8/15/2007

Scott Suggs to chat online with fishing fans on Aug. 20

BRYANT – Scott Suggs of Bryant became an instant millionaire recently by winning the FLW Cup bass tournament on LakeOuachita, and he will chat online with interested anglers in a few days.

Participation in FLW Live Reel Chat is simple. At the start of the live chat on Monday, Aug. 20, visitors can log on shortly before 2 p.m. CDT to www.FLWOutdoors.com and start submitting questions. During the chat, fishing fans will be able to talk directly to Suggs about his career, his recent Forrest L. Wood Cup victory, what it’s like to make bass-fishing history or anything else that comes to mind.

Suggs, an electrical contractor by trade, has only fished the FLW Tour since 2005 and barely got into the FLWP Cup field this year, but he has already notched three top-10 finishes – including his most recent and dramatic $1 million win at the FLW Cup in Hot Springs Aug. 2-5. Suggs’ victory in Hot Springs has earned him appearances on “CNN Headline News” and other national media events.

“Growing up, I never thought I’d see the day when a bass fisherman would have the chance to win $1 million, much less that I’d be the first to do such a thing,” Suggs said. “I can’t even come up with the words to describe what this means. I can’t even really wrap my head around it.”

Suggs had a strong rookie season on the FLW Tour, finishing no lower than 32^nd in the last four regular-season events of 2005. His highest finish was a sixth-place effort on WheelerLake in Florence, Ala., and his consistency earned him a spot in the 2005 Forrest Wood Cup, where he placed a respectable 19^th.

After a disappointing 2006 season in which he finished no higher than 44^th, Suggs returned in 2007 more determined than ever to land his first FLW Tour victory. He came close at the third event of the season – the National Guard Open on LakeNorman in Charlotte, N.C. – with a top-five finish, but fell short of victory on the final day. Suggs wrapped up the season ranked 42^nd on the FLW Tour and squeaked into the Forrest Wood Cup, which normally takes just the top 40 FLW Tour anglers. Since some competitors had double qualified through the FLW Series, however, Suggs was bumped up the list.

He made the most of the opportunity to fish his home waters of LakeOuachita, the site of his only prior FLW Outdoors win, a 1997 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League victory worth $4,032.