ALEXANDER CITY, Ala. (Nov. 9, 2002) - FLW Outdoors and the FishAmerica Foundation are again helping Lake Martin maintain its status as a first-rate fishery by donating $5,000 toward the purchase of a new motor for the lake's fish-release boat stationed at Wind Creek State Park. The boat, purchased last year by FLW Outdoors and FishAmerica as a thank you to Alabama's cleanest fishery, is available to all tournament organizers and was used during the 2002 EverStart Series Championship held there Nov. 6-9.
"Lake Martin is an incredible fishery that we always look forward to visiting," said Charlie Hoover, president and CEO of FLW Outdoors. "We're proud that the release boat has been put to good use on Lake Martin, and we're glad to join the FishAmerica Foundation in providing a new motor and general maintenance funds for the boat."
The Alabama Conservation and Natural Resources Foundation of Montgomery, Ala., uses the FLW Outdoors/FishAmerica release boat to evenly redistribute bass in Lake Martin following tournament weigh-ins at Wind Creek State Park in Alexander City, Ala.
Wind Creek State Park, which is part of the Alabama Bass Trail, is the largest public facility on Lake Martin. Like other Alabama Bass Trail venues, it features accommodations, facilities and activities to compliment every fishing outing from weekend getaways to the nation's premier bass tournaments. Approximately 25 tournaments, often with more than 200 anglers, launch from the park each year. Before the release boat was donated, bass were released back into the lake at the marina, which is located almost two miles from the main river channel. Thanks to the release boat, tournament fish are now redistributed into the main river channel.
"FLW Outdoors and FishAmerica are excellent conservation partners," said Carl Scardina, park promotions and marketing supervisor for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. "We can always count on these organizations to be good stewards of our state's natural resources."
The FishAmerica Foundation is the conservation and research projects arm of the American Sportfishing Association. They have poured more than $6 million into 668 fishery enhancement projects in all 50 states and Canada over 18 years.
For more information on the FishAmerica Foundation, visit the American Sportfishing Association Web site at asafishing.org. For more information on FLW Outdoors, visit flwoutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.