New tournament format, registration deadlines and larger purses comprise just some of the highlights
In a bid to increase excitement, tournament purses, media exposure and competition, FLW Outdoors has implemented a number of significant and compelling changes for the 2003 FLW Tour season.
For openers, FLW anglers who own Champion, Javelin and Stratos boats will follow Ranger boat owners in receiving priority tournament registration throughout the 2003 FLW Tour season. In addition, Champion, Javelin and Stratos will now be joining the FLW Tour as associate sponsors, a partnership which should help to expand fishing, marketing and media exposure opportunities for thousands of established and up-and-coming anglers alike.
“The Wal-Mart FLW Tour is without a doubt the most prestigious and lucrative tournament circuit ever,” Gary Clouse, president of Champion and Stratos, said. “Champion and Stratos boats are proud to be a part of it.”
Specifically, FLW registration dates for the 2003 season are as follows:
* Top 100 FLW finishers during the 2002 season – Monday, Sept. 9 at 8 a.m. CST.
* Top 10 EverStart finishers in each of the Eastern and Central divisions during the 2002 season – Monday, Sept. 9 at 8 a.m. CST.
* Top 10 EverStart finishers in the Northern Division – Registration dates to be announced following the completion of the 2002 regular season.
* Ranger boat owners – Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 8 a.m. CST.
* Champion, Stratos and Javelin boat owners – Monday, Sept. 23 at 8 a.m. CST.
* All other entries – Thursday, Sept. 26 at 8 a.m. CST.
(Note – Anglers who enter all six FLW regular season tournaments by Sept. 30 will receive top priority.)
For online registration, click here.
Payout bonanza
Fans and anglers will undoubtedly find a wealth of excitement in the increased purses available throughout the 2003 FLW season as well. Nowhere is this change more profound than the 2003 Jacobs Cup where the overall tournament purse has been boosted to $1.5 million – a full $700,000 more than the previous season. First-place prize money for the Jacobs Cup in the Pro Division will also jump measurably from $260,000 to $500,000. In addition, the pro angler who comes in 48th place will net $12,200 cash, enough to cover entry fees for the entire season. Currently, the 48th-place contestant receives $2,000.
Tournament purses for the 2003 FLW regular season are as follows:
Jan. 22-25
Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston, Fla.
$500,000
Feb. 12-15
Atchafalaya Basin, Morgan City, La.
$500,000
March 12-15
Lake Murray, Columbia, S.C.
$500,000
April 9-12
Beaver Lake, Rogers, Ark. – Wal-Mart Open
$1,260,000
Note: Payouts for the top 60 anglers during this competition have been increased as well.
May 14-17
Kentucky Lake, Benton, Ky.
$500,000
June 18-21
Lake Wheeler, Florence/Rogersville, Ala. – Forrest Wood Open
$1,000,000
To view an online version of the 2003 FLW Tour brochure, click here.
Gold membership
A Gold membership plan is now available in addition to the standard FLW Outdoors membership. In addition to the benefits available with the standard membership, the Gold membership allows tournament anglers to have a family member or friend stand in for them during the registration process without them having to be there in person. Gold membership is $15 more than a standard membership when purchased upfront. The cost to upgrade to a Gold membership at a later date is $25.
Late registration penalties earmarked for conservation efforts
FLW Outdoors has also changed its penalties for late registration. In an effort to maintain a more competitive balance during tournaments, anglers’ catch weights will no longer be penalized when anglers are late for registration or the preregistration meeting. Instead, anglers will be assessed a late fee of $50 which will go directly to the Fish America Foundation for environmental and charitable uses.
For an online version of the 2003 FLW Tour rules and regulations, click here.
FLW format shift for 2003 season
While there are plenty of changes in store for the upcoming FLW season, perhaps the most notable rule modification is with the FLW tournament format itself. Unlike the 2002 season, FLW pros and co-anglers will see their fields cut down to the top 10 after the second day of competition. On day three, the co-angler champion will be crowned from the final field of 10 anglers. However, in the pro division, FLW anglers will spend day three and day four attempting to catch as much weight as possible as their two-day combined weight totals will be used to determine the eventual tournament champion in each of the qualifying events during the 2003 season.
Free from focusing on having to make a day-three cut, anglers can now invest their efforts in maximizing their total catch during the semifinal and final rounds of competition. Additional television crews will also be added to provide more on-the-water coverage of the semifinal and final rounds of competition to boost overall tournament exposure.
For more information, contact FLW Outdoors at (270) 252-1000.
Link:
FLW Outdoors announces 2003 entry dates
FLW Tour boosts 2003 purse to $5.76 million cash