Ranger Pro David Dudley Wins FLW Tour Angler of the Year
OutdoorHub 08.01.11
FLIPPIN, Ark. (Aug 1, 2011) – David Dudley’s professional resume grew even more impressive on July 23 when the longtime Ranger Pro secured the second FLW Tour Angler of the Year Award of his career by virtue of his 11th-place finish on Pickwick Lake.
Coupling his tournament winnings with his $100,000 Angler of the Year prize, Dudley moved his career earnings mark to $2.6 million at Pickwick, while also becoming the third FLW Tour angler to win multiple Angler of the Year titles. Fellow Ranger Pros Clark Wendlandt (2009, 2000, 1997) and Jay Yelas (2007, 2002) are the only other FLW Tour pros to accomplish the feat. Dudley, whose first Angler of the Year Award came in 2008, is now the founding member of a new club as the only FLW Tour pros with multiple Angler of the Year Awards as well as a Forrest Wood Cup Championship (2003).
The 2011 FLW Tour Angler of the Year race went down to the wire, with Dudley and fellow Ranger Pro, Brent Ehrler, battling for the coveted award. Knowing he had to finish Day 3 of the Pickwick event near the Top 10 to secure the title, Dudley found himself fishing the same area as Ehrler, who went on to fish the final day, finishing in 10th place.
“Well, I think all fishermen will agree it’s the most prestigious title out there, and anytime you can get that belt, that title, it’s something to be proud of,” said Dudley, who edged Ehrler by 15 points in the Angler of the Year standings. “This one was a battle. Me and (fellow Ranger Pro) Brent (Ehrler) were fishing the same area together and we were exchanging blows. He’s so good, I knew I couldn’t slip up.”
Dudley will be the No. 1 seed for the Forrest Wood Cup Championship August 11-14 on Lake Ouachita in Hot Springs, Ark. The Forrest Wood Cup Championship will pay $500,000 to the winner plus an additional $100,000 Ranger Cup contingency (to qualifying anglers), which would push Dudley’s career earnings well over the extremely rare $3 million mark.
“What David has accomplished on the water in the last decade has been nothing short of amazing and has included a pair of Angler of the Year awards, the Ranger M1 championship and a Forrest Wood Cup championship,” said Ranger Boats President, Randy Hopper. “We congratulate David on another career milestone and are proud of our entire family of competitive anglers. Their contributions to the sport of fishing and Ranger product development continue to help us set the highest standards.”
