BENTON, Ky. – FLW Outdoors raised the stakes in competitive bass fishing Tuesday with an announcement that its 2004 Wal-Mart FLW Tour schedule would feature an added $1.04 million, bringing the guaranteed cash purse for the world’s most lucrative professional bass-tournament series to a record $6.8 million.
Wal-Mart FLW Tour purses have increased by more than $2 million over the last three years, putting professional bass fishing in the same league as other professional sports and giving top anglers the opportunity to win more money than many of their counterparts competing in other sports. In fact, the winner of the upcoming FLW Tour Championship in Richmond, Va., Sept. 10-13 will earn a record $500,000.
In 2004, the tour will feature two $500,000 qualifiers, two $900,000 qualifiers and two $1.25 million opens that lead to the $1.5 million Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship and outdoor show. Cash awards are presented through 75th place in each regular-season tournament, with $10,000 cash going to Pro Division anglers finishing as low as 50th place in the two $900,000 and two $1.25 million events. Pro anglers who qualify for the championship will earn a minimum of $15,000 and have the opportunity to win a record guaranteed first-place cash award of $500,000. The top 48 anglers in the year-end points standings advance to the championship.
Competition kicks off Jan. 21-24 on Lake Okeechobee in Clewiston, Fla., then continues on the Atchafalaya Basin in Morgan City, La., Feb. 11-14 and Old Hickory Lake in Gallatin, Tenn., March 10-13. Beaver Lake in Rogers, Ark., will host an event March 31-April 3 followed by stops on Kentucky Lake in Benton, Ky., May 12-15 and Lake Champlain in Plattsburgh, N.Y., June 23-26. The FLW Tour championship, featuring a record first-place cash award of $500,000, will be held Sept. 8-11 on Logan Martin in Birmingham, Ala.
“Alabama has a rich history of supporting professional bass fishing through the Alabama Bass Trail,” said Barnett Lawley, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “The 2004 FLW Tour Championship and accompanying outdoor show will have a tremendous economic impact on the state as thousands of fans from around the world visit Birmingham for the event.”
To accommodate incredible demand from professional anglers, Wal-Mart FLW Tour fields will increase from 175 to 200 boats in 2004. Entry fees for the $500,000 qualifiers remain unchanged at $1,800 for pros and $400 for co-anglers. Entry fees for the new $900,000 qualifiers are $2,500 for pros and $550 for co-anglers, and entry fees for the $1.25 million opens have increased from $2,500 to $3,000 for pros and $600 to $650 for co-anglers. This marks the first increase in FLW Tour entry fees in five years.
“I think our 2004 program illustrates just how far professional bass fishing has come thanks to the involvement of world-class sponsors like Wal-Mart and others who recognized, early on, the meaningful impact the sport can have on consumers,” said Irwin L. Jacobs, chairman, FLW Outdoors. “Professional fishing has come into its own in recent years, and everyone involved is reaping the rewards. Sponsors, anglers, fans, hosts, everyone.”
The Wal-Mart FLW Tour and highlights from the EverStart Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League and Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Tour are broadcast on the Outdoor Life Network as part of “FLW Outdoors,” which features the latest tournament news and in-depth discussions with the world’s best anglers. “FLW Outdoors” airs at 7 p.m. EST Saturdays as well as 1 p.m. EST Sundays.
Wal-Mart and many of America’s most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its six tournament trails. FLW Tour sponsors include Wal-Mart, Banana Boat, BFGoodrich Tires, Castrol, Chevy Trucks, 7 UP, Eagle Electronics, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, Evinrude, Faded Glory, Field & Stream, Frito-Lay, Fujifilm, Kellogg’s, Land O’Lakes, Lawry’s Seasonings, Minn Kota, Newell Rubbermaid, Pedigree, Poulan, Ranger, Shop-Vac, Snickers, Stanley Works, U.S. Bank, Weed Eater and Yamaha Motors.
$6.8 million Wal-Mart FLW Tour
The Road to Birmingham, Ala.
Jan. 21-24 – Lake Okeechobee – Clewiston, Fla.
Feb. 11-14 – Atchafalaya Basin – Morgan City, La.
March 10-13 – Old Hickory Lake – Gallatin, Tenn.
March 31-April 3 – Beaver Lake – Rogers, Ark.
May 12-15 – Kentucky Lake – Benton, Ky.
June 23-26 – Lake Champlain – Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Sept. 8-11 – Logan Martin – Birmingham, Ala.