
Svebek said he's not as nervous going into this Forrest Wood Cup as he was in his first one years ago.
"A little part of me might be nervous, but I'm also really excited," Svebek said. "The possibility of winning a million dollars brings chills to my spine."
When asked what Svebek plans to do if he wins $ 1, 000, 000, he jokingly said," play a lot of golf this fall."
Along with Svebek, Benton County will be represented by Rogers resident Greg Bohannon, who qualified for the Forrest Wood Cup in the Stren Series Division.
• The coverage of the Forrest Wood Cup will be broadcast to 81 million Fox Sports Net subscribers in the United States Sept. 28 and Oct. 5 as part of the "FLW Outdoors "television program.
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