MINNEAPOLIS (Oct. 5, 2017) – FLW announced Thursday the schedule, rules and payouts for the 2018 Bass Fishing League (BFL), which includes 128 tournaments in 24 divisions offering more than $8.1 million in awards, including as much as $120,000 to the winning boater and $60,000 to the winning co-angler in the BFL All-American, plus advancement to the Forrest Wood Cup. Among the key changes for the BFL in 2018 is the addition of all-new Angler and Co-Angler of the Year payouts, with cash awards for the top three boaters and co-anglers in each division. The Angler of the Year in each division now receives $3,000 with $2,000 going to second and $1,000 to third. The Co-angler of the Year in each division now receives $1,500 with $1,000 going to second and $500 to third.
Entry fees have increased from $230 to $250 per qualifier for boaters and from $115 to $125 per qualifier for co-anglers. Super Tournament entry fees increased from $345 to $350 for boaters and will remain $175 for co-anglers.
After feedback from BFL anglers, last year’s implementation of the new “Win and You are In” format that automatically qualifies the winners of each of the 96 one-day qualifying tournaments and 24 two-day super tournaments to one of six no-entry-fee regional championships along with the top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division based on point standings will remain.
Each regional championship features a payout that includes $20,000 and a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower outboard for the winning boater and a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower outboard for the winning co-angler. Regional payouts include $10,000 for second and $5,000 for third on the boater side and $5,000 for second and $2,500 for third on the co-angler side.
"Participation in the BFL this season has been record-breaking, and we expect even more anglers to join the BFL ranks in 2017,” said T-H Marine BFL tournament director Daniel Fennel. " BFL anglers are the lifeblood of FLW and we take great pride in offering the very best opportunities for everyday working people to experience bass fishing in a professional tournament setting with a clear pathway for advancement to the sport’s highest levels.”
The BFL is a weekend bass-fishing circuit. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division and tournament winners also receive priority entry into the 2019 FLW Series while All-American champions may advance directly to the FLW Tour.
Anglers can register for the 2018 season by calling 270.252.1000 on the dates listed below:
- November 13, 2017 – Hoosier, Michigan, Music City and Volunteer
- November 14, 2017 – Bulldog, Cowboy, Great Lakes, Illini and Mississippi
- November 15, 2017 – Bama, Buckeye, Choo Choo, Mountain and Ozark
- November 16, 2017 – Arkie, LBL, North Carolina, Northeast and Okie
- November 17, 2017 – Gator, Piedmont, Savannah River, Shenandoah and South Carolina