GILBERTSVILLE, Ky., When the 200 anglers in the Ranger Millennium bass tournament’s. Professional Division and the 200 anglers in the Co-Angler Division converge on the 14 lakes that comprise the Winter Haven chain near Cypress Gardens in Florida, they will be competing for a share of the largest cash purse ever offered in a bass tournament in the history of competitive angling a potential $3.64 million, with the Pro Division winner receiving up to $1 million.
Irrespective of the outcome, the event, presented by Wal-Mart, will pay competitors close to $1million, with an additional $2.3 million available in sponsor bonus cash. The winner of the Pro Division will take home the largest first place cash award in competitive bass angling history, $400,000, with the potential to pick up $600,000 more. The winning co-angler will snare a guaranteed $150,000, with the opportunity to take home an additional $250,000.
Five sponsors will provide up to $2.34 million in bonus cash to anglers meeting the bonus cash criteria for the most lucrative bass fishing event ever held. Ranger Boats could pay out $548,000, while CITGO, Evinrude Outboards, Watkins, and Garmin each could award anglers an additional $448,000.
To be eligible for the sponsor bonus cash, anglers were required to adhere to specific standards set by each individual sponsor. The standards must be met prior to the angler qualifying for the Ranger Millennium M1 event. In the event an angler failed to meet the standards set out by an individual bonus cash sponsor, he/she would be ineligible for that particular contingency program. Anglers who met all of the sponsor bonus cash requirements will receive a minimum cash award equal to the entry fee they paid to enter the M1 tournament, regardless of their finish in the event. Anglers entered in the Pro Division of the Ranger Millennium tournament paid a $5,000 entry fee, co-anglers paid an entry fee of $2,500.
The sponsors of the bonus cash program include: Ranger Boats, CITGO, Evinrude Outboards and Electrics, Garmin, and Watkins. Associate sponsors of the Ranger Millennium M1 bass tournament include: Black & Decker, Coca-Cola, EverStart Batteries, Eveready Flashlights, Land O’ Lakes, Wheaties, Hamburger Helper, Chex Mix, Fujifilm, Uniroyal, Wrangler, Coleman, Chevy Trucks, Fenwick, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Timex, and US Bank-VISA. Wal-Mart is the presenting sponsor.
The bonus cash contingency programs are as follows:
Ranger:
A new Ranger Comanche series model must have been purchased from an authorized Ranger dealer after July 1, 1996.
Evinrude:
A new Ficht powered outboard motor must have been purchased from an authorized Johnson or Evinrude dealer after July 1, 1996.
CITGO:
Participants must have purchased a total of $1,000 in CITGO Cash cards directly from CITGO corporate prior to the time of qualification.
Watkins:
Participants must have purchased a minimum of $500 worth of Watkins products at retail prices prior to qualification for the event.
Garmin:
Participants must have purchased a minimum of $500.(retail value) of Garmin products. The purchase must include one of the following products: Garmin Fishfinder 160 or Garmin Fishfinder 240. The products must have been purchased new from an authorized Garmin retailer prior to qualification for the event.