Huntersville, NC—  About 400 of the best anglers in the world compete at the "FLW National Guard Open Fishing Tournament" on Lake Norman April 24-27, 2008. This event is hosted by Visit Lake Norman, Visit Charlotte, and the Charlotte Sports Commission. The tournament is part of the Wal-Mart FLW Tour.  The total purse for the Lake Norman event is $1.5 million.

Each morning at about 6:30, boats will launch from Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department's Blythe Landing, 15901 NC Highway 73, Huntersville, NC. Weigh-ins will also be at Blythe Landing at 3pm April 24-25 and at the Charlotte Convention Center at 3pm on April 26-27.  The competition will be to see who can catch the greatest total poundage of Bass.

The tournament will feature anglers from 37 states, Mexico, Italy, Spain, Australia and Japan.  They will compete for top awards of $200,000 cash in the Pro Division and $40,000 cash in the Co-angler Division. This event is also the third stop of the year for the most lucrative fantasy sports league in history, FLW Fantasy Fishing™, which offers total awards of $7.3 million, including $100,000 cash guaranteed to the top Fantasy Fishing player following every FLW Tour stop and the Forrest Wood Cup.

Spectator parking for the event at Blythe Landing will be in the Palace Cinema parking lot at Kenton Place off of West Catawba Ave.  A free shuttle on Thursday and Friday, 1pm – 6pm, will carry spectators to Blythe Landing.

TV coverage of this tournament will be broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States as part of the "FLW Outdoors" television programs airing June 15 and June 22.

For more information call Park and Recreation Manager Stephanie Frisbee at (704) 896-9808.