The Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL) is set to embark upon its 27th season of offering the finest in grassroots bass tournaments, and anglers will compete for more money than ever in 2006. The BFL will offer up to $8.6 million in prize money to anglers competing in 28 divisions nationwide, with registration kicking off Tuesday, Dec. 6.
Registration for the 2006 Wal-Mart BFL will take place by division, with start dates for each group of divisions spanning Dec. 6-12. Boaters who sign up with a paid co-angler entry by the priority entry deadline (and vice versa) will receive priority status.
Tournament entry fees remain $200 for the Boater Division and $100 for the Co-angler Division for the 2006 season, featuring $8.6 million in total payouts. Super Tournament entry fees for boaters and co-anglers will again be $300 and $150, respectively. Anglers will compete for a berth in the sport’s most prestigious championship for weekend anglers – the $1 million, no-entry-fee 2007 All-American.
Registration dates by division
• Registration for the Bulldog, Dixie, Everglades, Louisiana, Savannah River, Seminole and South Carolina divisions will begin Dec. 6.
• Registration for the Bama, Choo Choo, Cowboy, Gator, Mississippi, Music City and Okie divisions will begin Dec. 7.
• Registration for the Arkie, Empire, LBL, Mountain, Ozark, Piedmont and Shenandoah divisions will begin Dec. 8.
• Registration for the Buckeye, Great Lakes, Hoosier, Illini, Michigan, North Carolina and Northeast divisions will begin Dec. 12.
Rules, participating requirements and additional registration information
Specific tournament rules regarding the 2006 BFL season are as follows (click here for complete set of rules):
* Participation is open only to tournament members of FLW Outdoors who are 16 years of age or older. Any person entering a tournament under the age of majority must also have the signature of their parent or legal guardian in the provided space on the entry form.
* All contestants must have in their possession a valid fishing license.
* Entries for the 2006 season will be accepted on the applicable dates (Dec. 6-12 depending on division) beginning 8 a.m. Central time. A boater whose entry is received in-house at FLW Outdoors by the priority entry deadline and provides a co-angler with his/her membership number (whose entry is received in-house at FLW Outdoors by the priority entry deadline) will receive entry priority and, if accepted into the tournament, will be drawn with a co-angler. A co-angler whose entry is received in-house at FLW Outdoors by the priority entry deadline and provides a boater with his/her membership number (whose entry is received in-house at FLW Outdoors by the priority entry deadline) will receive entry priority. All others will be taken in order of entry (first come, first served).
* Note: Guaranteed status is given at the time both the boater and the co-angler are entered in the event and have listed each other’s names and membership numbers.
* Each tournament will have a total field of 400 contestants (unless state law mandates a smaller number of contestants). Entries received after the field has filled will be placed on a waiting list. Those placed on the waiting list and not accepted into the tournament will have their entry returned and will maintain Wild Card eligibility.
* Late entries will be accepted except for tournaments with a full field. Late entries must be accompanied by a $25 nonrefundable service charge and submitted no later than 7 p.m. local time (time at the tournament site) the day before the tournament.
* Entry fees may be transferred or refunded provided FLW Outdoors is notified by 5 p.m. Central time Tuesday, prior to Saturday’s tournament (FLW Outdoors business hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Central time); entry fees will not be transferred or refunded after Tuesday. There will be a $10 service charge for each refund of an entry fee.
* Chevy Wild Card eligibility – Contestants who pay an entry fee, prior to the tournament, in all five tournaments in a division and do not qualify for regional competition in any division will automatically qualify for the Chevy Wild Card Regional Tournament. Entry fees cannot be transferred or refunded to maintain eligibility (except for those on a waiting list).
* Division point standings – 200 points will be awarded to the winner of each qualifying tournament, 199 for 2nd, 198 for 3rd, etc. 300 points will be awarded to the winner of each Super Tournament, 299 for 2nd, 298 for 3rd, etc. All anglers who receive weight credit will receive points.
* The top 40 boaters and co-anglers from the year-end point standings from each division (ties resolved by total weight) will be invited to a Regional Championship and will receive priority entry status in their respective class for the 2007 Stren Series. If anyone in the top 40 is unable to attend a Regional Championship, the next person in the point standings may be invited.
* Boaters can win as much as $6,000 in every qualifying event and as much as $9,000 in every Super Tournament, plus lucrative contingency bonuses. Co-anglers can earn as much as $3,000 and $4,500, respectively, plus contingency bonuses.
Registration can be completed online by visiting FLWOutdoors.com or by contacting FLW Outdoors headquarters via phone or mail at:
FLW Outdoors
30 Gamble Lane
Benton, KY 42025
(270) 252-1000, phone
Related links:
Click here for a comprehensive list of information regarding the 2006 Wal-Mart BFL, including entry fees, official rules, tournament formats and an electronic version of the league brochure (Acrobat Reader required to view brochure – free download available). Click here to access online registration services.