MINNEAPOLIS (Sept. 17, 2013) – FLW has announced the 2014 Bass Fishing League schedule, which includes 120 regular-season tournaments spread across 24 divisions, each with four one-day qualifying tournaments that pay as much as $8,000 to the winning boater and $3,000 to the winning co-angler, plus a two-day super tournament offering top awards of $11,000 and $4,500, respectively, and one of the longest-running championships in the history of tournament bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
Anglers finishing the season in the top 40 in each division advance to one of six no-entry-fee regional championships for the chance to win a Ranger Z518C with a 200 hp Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy Silverado 1500 as a boater or a Ranger Z518C with a 200 hp Evinrude or Mercury outboard as a co-angler. The top six boaters and co-anglers from each regional championship also advance to the 2015 BFL All-American presented by Chevy for the chance to win top awards of $120,000 and $60,000, respectively. Additionally, All-American winners advance to the Forrest Wood Cup to compete for as much as $500,000 in the pro division and $50,000 in the co-angler division.
“The Bass Fishing League is the foundation of tournament bass fishing,” said FLW President of Operations Kathy Fennel. “Our loyal BFL anglers represent the single largest group of bass tournament anglers in the world. They are the engine that keeps the industry moving forward, and we are pleased to provide them with the highest-quality, most rewarding weekend tournaments available anywhere.”
The Angler of the Year and Co-angler of the Year from each division earn $1,000 and $500, respectively. The top 40 boaters and co-anglers from each division also receive priority entry into the 2015 EverStart Series while All-American champions may advance directly to the Walmart FLW Tour.
Alabama rigs and similar umbrella-type rigs will be permitted in 2014 BFL competition but will be limited to a maximum of five spinners, five lures and three hooks (single or treble) unless state regulations are more restrictive, in which case state regulations will prevail.
BFL Highlights:
Chevy Angler and Co-angler of the Year
- $1,000 Angler of the Year award in each division
- $500 Co-angler of the Year award in each division
- $8,000 top boater award
- $3,000 top co-angler award
- Ranger Cup bonuses
- Saturday tournaments
- Winners determined by heaviest one-day catch
- 20 percent of field earns a check
- Every angler receives points
- Entry fees: $200 boaters & $100 co-anglers
- $11,000 top boater award
- $4,500 top co-angler award
- Ranger Cup bonuses
- Saturday and Sunday tournaments: full field Saturday and top 20 percent Sunday
- Winners determined by heaviest two-day catch
- 20 percent of field earns a check
- Every angler receives points
- Entry fees: $300 boaters & $150 co-anglers
- Ranger Z518C with a 200 hp Evinrude or Mercury and a Chevy Silverado 1500 for winning boaters
- Ranger Z518C with a 200 hp Evinrude or Mercury for winning co-anglers
- Top six boaters and co-anglers advance to the BFL All-American presented by Chevy
- Top 40 boaters and co-anglers from four divisions qualify
- Thursday, Friday and Saturday tournaments: full field Thursday and Friday and top 12 Saturday
- Winners determined by heaviest three-day catch
- Top 24 boaters and co-anglers earn checks
- No entry fee
- Top six boaters and co-anglers advance to the BFL All-American
- Anglers who enter all five events within a division and fish at least two but do not advance to a Regional Championship qualify*
- Friday and Saturday tournament, full field both days
- Winners determined by heaviest two-day catch
- No entry fee
- $120,000 top boater award
- $60,000 top co-angler award
- Ranger Cup bonuses
- Winning boater and co-angler advance to the Forrest Wood Cup
- Top six boaters and co-anglers from six regional championships and the Chevy Wild Card qualify
- Thursday, Friday and Saturday tournament: full field Thursday and Friday and top 10 Saturday
- Winners determined by the heaviest three-day catch
- Every boater earns at least $1,500, and every co-angler earns at least $750
- No entry fee