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>> DID YOU EVER THINK YOU COULD WIN $1 MILLION FISHING.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE TOP PRIZE MONEY WAS BACK IN 2007.
IN 2011, THE TOUREY IS BACK. IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW IN THE
WORLD OF SPECTATOR SPORTS, FISHING IS FAST GAINING IN THE
RANKS OF NASCAR. THAT MY FRIENDS IS NO JOKE.
>> RIGHT OUTSIDE OF HOT SPRINGS IS LIKE WASH DOW
MOUNTAIN. IT'S ONE OF THE TOP THREE LAKES IN THE NATION'S
FOREST. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED IT'S NUMBER ONE IN
BEAUTY. THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LAKE THAT
YOU'LL EVER BE ON. THERE'S NO HOUSES AND IT'S ALL SURROUNDED
BY NATIONAL FOREST. THE ISSUE YOU HAVE RENTAL BARGES
THAT YOU CAN ENJOY THE VIEWS AND SCENERY. THERE'S ALL KINDS
OF THINGS TO DO. WHEN YOU'RE SETTING BACK AND LOOKING
AT THOSE MOUNTAINS AND SEEING EVERYTHING FROM THAT
WATER VIEW, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN RANKED AS ONE OF THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL LAKES IN THE ENTIRE NATION. IT'S A GORGEOUS LAKE.
>> IN 2007, BRYANT NATIVE SCOTT SUGGS --
>> I GOT TO FISH WITH MY GRANDFATHER WHEN HE WAS ALIVE.
I GOT FISH WITH HE DAD. HE ALWAYS HAD ME ON THE LAKE. HE
SOME GREAT MEMORY ON LAKE WASHTAW. SOME OF THE MEMORABLE
TIME IN 2007 WHEN I WON THE CUP. NOT ONLY I WAS ABLE TO
WIN, I WAS ABLE TO WIN IT IN FRONT OF MY MOM AND DAD AND MY
FAMILY AND FRIENDS OVER THERE. TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT AND
BE ABLE TO SHARE IT WITH THAT MANY PEOPLE, WE HAD OVER
14,000 AT THE WEIGH-IN AT THE LAST DAY. PEOPLE THAT I
FISHED AGAINST IN TOURNAMENTS, THEY'RE CHEERING BACK AND
FORTH FOR ME. I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO STOP IT. IT WAS A
EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME. >> NAMED AFTER THE FOUNDER OF
RANGER BOATS, FORREST L. WOOD FLW OUTDOORS BEGIN IN
19996. IT IS NOW SEEN -- 1996.
IT IS NOW SEEN IN 500 HOUSEHOLDS WORLDWIDE.
>> OUR SPORT IS GROWING LEAPS AND BOUNDS. STARTED 15
YEARS AGO. SINCE WAL-MART CAME ON BOARD AND BROUGHT A LOT
OF OUR SPONSORS WITH US. IT'S GROWING LEAPS AND BOUNDS.
IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW. YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE AT
TODAY. I CAN IMAGINE WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE 15 FROM
NOW. WE CAME THROUGH THE RECESSION, I FEEL LIKE WE
WEATHERED THE STORM. KELLOGGS IS BACK AND WAL-MART IS BACK.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF BASS. YOU GOT KIDS
IN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AND REALLY WANTING TO TO DO THIS.
THERE'S A BIG FUTURE OUT THERE FOR THEM.
>> GREG BOHANNAN OF PROJECTORS HAS BEEN ON THE FLW TOUR
SINCE 2007. >> PRETTY GOOD WAY TO MAKE A
LIVING. IT'S A LOT OF WORK AND IT'S A LOT OF LONG
HOURS. WE PRACTICE EVERY DARK AND WE HAVE THREE OFFICIAL
PRACTICE DAYS. LOT OF HARD WORK
BUT THAT'S THE WORK WE CHOSE AND IT'S A FUN WAY TO MAKE A
LIVING. >> NOT TOO SHABBY THERE. GUYS
LOOKING FOR THAT FISH RIGHT NOW OUT THERE ON THE
WATER. THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF GUYS
DO. THEY REALLY FOCUSED ON BRIM BED. THEY WANT TO HAVE
LUNCH ON THE BRIM. LATE IN THE DAY IS WHEN THE BETTER FISH
ARE BITING. THAT IS MONEY FISH THERE. THAT'S A GOOD ONE.
PROBABLY 4.5. >> WHAT THE ODDS CATCHING ONE
LIKE THAT MIDDAY? >> THIS IS A LITTLE BIT UNIQUE.
IT'S A BIG BRIM POPULATION. THE BRIM BED UP IN
THE DAY REALLY GET THE -- THE BASS GET UP THERE ON THE
BANK AND SHALLOW DURING THE DAY. IT'S REALLY A GREAT
PATTERN. LAKE HAS A BIG BRIM POPULATION. YOU WOULDN'T THINK
YOU COULD THROW A TOP WATER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY. GOT
A GREAT BRIM POPULATION UP DURING THE DAY, THAT'S WHEN IT
GETS BETTER. THAT'S A REALLY NICE FISH. IT A SMALL BRIM ON
THE TOP WATER. WORKING KIND OF SPORE RADICALLY DOWN THE
BANK. THEY JUST COME UP FOR A FREE MEAL. THIS IS A GREAT
LAKE. LAKE OF WASHTAW IN ARKANSAS, IT'S GOT A GOOD
POPULATION OF FISH. THEY CATCH SOME 10-POUNDERS HERE
SOMETIMES. IT'S A REALLY GOOD LAKE.
PROBABLY CLOSE TO 4 POUNDS. >> THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE OF
BEING A PRO. I HAVE YET TO STILL CATCH ONE.
>> THERE'S A LINE OUT THERE. YOU WANT TO THROW ONE?
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO CATCH ANOTHER ONE OUT HERE. I WAS
THINKING GOING DOWN THERE. WE'LL MAKE A FEW CATCH. THAT
WINDY BANK DOWN THERE LOOKS GOOD. LOT OF TIMES IN FISHING,
WE CAUGHT THAT BIG FISH BY THE WATER. IF I WAS PRACTICING
TODAY, IF I DIDN'T GET ANY PASS THAT FLAT PART HERE, THAT'S
KIND OF HOW START DEVELOPING PATTERNS. IF YOU WENT DOWN THE
OATH BANK OVER THERE AND THEN YOU START RUNNING AROUND AND
TRYING TO PUT PIECES OF PUZZLES TOGETHER. PEOPLE ASK, HOW
DO YOU DISSECT WATER AND WHO'S PUTS THE PUZZLE TOGETHER THE
FASTEST, WINS THE GAME. YES! THERE IS SOME AMOUNT OF LUCK
INVOLVED ESPECIALLY IN CATCHING BIG FISH. THE MOST
CONSISTENTCY OVERTIME. CONSISTENT IS WHERE THE SKILL
COME. YOU'LL SEE GUYS CONSISTENCY
MAKING TOP TEN. THAT'S WHERE SKILLS COME IN. ONE GUY CAN GO
OUT AND HAVE A BIG DAY AND CATCH A COUPLE BIG FISH. WHEN
YOU DO IT OVER AND OVER, THAT'S NOT LUCK, THAT'S SKILL.
I THINK SOME GUYS JUST HAVE A GOOD MORE GOD-GIVEN ABILITY
THAN SOME OF US. SOME OF THE GUYS HAVE A NATURAL TALENT. I
THINK I HAVE SOME OF THAT. I THINK SOME OF IT CAN BE
LEARNED. THE MORE TIME I SPEND ON
THE WATER. THERE'S NO SUBSTITUTION FOR TIME ON THE
WATER. THAT'S HOW YOU LEARN TOUGH.
SOME OF IT DON'T HAVE AS MUCH GOD-GIVEN ABILITY AS THE OTHER
ONE AND YOU HAVE TO WORK THAT MUCH HARDER. YOU KNOW, I GROUP
UP ON A FARM. WE'RE A FARMING FAMILY. WE HAD
CHICKENS AND CATTLES. ONE THING MY
DAD STARTED, WE STARTED WORKING AT A YOUNG AGE. AS SOON AS
WE GOT OUR CHORES DONE, ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS GO FISHING.
REALLY MY MOM GOT ME TO FISHING. I GREW UP FISHING
AROUND ALL THE CREEKS AND PONDS IN
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. WE'RE REALLY BLESSED IN NORTHWEST
ARKANSAS. EVEN IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, WE HAVE A WEALTH OF
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WE CAN DO AND WE HAVE A WEALTH OF WATER
IN ARKANSAS. DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A BIG BASS BOAT. I GREW
UP LEARNING THE BASS FISH ON STREAM AND PONDS. I ALWAYS SAY
THERE'S PROBABLY THREE THINGS IN MY LIFE REVOLVED
AROUND WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, IT
WAS HARD WORK, SPORTS AND THE OUTDOORS. THAT STILL KIND OF
RINGS TRUE NOWADAYS. SPORTS WERE A BIG PART OF LEARNING THE
COMPETITIVE NATURE OF THIS SPORT. I GREW UP PLAYING
FOOTBALL AND BASEBALL. END UP PLAYING FOOTBALL AND BASEBALL
AT ARKANSAS TECH. ENDED UP GETTING MY DEGREE PAID FOR
THROUGH SPORTS. SPORTS GOT A BIG PART OF MY HEART. I THINK
YOU CAN LEARN A LOT FROM SPORTS AND APPLY IT TO YOUR JOB AND
APPLY IT TO THE OUTDOORS. I WENT TO ARKANSAS TECH AND GOT A
BUSINESS DEGREE. STARTED TWO DAYS AFTER I GRADUATED
COLLEGE. WORKED FOR TYSON FOODS FOR 13 YEARS AND WORKED
MY WAY UP TO PLANT MANAGER. I RAN
THE CORNISH PLANT FOR TYSON FOODS. LEFT THAT JOB AND
STARTED PURSUING THIS CAREER. I
KIND OF REACHED A POINT IN MY CAREER TO WHERE I WAS FISHING
COMPETITIVELY AND WORKING MY WAY UP THE RANKS OF FLW. I WAS
KIND OF MAKING A DECISION WHERE I PURSUE A FULL TIME CAREER
OR PURSUE A FULL TIME CAREER WITH TYSON. FORTUNELY, MY WIFE
PUSHED ME TO DO THIS. SHE WENT DO SCHOOL AND GOT A REALLY
GOOD MASTERS DEGREE. DID SOME INVESTMENT AND THROUGH HER, I
GOT TO TRY THIS SPORT. SHE WAS MY BIGGEST SPONSOR ALL ALONG
AND BIGGEST FAN. I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT HER
>> JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU BEHIND EVERY MAN, THERE'S A
GOOD WOMAN. >> JUST STEAM BOATS DID YEARS
AGO. YOU COULD ENJOY THE ARKANSAS QUEEN FROM NORTH
LITTLE ROCK. ABOUT THE ONLY THING
MISSING WOULD BE MARK TWAIN. >> I HAD SEVERAL FRIENDS TELL
ME WHAT A NICE TOUR IT IS. BUT THE WEATHER WAS TODAY
WAS SO BEAUTIFUL WE COULDN'T PASS IT UP. I HAD INLAWS IN
FROM SCOTTLAND. THIS IS THE EASIEST WAY TO SHOW THEM THE
SITES ALONG THE RIVS IN LITTLE ROCK.
>> EVEN THE FOLKS FROM OVER THE VIAS IS QUITE PLEASED.
SUCH AT IAN CORN PUNISH CORNISH.
>> I'M QUITE IMPRESSED BY ARKANSAS. SURPRISED IT'S
SUCH A GREEN AREA. MIAMI GIVEN ME A GOOD TOUR OVER THE
COUNTIES HERE. I BROUGHT GREETINGS FROM THE LORD MAYOR
OF PLYMOUTH TO THE MAYOR OF LITTLE
ROCK FROM THE CITIZENS OF PLYMOUTH TO THE CITIZENS OF
AMERICA. >> WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS OF
THIS BOAT RIDE HERE? THIS RIVER BOAT?
>> THIS IS TYPICALLY AMERICAN, A RIDE UP THE RIVER WITH
A STERN WHEELER. IT'S VERY AMERICAN. WHEN I TAKE THE
PHOTOGRAPH BACK TO MY FOLKS IN THE U.K., THEY WILL BE REALLY
IMPRESSED WITH IT. I ENJOYED EVERY MOMENT OF MY STATE HERE
IN ARKANSAS. I FIND AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE VERY FRIENDLY AND
VERY WELCOMING AND VERY EASYGOING. IN BRITAIN, I THINK
WE'RE POSSIBLY A LITTLE MORE STANDOFFISH. WE'RE NOT QUITE
SO EASYGOING. SORRY ABOUT THAT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I
LIVED HERE A GOOD 40 YEARS AND I SEEN THIS BOAT UP AND DOWN
THE RIVER A NUMBER OF TIMES. I'M AN OLD NAVY MAN. IT WAS
INTERESTING TO SEE THIS BARGE MOVING UP. IT REMINDED ME
WHEN I WAS IN MY FIRST CONVOY GOING TO EUROPE. I LOOKED AT
THE BARGES MOVING ALONG. IT'S GOING ABOUT 12 NOTS OR SLOWER
BECAUSE THAT WAS THE FASTEST WE COULD GO. IT REMINDED ME OF
THAT, IT SURE REMINDED ME. THE SHIP IS VERY UNIQUE. YOUR
BARGE TODAY IS VERY UNIQUE. I ENJOY BEING HERE, WELL
ORGANIZED. THE PEOPLE I CAN SEE WERE FRIENDLY AND YOUR CREW
WAS NICE. I ASKED THE YOUNG LADY, WHERE IS THE HEAD AT, SHE
SAYS, WHAT DID YOU MEAN? I SAID YOUNG LADY, THE HEAD MEANS
IN THE NAVY I WANT TO TOILET. I SAID WHERE THE TOILET.
>> IT'S A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE. IT'S
SOMETHING THAT'S UNIQUE. NOT ANYTHING ELSE AROUND HERE LIKE
IT. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT LIVE LOCALLY THAT NEVER BEEN
ON THE ARKANSAS RIVER. WHICH IS AMAZING. WE GET A LOT OF
OUT OF TOWN GUEST AND WE GET QUITE A FEW LOCAL GUEST THAT
HAVE LIVED HERE FOREVER AND THEY'RE IN AWE. ESPECIALLY
WHEN THEY'RE GETTING OFF THE BOAT
THEY'RE LIKE, I NEVER KNEW. ASK CRUISE DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR
OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, IT'S MY JOB TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS
A GOOD TIME. I TELL THEM IN MY ANNOUNCEMENT, YOU DON'T GET
OFF THE BOAT, YOU DON'T HAVE A GOOD TIME. IT'S ALL ABOUT
SAFETY FIRST ON THE BOAT AS THE CAPTAIN TELLS YOU. IT'S ABOUT
FUN AND HAVING A GOOD TIME. WE PROVIDE THEM WITH GREAT
CUSTOMER SERVICE , AS FAR AS FOOD
THAT WE OFFER. WE GET NOTHING BY COMPLIMENT OVER THE FOOD
THAT WE SERVE. THEY'RE LIKE, I DIDN'T EXPECT THIS. WE GET
COMPLIMENTS ALL THE TIME. AS FAR AS WAIT STAFF AND IT'S ALL
ABOUT THE CUSTOMER ASKING A GOOD TIME, PRETTY MUCH. OUR
ENTERTAINMENT, WE GET SOME WILD PEOPLE ON HERE THAT WANT TO
DO ALL OF THESE CRAZY DANCES AND THEN WE -- OUR AGE GROUP
CUSTOMERS THAT COME ON THIS BOAT ARE ANYWHERE FROM EARLY
TO 20S UP TO 80S AND 90S. LAST
WEEK HE A GROUP FROM OUT OF STATE WHICH WERE IN THEIR
80S. IT'S SELF-GRATIFYING TO KNOW PEOPLE GET OFF THIS BOAT
AND TELL ME WHAT A GOOD TIME THEY HAVE.
>> YOU ALSO HAVE A SPECIAL CRUISE AROUND THE HOLIDAY.
>> WE CRUISE EVERY HOLIDAY. WE HAVE THE FALL COLOR
CRUISES. WE ACTUALLY GO THROUGH THE LOCK AND DAM ON
THOSE CRUISES. WE BILL IT AS A FALL
COLOR CRUISE SO THAT EVERYBODY IT SEE THE LEAVES
CHANGING. WHEN YOU HEAD UP THE RIVER, YOU UP ALL THE HILLS
THERE OVERLOOKING RIVER RIDGE THAT OVERLOOKS THE RIVER. WE
GO WAY UP ON THE OTHER SIDE, TURN AROUND AND IT'S A 4 HOUR
CRUISE. WE DO THOSE ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAYS FOR THREE
WEEKENDS IN A ROW. WE GET QUITE A FEW GUESTS AND WE GET A
QUITE A FEW REPEAT GUEST. IF YOU NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO
EXPERIENCE GOING THROUGH A LOCK AND DAM, IT'S VERY INTERESTING
HOW THAT WORKS. ONCE YOU LOCK IN THE WATER GOES UP AND
DOWN. PEOPLE ARE JUST IN AWE ESPECIALLY PEOPLE SEATED ON THE
MAIN DECK. WHEN THE WATER STARTS GOING DOWN AND ALL A
SUDDEN IT GETS DARK AND ALL THEY
CAN SEE IS THE LOCK WALLS. IT'S VERY INTERESTING
EXPERIENCE. OUR HOLIDAY CRUISES, WE CRUISE FOR
THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS, NEW YEAR'S EVE. WE HAVE NEW YEAR'S
EVE PARTY AND WE USUALLY DO CRUISES FOR OLDER FOLKS WHO
DON'T WANT TO BE OUT LATE. WE HAVE NICE DINNER ON THAT
CRUISE. FOR THE LATE NIGHT GROUP, WE PRETTY MUCH DO THE
WILD PARTY THING. WE USUALLY HAVE A D.J. WITH ARDERVES. WE
HAVE A LOT OF FUN CRUISES ALSO. FOR THE KIDS, WE DO HO-HO
SANTA CRUZ. HE LANDS ON BOARD AND COMES DOWN AND ALL THE
KIDS GET A VISIT WITH SANTA. SIT ON SANTA'S LAP. SOME HAVE
COME BACK EVERY YEAR. WE'RE HERE IN ARKANSAS. WE'RE ON
LITTLE BIT MORE ELEGANT WITH OUR DINING FACILITIES AND OUR
OPEN AIR. WE CAN ACCOMMODATE OVER 300 PEOPLE ON THE BOAT.
IT'S A FUB THING TO DO. >> THAT IT IS. TAKE A CRUISE
FOR YOURSELF ABOARDS ARKANSAS QUEEN.
THIS MAY LOOK LIKE I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF
NOWHERE BUT ACTUALLY I'M JUST MINUTES AWAY FROM I-430 IN
WEST
LITTLE ROCK. TWO RIVERS PARK ACTUALLY BEGIN WITH
COMMUNITY GARDEN PARK BACK IN LATE '70S.
>> IT'S NATURAL BEAUTY. YOU DON'T FIND THIS IN THE
CENTER OF A URBANIZED AREA. AS A CONSULTANT LOOK AT IT,
THEY GAVE US THAT OPTION. THIS IS TWO RIVERS PARK ROAD.
OFF THAT, THE CITY BUILT A TRAIL THAT WENT DOWN TO THE
EASTERN POINT. THEN WE KEPT LOOKING AND KEPT THINKING. OUT
OF THAT THEME OF NATURAL PARK, WE DECIDED WE ADD SOME TRAILS
OR RIDE THEIR BIKES. THE CITY'S TRAIL IS ABOUT A MILE IN
A HALF, THREE MILE TRIP. WE
ADDED ANOTHER 4 MILES ANOTHER PROBABLY 3 OR 4 MILES OF ROCK
TRAIL. WE DIDN'T PUSH IT A LOT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE
FACILITY. THIS WESTERN ENTRANCE TOOK PEOPLE A LONG WAY
TO GET THERE. THEN WE HAD TO PLAN FOR THE BRIDGE AND WHEN
IT OPENED, PEOPLE WERE STREAMING OVER. NOW THEY
DISCOVERED, THEY WANT TO SEE MORE
AND MORE OF IT. >> I STARTED COMING OUT HERE
WITH CHARLIE WHEN HE WAS A LITTLE BITTY GUY. HE AT HOME
CAN BE VERY AGGRESSIVE. I COME OUT HERE SO HE CAN GET
SOME FRESH AIR AND RUN AROUND. HE'S BEEN COMING OUT HERE FOR
11 MONTHS SO HE CAN WALK. IT'S GOOD FOR NAP TIME, GOOD
BEFORE DINNER >> NOW YOU NEED TO GET A BIKE
AND JOIN. >> I DO. I GOT TO KEEP UP WITH
HIM. HE'S GETTING FASTER AND FASTER. I WILL GET
A BIKE ACTUALLY VERY SOON. >> WE'VE BEEN COMING SINCE THE
PARK OPEN. MY HUSBAND BRINGS BOYS OUT HERE AND THEY
GO BIKE RIDING. ANY TIME WE GET A FREE CHANCE, WE COME OUT
HERE. WE LOVE IT. >> IT'S KIND OF LIKE BEING OUT
IN THE COUNTRY EXCEPT YOU'RE STILL IN THE CITY.
>> I KNOW, IT IS. IT'S SOMETHING GREAT THAT LITTLE
ROCK HAS. I FEEL SO SAFE OUT HERE. WE JUST LOVE IT OUT
HERE. IT HAS A LOT TO OFFER. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF
SOMETHING LIKE THIS VERSUS TRYING TO RIDE A BIKE ON THE
STREET WITH CARS? >> I WOULD BE AFRAID TO RIDE ON
STREETS WITH CARS. WE STARTED ABOUT 4 WEEKS AGO,
RELATIVELY NEW RIDING. WE REALLY
ENJOY IT. NICE, RELAXING. >> WHERE DID YOU ALL GO BEFORE
ALL OF THIS WAS BUILT OUT HERE AND DEVELOPED?
>> DIDN'T DO TOO MUCH. ON AND OFF, WE WENT TO THE GYM
BUT MOSTLY OFF. WE BOTH TAUGHT SCHOOL AFTER WE GET HOME, WE
WOULD WANT TO GET OUT. >> NOW THIS OPENS UP A WHOLE
NEW OPPORTUNITY I GUESS FOR YOU ALL.
>> I RETIRED THIS YEAR. CHARLOTTE IS STILL WORKING.
WE
REALLY ENJOY IT. IT'S REALLY NICE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE
A PLACE LIKE THIS TO RIDE.
>> SO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITIES HERE
AT TWO RIVERS PARK IN WEST LITTLE ROCK AND FOR MORE INFO
ON THIS DESTINATION PLUS MANY OF
OUR OTHERS OR TO ORDER A COPY OF THE EPISODE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT THE WWW.AETN.ORG. WE'LL
SEE NEXT TIME FOR ANOTHER EXCITING ADVENTURE ON EXPLORING
ARKANSAS.