Is it true that a notice was circulated prior to the tournament that FLW/Ranger was not guaranteeing the contingency boat to the pro winner? This is a rumor I heard from a pro that was at the tournament. I would like to know if this is true, and if so...the details. Thanks.

well the flw site says he won 25k cash and ranger boat....

Like the post says, I would like to know if a notice was circulated by the staff that said the boat was not guaranteed. Thanks to anyone who might know about this.

really guy "like the post says"???

call Flw then, cause nothing but rumors have been coming out of zapata this past weekend

I watched the final weigh-in, and cannot believe that a lake can produce 13 foot waves. Further more that a bass boat would ever survive in them be-it a Ranger or any other brand! Seems like the whole sales pitch gets worse than the boatramp fishing stories. Guy actually said he launched some 26 feet into the air while the boat was trying to barroll roll, come on man. This tourney should have been cancelled; and reschedueled. The edwin fitzgerald couldnt even with stand that beating!

I was there and it was very bad. There were no 13 foot waves but very big ones! The guy I fished with on the second day had a ranger and I will admit it cruised right through them ! Congrats to Mike Yoder on a very very tuff win!! Way to go man, my hats off to you. There were some big bags but nothing like it should have been. THEY SHOULD HAVE CANCELLED IT!
Ron anounced the payout at the pre tourn. meeting and the boat was in the list and he won it 65,600 w/ BB to.

I fished Falcon during the Flw and will state the followin FACTS...

1. Danny and Luigi from D&D (both good friends) did in fact have his seadoo boat stolen from the Mexican shore, south of mile marker 1. The boater and co angler had problems (can't recall truth to hearing so many stories, sry), they were huddled cold and soaking wet in Mexico, Danny decided to beach his boat in a protected cove just north of that creek, so there boat wouldn't get beached during the rescue. They proceded to walk to the stranded fisherman, during this time their watercraft was stolen. The border patrol assisted in this rescue by water and helicopter. Due to border regulations "I will not elaberate", but will thank them for all they did to help my fellow fisherman.

2. We all knew this weather fron. Had some viscious wind and knew our risk, with that said I do feel that Flw could have handled it "slightly" differently, but as Mr Laplin stated and has stated this in many tournaments in my short career, " if you don't feel comfortable going out onto the main lake, stay and fish this creek, there are no rules saying you have to run to the dam"

3. I personally ran to the mild marker 2 area both days and will say that there were indeed waves topping the 6-9 ft mark, I have been on many lakes such as Lake Erie and Champliain that are known for very ruff seas, so I have seen
waves in the 14-18 ft catagory.

4. I have had my Ranger Z520 filled to the top cap with water once and as my billge pimps tried to kick out the massive amounts of water another wave would just roll onto the front deck of the boat, the key is to turn your boat into the trough so ur bow will not submarine into the next wave. I also ran basscats for a few years in the begining and had it filled compleatly up on my first to lake Erie, it's motor was just about compleatly submerged and would still run? My point is neither boat sank, but I have witnesses several go down? The best thing on my ranger is it's upright floatation, this is key to keeping ur boat afloat.

5. There was an individual who lost his motor the second day, it sank to the bottom of the lake after it's motor mounts snapped.

6. IT WAS SUPER COLD!!!!!!!!!

I hope thus helps clear up a few things and hope everyone is enjoying the cowboys whooping up on the eagles

dont wanna come off wrong with this but..... this is a 8-10ft wave i cant see that happening on falcon, anyway glad everyone is safe..

Good post Cody. I sure hope they find their boat.

Yes, it was COLD!!! Some of the guys had been down there for a week and actually didn't bring enough warm clothes with them. They weren't anticipating what we got down there. Just try and find a set of thermals, insulated overalls or hand warmers in Zapata!

Believe me.... If you weren't there to see them from the seat of the boat like we were, why question the guys that fought them? They were only 4 to 6 on some parts of the lake. But, they were definitely 10 on some areas, according to my friends that crashed through them and then kissed the ground when they got on shore.

Cody at least you did not try to barroll-row your boat, I was at Lake livingston durring RITA and never saw 13 foot waves! 6-8 all day long, and their is not a bass boat made that would have withstanded that beating. Needless to say the winds were 75MPH plus! I believe in supporting a sponsor but don't let the fishing stories carry over to internet endorsements! By the way how far did you travel in your bullet proof bass boat? If you really want to sea 13 ft waves google HAWAII NORTH SHORE PIPELINE! Then you will have a clue as to wave size.........

I can understand how some would not believe that there are 7,8,9,10 foot waves on Texas lakes. Most people will never see them, unless they are tournament anglers. Your average fair-weather anglers stay off the lakes in this type of weather//certainly big water like Toledo/Falcon/Amistad.

I was at MM 28 in the 07 Amistad event when the front blew in. We fished up there all day, and drove all the way back during the final hours of the tournament. I can tell you that the waves I saw that day were 8-9 foot, if they were an inch tall. When you are in a 21 foot boat, and you climb a wave that is certainly more than half the length of that said boat//you will understand what these fellows just went through.

Not any fun, and sure as heck isn't good for your ride. Glad nobody drown down there at Falcon. Stren sure couldnt afford for that kind of press, surely not in this economic climate.

first off the waves in the lake and this break wave are totally diff. second off waves come in sets and when the lake is rolling 6-8footers there are 8-10 there. im not plugging ranger on here just stating everything i saw and clearing up a few different rummors.

I say that cause I have had lil 18ft hooptie ranger out on amistad and choke canyon last yr in 20-40mph winds and rain in bass champs and had to make a run(idle) to get back to safe water encountering some 4-6ft waves which scared the u know what out of me..

livingston is not quite as large as falcon, since we had a north wind and the lake is running north to south, they were havinguaround 18 miles to gather mommentum and size

Lets say the weather made it tough to get around the lake. I watched on the internet they brought some nice sacks in.Today you could see who the person was. Yesterday they were all bundle up.Good job guys. Main thing everyone made it back.

I wasn't at the tournament or know of any notices but this was a new item last week in BASSFAN before the final bankruptcy sale. Notice that it does not clarify if it applies to the 2009 or 2010 season.

FLW and the Ranger contract 1/6/2010
Genmar recently filed an interesting series of documents with the Minnesota Bankruptcy Court. In simple terms, the documents lay out which contracts and obligations a buyer will assume. In some cases where an obligation won't be assumed, the documents list a cure amount. These cure amounts are most common for manufacturer reps who are presumably owed money.

What's especially interesting is the documents specify that the eventual buyer will not assume Ranger's "prior sponsorship agreement" with FLW Outdoors, listed as $759,000.

It's not clear whether that's a reference to Ranger's 2009 or 2010 sponsor contract.

Also of note is that several Ranger Cup and sponsor-boat obligations from 2009 weren't designated as "assume" or "not assume." The column was simply left blank, with a cure amount listed as $0. Examples there include approximately $17,000 for the Silverado Bass Tour, $56,000 for the Masters Walleye Circuit, $16,000 for the Sun Country Bass Tour and $5,000 for the Illinois TBF.

Length to width Id say falcon is a pond, Livigston is an ocean compared to 3/4 of allmost all texas lakes. Last I checked just the lake is 90,000 acres not including the slimy river that runs too Dallas! How big is falcon again, it barely shows up on google map. Don't crucify me im just havin alittle fun with the 13ft waves ranger thing here!

I have only been to Falcon once, but i saw 4 to 6 foot waves down by the dam with just a 20 mph north wind. I can only imagine what it looks like with 30 to 40 mph winds. I fish Texoma mostly and i know what big waves look like, and Falcon gets BIG WAVES.

kingschamp, its all good, i havent fished livingston and was thinking of a nother body of water, lol sry for the incorrect info.

another fact is oso blanco was very nice and comfortable, suffecient parking and pretty clean outside and great inside..
i also planned for it to b warm and only packed 2 pair of pants, lol i did have two sets of bibs and parka jackets, no gloves, lost my helmet(ug, im a tard, lol) one pair of wool socks, threw em in the fire due to the stinch and luckly found my duck hunting fleece under wear and three cold weather under aurmors and 4 ranger jackets, i wore/took theme all evryday incase is speared one or feel in while trying to sit out and fish foundations. isolated trees.

You may want to rethink this so called 8-10 wave. Lets analyze this just a bit. Lets say this guy is 6 feet tall. you can stack him on top of himself easily and now you have 12 feet. This is just from his board. Talk a lookat below his board and way out in front. where it is flat. take a parallel line and you have at least another 3 feet. all this comes to 15 foot wave and is subjtect to a few adjustments.

Good to be home im sure, I have Rayburn next weekend. I can only imagine how the weather will change by then! 13 ft waves im going home.......

pic was courtesy of google, they said it was a 8-10ft wave...

king champ no need to doubt the anglers that were there. I was there and fished at the dam. The waves were 8-10 footers it took some exseptional driving on my partners part to get us back alive. I have fished livingston many times and trust me falcon gets a whole lot worse

i fished stren... the waves were ridiculous and i was only mid-lake. i can easily imagine 10-13 footers down by the dam.

why comment if you weren't there?