Final Morning - Forrest Wood Cup

Boats are launching in the darkness just across the way, and soon they'll be coming around to the docks where they'll stage to take off for the final day of competition in the Forrest Wood Cup.

Only 10 remain, and with the uncertainty of the bite it's legitimately possible that anyone who made it to today could cone away world champion and half a million dollars richer.

Only 2 1/2 pounds separate the top 5, which includes threes Carolina anglers. Leading the pack is Brent Ehrler, one of three former Forrest Wood Cup champions in the Top 10.

The wind is blowing only slightly and stars are plentiful above an hour and a half before takeoff.

I'll be following one top anglers this morning, although I don't have my specific assignment yet. Yesterday I watched Bryan Thrift, which was a grand lesson about efficiency. Other mornings I've followed Casey Ashley and Anthony Gagliardi. All three are in the top 5.

I'm looking forward to seeing what happens on the water and especially in the weigh-in this afternoon.

Something New Coming

Here's all I know, and it comes from FLW Tour pro Dave Lefebre:

"Something fresh and all new is coming to the fishing world very soon! On this Thursday, Jan 2, a brand new company will launch what it is calling a win-win-win for everyone involved and long overdue. A win for the pro anglers, a win for the angler's sponsors, and a huge win for you, the fans of the sport!" This announcement will involve several of the top professionals from the BASS Elite Series and the Wal-Mart FLW Tours, including current BASS Elite Series AOY, Aaron Martens, the current #1 Ranked Angler, Jason Christie, FLW Tour standouts, Brent Ehrler and Dave Lefebre, BASS sticks, Edwin Evers, Brandon Palaniuk, and Ott DeFoe, not to mention a popular TV personality or two."

I don't even know who is making the announcement, but I suspect you could begin with Dave or any of the other names listed and watch their Facebook pages or Twitter accounts on Thursday, you can stay ahead of the game. I'll share more when there's more to tell, but I may be fishing on Thursday, so I'm guessing you can get the news faster by watching for it directly!

Big Bass Fishing Names Battle in Texas this Weekend

Texans contend that everything is bigger in their home state, and I won't step into that debate. I do know that the list of anglers competing on Lake Conroe in this weekend's Toyota Texas Bass Classic includes many of the biggest names in the sport of bass fishing. Looking at the list of 50 competitors, which is built based on Angler of the Year final standing from the Elite Series, FLW Tour and PAA Tournament Series, I'm not certain there has been a more power-packed field with a blend of B.A.S.S. and FLW pros.

As the boats stage for blast off on Lake Conroe tomorrow morning, Kevin VanDam, Edwin Evers and Terry Scroggins will be right beside Brent Ehrler, David Dudley and Andy Morgan and many other best-of-the-best pros. Combined accomplishments of the TTBC field include more than 70 million dollars in career earnings, 22 Angler of the Year titles and 17 major championship wins.

I'll definitely be watching what happens throughout the weekend and posting updates on my facebook fishing page. Be sure to like that page if you have not done so already. To watch weigh-ins and follow live scoring, visit the TTBC website.

Congratulations Brent Ehrler

It's never a surprise when Brent Ehrler of Redlands, California ends up in the top spot in a bass tournament -- as was the case yesterday. Ehrler's seven career victories with FLW include the 2006 Forrest Wood Cup, the 2004 EverStart Series championship, three regular season FLW Tour wins and two FLW Series wins. He has garnered nearly $2 million in less than a decade of professional fishing.

Ehrler won last weekend's FLW Tour major on Lake Hartwell, which straddles the Georgia/South Carolina border. He brought in more than 20 pounds on the final day and topped his nearest competitor by more than 3 pounds in the four-day event.

I'm always happy to see Ehrler do well. I met him early in his career at a writer event put on by Lucky Craft, and he has always been an outstanding and extremely helpful source for stories.

Meanwhile, Back in Georgia

It's hard to believe that I've been home from Costa Rica for more than 24 hours. Yesterday passed in a moment as I enjoyed time at home with my family, shared trip photos with my children (Asher, Autumn and Eli were pretty eager to see pictures of monkeys), dug through the mail pile, enjoyed a party for Sarah and helped Nathaniel prepare for his CD release on Monday.

Maybe harder to believe is that a couple of days ago I was in Costa Rica, where the temperature is always between 70 and 90, scarlet macaws seem about as common as cardinals in Georgia and anglers catch billfish and roosterfish virtually every day. Asher asked me my favorite thing about the trip, and I had trouble giving him a definitive answer. I suppose seeing the monkeys and the tropical birds in their natural habitat probably topped the list, but many trip aspects would have been close.

FLW Finishing Today

Meanwhile, much closer to home, the FLW Tour will complete a Tour Major today on Lake Hartwell, which is one of the closest lakes to me. I had considered slipping out there at some point yesterday or today, but I won't make it. As already mentioned, yesterday was full, and home took top priority. Today is extra special because my daughter, Sarah, turns 17 (hence the party yesterday), and my wife and I are taking her out for a birthday dinner tonight.

Tom Monsour is leading the FLW event after three days, with Brent Ehrler close behind and Marty Stone in third. They final weigh-in is this afternoon in Greenville.