Rogers Angles Fishing Tourneys, Lures Tourists

Rogers capitalizes on the 28,000 acres of nearby Beaver Lake to attract tourists and generate income.

The Rogers Convention and Visitors Bureau, the office dedicated to attracting tourism and marketing Rogers as a destination, estimates that 1,800 people will attend its three sponsored fishing tourneys this year.

Bethany Mallett Stephens, director of the CVB, said the Wal-Mart FLW Tour will lure about 1,000 anglers and visitors.

She said the FLW estimates a direct economic impact of about $4.6 million on the community, based on its various multipliers. The FLW number includes factors such as forklift and porta potty rentals, she said.

But the Bureau uses a more conservative state-averaged multiplier of $137.50 spent per person per day on gas, food, lodging and entertainment to estimate impact in a more direct fashion.

Rogers also hosts the Central Pro-Am and, for the first time this year, the Heartland Pro-Am. Stephens estimates that each of those events will attract about 400 people.

With that number, both the Central Pro-Am and the Heartland Pro-Am will generate about $165,000 in immediate income for the local economy.

The CVB invests about $15,000 to secure the FLW tournament, which was held in Bentonville just a few years ago, she said.

But it’s not all rods and reels in Rogers.

Stephens said softball tournaments, arts and crafts fairs, business meetings and conventions and Razorback games all contribute to the tourism trade in the city.

“I would say that fishing tournaments can frequently be our bread and butter,” Stephens said. “They are reliable, consistent, easy to work with and great for the local economy. We tend to work to pursue other types of business because we are a destination with many wonderful things to offer in addition to Beaver Lake, but bass tournaments are a positive thing for us to hang our hats on in Rogers.”

Stephens said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the agency responsible for the management of Beaver Lake, has received a $750,000 federal grant to improve some of the parks surrounding the lake.

Mike Richards, chief park ranger of recreation for Beaver Lake, said Prairie Creek Park, the area in which the Prairie Creek Marina is located, will receive a great deal of attention in the upgrade. The marina is a concession within the park and is the major launching spot for large tournaments.

Improvements include more parking capacity, flush toilets and fewer recreational services near the boat launch area, he said.

Recreation and playground equipment will be moved to better complement camping areas in the park.

Some fishing tournaments scheduled for Beaver Lake this year include:

• Central Pro-Am, March 4-6

• Wal-Mart FLW Tour, April 13-16

• Children’s Miracle Network, April 17

• Buddy Bass Tournament, May 7

• Heartland Pro-Am, May 13-14

Call the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at (479) 636-1210 for more information on the various fishing tournaments at Beaver Lake throughout the spring and summer.