GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. – In order to meet broadening demand among the nation’s bass anglers, Operation Bass has widened the pathway to the prestigious Wal-Mart FLW Tour by introducing a new four-event division to the popular EverStart Series.
The addition of a new Northern Division extends the reach of the four-year-old series into an area of the country that previously had plenty of bass anglers but few professional bass tournaments.
“There are more bass fishermen in the North than you think there are,” said Irwin Jacobs, Operation Bass chairman. “Many of them have to travel a thousand miles to fish a tournament. Now we’re bringing it closer to them.”
A report published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that 32 percent of bass anglers live in the New England, Middle Atlantic and East North Central regions of the country – areas that include states like New York, Massachusetts, Ohio and Wisconsin. The East North Central region, which covers Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, alone accounts for 18 percent of bass anglers. Only the South Atlantic region (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, etc.) is home to more bass fishing enthusiasts.
“I think our tournaments are going to very successful up North,” said Jerry Stakely, EverStart tournament director. “Fishing is one of the fastest growing sports in America, and we are going to give a lot of bass anglers the opportunity to be successful while competing in the sport they love.”
Not only will the 2001 EverStart Series award more than $2.5 million to anglers through 12 qualifying events worth $185,000 each and a year-end, $325,000 championship, it will also provide top anglers an opportunity to advance to the $4.45 million Wal-Mart FLW Tour – bass fishing’s big leagues.
The top 10 anglers from the EverStart Eastern, Northern and Central divisions qualify to compete in the full 2002 FLW Tour series where they could win up to $250,000 in a single event. Rankings are based on a points system that awards 200 points for a win, 199 points for second, 198 points for third and so on. Points are awarded at all four qualifying events per division.
Each EverStart tournament features a professional and co-angler (amateur) division to accommodate the skill level of all anglers. Tournament winners and the top 50 pros and co-anglers from the Eastern, Northern and Central divisions will earn a spot in the EverStart Series Championship on Pickwick Lake in Florence, Ala. There, the winning pro will go home with a Ranger boat and $25,000 cash. The winning co-angler will leave with a Johnson-powered Ranger boat and $10,000 cash.
Each qualifying event features a first place award of $15,000 and a Johnson-powered Ranger boat in the Pro Division. First place in the Co-Angler Division is $6,000. Pro entry fees are $600, and co-angler entry fees are $200.
Qualifying events includes four days of competition. A full field of 165 pros and 165 co-anglers compete for two days in the opening round after which the fields are reduced to the top 30. Weights from the opening round are cleared, and the top 30 anglers from each division start over in the semi-final round and fish for one day. Only the top 10 anglers in each division advance to the final round. Anglers start over on the final day, and the winners are determined by the weight of that day’s catch. The final weigh-in at each tournament is held at a local Wal-Mart store.
The 2001 EverStart Series includes stops at: Eastern Division – Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston, Fla., Feb. 7-10; Lake Eufaula, Eufaula, Ala., Feb. 28-March 3; Lake Santee Cooper, Manning, S.C., March 28-31; and Kerr Lake, Henderson, N.C., May 30-June 2. Central Division – Fort Gibson Lake, Wagoner, Okla., March 7-10; Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Jasper, Texas, April 4-7; Kentucky Lake, Gilbertsville, Ky., May 2-5; and Lake Ferguson, Greenville, Miss., June 6-9. Northern Division – Mississippi River, La Crosse, Wis., June 13-16; Thousand Islands (Lake Ontario), Clayton, New York, July 25-28; Sandusky Bay (Lake Erie), Sandusky, Ohio, Aug. 22-25; and Lake Erie, Detroit, Mich., Sept. 26-29. EverStart Championship – Pickwick Lake, Florence, Ala., Nov. 7-10.
Sponsors of the 2001 EverStart Series are Alpo pet food, BFGoodrich Tires, Black and Decker, Chevy Trucks, Citgo, Coleman, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, Frito Lay, Fujifilm, Garmin, Kellogg’s, Land O’Lakes, Mercury Marine, Minn Kota, Pepsi, Plano Tackle Systems, Poulan, Ranger Boats, Shop-Vac, Snickers Cruncher, Timex, US Bank, Visa, Wal-Mart, Weed Eater, Wrangler and Yamaha.
EverStart Batteries are marketed exclusively through Wal-Mart stores. EverStart is the number one selling battery in the world. Operation Bass Inc. runs the EverStart Series, Wal-Mart FLW Tour and the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League.
With potential awards of $12.7 million through 139 bass tournaments in 2001, Operation Bass leads the industry in cash awards to anglers.