Bass and Barbeque Competition Added to 2015 Fishing Expo in Hot Springs

Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) is adding some Arkansas flavor to the 2015 Forrest Wood Cup with its Bass & BBQ competition as part of the FLW Expo outside the Hot Springs Convention Center and Bank of the Ozarks Arena in Hot Springs, Ark., August 22 and 23. The 30 barbecue competition is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society and will be part of a year-long points race to find the best barbecue in the country.During the two-day barbecue event, fans will have the opportunity to taste barbecue from some of the top competing teams in the country. A $5 donation will give fans five tickets to redeem for pulled pork and rib samples from teams competing. All fans who buy sampling tickets will help determine the Fishermen’s Favorite Award, which goes to the team that collects the most votes.

Awards will be presented before the Forrest Wood Cup weigh-ins Saturday and Sunday at the Bank of the Ozarks Arena. The total payout for the two-day competition is $10,000.

“Fans who come out to the Forrest Wood Cup this year are in for a real treat,” said Steve Arrison, Chief Executive Officer of Visit Hot Springs. “We’ve got great fishing, great music and great barbecue, and it is going to make for one awesome week.”

The FLW Expo and Bass & BBQ event are free and open to the public Friday, August 21 – Sunday, August 23 from 10 a.m. – 4: 30 p.m. Live concerts will also be part of the Bass & BBQ festival outside Saturday and Sunday, with country music superstar Justin Moore headlining the event with a free show on Sunday at 4 p.m. before the final weigh-in.

The Forrest Wood Cup, presented by Walmart, the world championship of bass fishing, will visit Lake Ouachita to crown bass fishing’s top angler of 2015. Hosted by Visit Hot Springs and Arkansas Parks and Tourism, the tournament will feature 50 of the world’s best bass-fishing professionals and co-anglers casting for the sport’s biggest awards – $500,000 cash in the pro division and $50,000 cash in the co-angler division. For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing and for regular updates go to their Facebook page or Twitter.