2019 FLW Tour Rules and Entry Dates
Complete details for FLW’s flagship circuit now available
Today FLW released the complete rules, key rule changes and details for the 2019 FLW Tour season. The season will consist of seven regular-season events and culminates with the 2019 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of professional bass fishing, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Ark.
2019 FLW Tour Rules
Among the rule changes for the 2019 FLW Tour are the implementation of the new VIP Marshal program, which will replace the co-angler program, as well as the transition from a priority entry system to a qualifying system with a 150-boat field starting with the 2020 season.
Pro anglers will still compete for up to $125,000 in each tournament, including Ranger Cup contingency bonuses. Paybacks include $10,000 through 50th place and $5,500 through 60th place. Entry fees will increase to $35,000 total, and pros must commit to fish all seven regular-season events.
The top 40 pros from the 2019 FLW Tour qualify for the 2019 FLW Cup, which will consist of 52 professional anglers. In addition to the top 40 pros from the Tour, qualifiers will also include the highest finishing pro from each of five U.S. divisions and the International division at the 2018 Costa FLW Series Championship, the 2019 T-H Marine BFL All-American boater champion, the 2019 TBF National Champion, both 2019 FLW College Fishing champions, the 2018 FLW Cup champion and the 2018 FLW Tour Angler of the Year.
Priority entry dates
FLW Tour entry will open on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 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 T-H Marine BFL All-American and both members of the winning team from the 2018 FLW College Fishing National Championship. These anglers must pay their deposit of $8,750 by Oct. 15, 2018, in order to secure their priority entry position.
For pros who fished the full 2018 FLW Tour, deposits will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. CT, Oct. 16, 2018.
For Ranger Boats owners and sponsor entries, deposits will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. CT, Oct. 17, 2018.
For pros who fished a full division of the 2018 FLW Series, deposits will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. CT, Oct. 18, 2018.
For TBF members, deposits will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. CT, Oct. 19, 2018.
For all other entries, deposits will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. CT, Oct. 22, 2018.
Entry priority will be assigned by the date and time of entry and will be final once full payment of the 2019 deposit is received. Qualified anglers can register by calling 270.252.1000 or online at FLWFishing.com.
Complete rules for the 2019 FLW Tour, along with the rules for 2020 FLW Tour qualification can be found here.
2019 Payouts
FLW Tour Qualifiers
Place Pro Ranger Cup
1 $100,000 $25,000
2 30,000
3 25,000
4 20,000
5 19,000
6 18,000
7 17,000
8 16,000
9 15,000
10 14,000
11-20 11,000
21-30 10,500
31-50 10,000
51-60 5,500
Big Bass – Day 1 500
Big Bass – Day 2 500
Angler of the Year
$100,000 + 2020 FLW Cup entry
The FLW Cup
Place Pro
1 $300,000 + 2020 FLW Cup entry
2 60,000
3 50,000
4 37,500
5 30,000
6 24,000
7 23,000
8 22,000
9 21,000
10 20,000
11-20 12,000
21-52 10,000