Recently we received a petition with a few requests from some FLW Tour anglers seeking changes to the FLW Tour entry fees, payouts, deposits and deposit due dates. The petition states that FLW increased FLW Tour entry fees for 2019 while decreasing payouts. This statement is not correct. It is correct that entry fees have increased from $31,500 in 2018 to $35,000 in 2019, but overall payouts have also increased $280,000. When doing a comparison of entry fees and payouts, it is important to note that 2018 payouts and entry fees are based on 160 pros, and for 2019 they are based on 150 pros. It’s also important to acknowledge that co-anglers subsidized the overall FLW Tour payout by nearly $140,000 in 2018. This subsidy is not, however, part of the 2019 equation, making a simplistic year-over-year comparison of entry fees and payouts for a 150-boat field more difficult.
For a direct comparison, in 2018 160 FLW Tour pros contributed total entry fees of $5,040,000 with a payback, not including contingency bonuses, of $6,062,500. In 2019, 150 pros will contribute total entry fees of $5,250,000 with a payback, not including contingency bonuses, of $6,342,500.
We continually seek constructive input from all FLW Tour pros. It is appreciated. Just because we cannot accommodate every request, however, does not mean we are not listening or that we do not care. With that in mind, FLW has agreed to make a few changes to the 2019 FLW Tour rules at the request of our pros.
- The deposit due date for the top 100 pros and the top 15 co-anglers from the 2018 FLW Tour, the top 15 pros and co-anglers from each division of the 2018 FLW Series, the FLW Series International Division representative from the 2018 FLW Cup, the 2018 TBF National Champion from the boater division, the boater champion from the 2018 BFL All-American and both members of the winning team from the 2018 FLW College Fishing National Championship will be shifted from Oct. 15 to Nov. 15. All entry dates will remain unchanged. Pros who fished the full 2018 FLW Tour may enter beginning Oct. 16. Ranger Boats owners may enter beginning Oct. 17. Pros who fished a full division of the 2018 FLW Series may enter beginning Oct. 18. TBF members may enter Oct. 19. For other entries, deposits will be accepted beginning Oct. 22.
- We will reduce the 2019 deposit to $7,000, which represents 20 percent of the total entry fee, down from 22 percent in 2018.
These changes are consistent with our commitment to sustainable growth while continuing to provide FLW Tour pros with a platform to compete at the highest level and promote their sponsors to a worldwide audience for the lowest entry fee among the top three professional circuits.
We will survey all pros fishing the 2019 FLW Tour when the entry period has closed for their preference on possible changes to the payout scales.
We appreciate our many FLW anglers and look forward to a great 2019 season in service to them.
Sincerely,
Kathy Fennel, President of Operations
Trisha Blake, President of Marketing