GILBERTSVILLE, Ky (May 13, 1999) – After two days of competition in Operation Bass’ EverStart Series bass tournament on Kentucky Lake, the top 30 anglers in the professional and co-angler divisions have advanced to the second round of competition tomorrow and will compete for one day only to determine the final field of 10 anglers from each division who will move on to the championship round on Saturday.
The event is the fourth Eastern Division tournament of the second-year, 10-venue EverStart Series of bass tournaments that will award anglers over $1.8 million in cash and prizes during 1999. The series provides a pathway for top anglers to advance to the prestigious Wal-Mart FLW Tour professional bass series, the $4 million, seven-event tour that is the most lucrative series in fishing history. The winning angler in the professional
and co-angler division, along with the top 10 anglers based on points and pounds for the year, will receive priority entry into the Wal-Mart FLW Tour professional bass fishing tournaments in 2000.
On Friday, the top 30 anglers from the pro and co-angler divisions will fish for one day, with the 10 anglers from each division, determined by that day’s total weight, advancing to Saturday’s final round. The pro anglers are competing for a first place prize consisting of $10,000 and a Ranger bass boat powered by Evinrude. Co-anglers are competing for a first prize of $5,000. In Saturday’s final round, the anglers start over, fishing for one day, with the winner determined by that day’s total catch weight. Friday’s weigh-in will be held at Moors marina beginning at 3:00 p.m. Saturday’s weigh-in will be located at the Benton, Kentucky, Wal-Mart starting at 4:00 p.m.
The highest-finishing Ranger boat owner in the tournament will qualify to enter the $3.5 million Ranger M1 Millennium tournament, the richest bass event in history, with a $1 million first-place cash prize at stake. The Ranger owner who catches the largest bass in each division over the course of the season will also qualify for the Ranger Millennium tournament.
The EverStart Series consists of eight regular events, four in the Central and four in the Eastern Division, and two EverStart Challenge tournaments. The Challenge events, one per division, feature the same format as the Wal-Mart FLW Tour tournaments.
The 1999 EverStart Series features a pay back of $120,900 in cash and prizes to the top 30 Pros in each regular event, and $216,800 to pros in the EverStart Challenge events. Each of the eight regular EverStart events feature total cash and prizes of $154,100 including an Evinrude-equipped Ranger bass boat.
EverStart™ batteries are marketed exclusively through Wal-Mart stores. EverStart is the world’s largest recycler of batteries. Sponsors of the EverStart Series bass tournaments include: EverStart Batteries, Chevy Trucks, CITGO Petroleum, Ranger Boats, Evinrude Outboards and Electrics, Black & Decker, Coca-Cola, Coleman, Eveready, Land O’Lakes, Mitchell, SpiderWire, Uniroyal, Wal-Mart, Chex Mix, Hamburger Helper, Wrangler, US Bank-VISA, and Wheaties.