Our Arkansas fishing blog will keep you up to date with news, events and great fishing information in The Natural State.
Famous Arkansan: Forrest Wood
June 7, 2010 12:02 AM
Several well-known
people have roots in Arkansas. The list runs the gamut from Johnny Cash to
Jermain Taylor. Check here every Monday as we highlight a new Famous Arkansan each week. Today,
Meet: Forrest Wood
Zoie Clift
travelarkansas@gmail.com
Born in 1933 and raised in
Flippin, Forrest Wood is well known in bass fishing circles. He founded Wood
Manufacturing Company and designed the Ranger Boat, America's No. 1 bass boat.
He produced his first custom-built boat in 1968.
Among his many accomplishments
in the bass-boat manufacturing industry are the use of steel conduit to encase
electrical wiring, level flotation, now required in all small outboard boats by
the Coast Guard, aerated live wells to allow catch and release without harming
fish and the use of powerful engines.
The bass tournament arm of Wood Manufacturing
(the FLW Tour) is named after him.
Hot Springs has been chosen for the location
of the Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing, August 11-14
2011 on Lake Ouachita.