FLW Tour Pros Cochran, Strader Headline Team Walmart

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Oct 28, 2010, 04:59 ET

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- FLW Outdoors announced that pro fishermen George Cochran and Wesley Strader will represent Team Walmart on the 2011 Walmart FLW Tour. Serving as brand ambassadors, Cochran and Strader will compete against the world's greatest bass anglers from Walmart-wrapped Ranger boats pulled by matching Chevy tow vehicles.

"I'm real excited to be back on their team," said Cochran, a true legend of the sport. "Some of the happiest times I've had while fishing was when I was wearing their logo. I'm honored to represent them."

Cochran, one of only five anglers in history to win both the prestigious Forrest Wood Cup and Bassmaster Classic, has earned more than $2 million in his career. In 2005 he won the Cup and a $500,000 payday on his home waters of Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Ark. A consummate veteran of the sport, Cochran has fished the FLW Tour since it was formed in 1996. With a Tour stop on Arkansas' Beaver Lake and the Forrest Wood Cup taking place on Lake Ouachita practically in his backyard, Cochran will undoubtedly be one to watch in 2011.

Strader has proven to be one of the most consistent anglers on the FLW Tour over the course of his career. He has qualified for the Forrest Wood Cup 10 times and registered 28 top-10 finishes in FLW Outdoors tournaments while amassing nearly $1 million in career earnings.

"It's an honor to be associated with a company that's done so much for bass fishing. It's an honor and a blessing," said Strader. "I've never thought of myself as above anybody else, but to be right there beside George -- he's right up there with my heroes like Larry Nixon and Denny Brauer. I mean, they're my heroes. I grew up watching them and wanted to be just like them."

FLW Outdoors announced this summer at the Forrest Wood Cup in Atlanta that it has agreed to a long-term sponsorship with Walmart, with the retail giant becoming the title sponsor of FLW Outdoors in 2011. This new partnership will serve as a key component in combining several marketing and promotional opportunities including, but not limited to, Walmart in-store product marketing and promotions, retailtainment at fishing tournaments and at Walmart stores, and advertising and marketing through FLW Outdoors' worldwide media owned outlets.

Walmart began its sponsorship of FLW Outdoors in 1997, which served as the first of its kind for the sport of bass fishing.

ABOUT FLW OUTDOORS

FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world offering anglers worldwide the opportunity to compete for millions over the course of 189 tournaments in 2010. FLW Outdoors has also taken fishing mainstream with FLW Fantasy Fishing awarding the largest prizes in the history of fantasy sports. FLW Outdoors memberships are available featuring numerous benefits including Player's Advantage. For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FantasyFishing.com.

FLWOutdoors.com

SOURCE FLW Outdoors