$1.4 million purse set in Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit Championship
RED WING, Minn. – The Mississippi River will serve as the playing field for the world’s greatest walleye anglers during the 2002 Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit Championship – the world’s most lucrative walleye tournament. With a $1.4 million purse, the winning pro angler stands to take home as much as $400,000 cash, and the winning co-angler could earn as much as $150,000 cash.
Ranger pro Mark Brumbaugh of Arcanum, Ohio, Crestliner pro Rick Olson of Mina Lake, S.D., and Lund pro Scott Glorvigen of Grand Rapids, Minn., as well as 2002 RCL Angler of the Year Tim Minnema are a few of the walleye-fishing superstars who will be competing in the lucrative championship Oct. 2-5 in Red Wing, Minn. In 2001 Dean Arnoldussen of Kaukauna, Wis., won $400,000 at the RCL championship and instantly joined the sport’s top all-time money winners. He will be competing again this year.
More than 400 walleye anglers will take off from Treasure Island Casino and Resort in Welch, Minn., during the four-day event. In the two-day opening round, a full field will compete for one of 12 semifinal-round spots based on accumulated weight. Weights will be cleared for the one-day semifinal round, and the top 12 pros will compete for one of six final-round spots. Co-angler competition will conclude with the semifinal round. The six pros fishing in the one-day final round will again start at zero and will be followed by an Outdoor Life Network camera crew. The winner is determined by the heaviest catch on the final day. Pros and co-anglers fish for a combined boat limit of five walleyes each day of competition.
Anglers qualified for the championship via four regular-season RCL Walleye Circuit events or through more than 49 other sanctioned organizations and events.
Directed by FLW Outdoors and named after Wal-Mart and boat manufacturers Ranger, Crestliner and Lund, the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit is the world’s most lucrative walleye-fishing series. Each of the circuit’s four regular-season tournaments featured a cash purse of as much as $346,000 with $90,000 in cash and prizes, including a fully rigged Ranger, Crestliner or Lund boat powered by Evinrude or Yamaha, going to the winning pro. The top co-angler in each qualifying event earned $15,000 cash.
Weigh-ins during the first two days of the tournament will be held at Treasure Island Casino and Resort starting at 3 p.m. The semifinal- and final-round weigh-ins Oct. 4-5 will be held at the Hastings, Minn., Wal-Mart located at 225 33rd St. West at 5 p.m. Friday and 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Takeoff will be at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday and 8 a.m. Friday at Treasure Island Casino and Resort.
Sponsors of the 2002 Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit are Wal-Mart, Castrol, Conseco, Crestliner, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, Evinrude, Faded Glory, GARMIN, Kellogg’s, Lund, Minn Kota, Newell Rubbermaid, Poulan, Ranger Boats, Snickers, Stanley, Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards.
Ranger, Crestliner, Lund, Evinrude and Yamaha are contingency sponsors for the event. The winning pro is guaranteed $150,000 cash, but if he meets the Ranger, Crestliner or Lund bonus requirements, he will win an additional $150,000. If the winner also meets the Evinrude or Yamaha bonus requirements, he will pocket an additional $100,000 for a total of $400,000 cash.
For more information, browse this Web site or call (270) 252-1000.
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