2020 FLW Series and BFL Schedules and Details Announced

October 24, 2019
FLW Tour News Archive

TULSA, Okla. (Oct. 24, 2019) – Major League Fishing (MLF) and Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) announced today the expanded 2020 FLW Series and Bass Fishing League (BFL) details, schedules, rules, entry fees and payouts, highlighted by lower entry fees in both circuits and an expanded FLW Series schedule, along with upping the championship payout to $200,000 for first place and adding $10,000 bonuses for the highest-finishing pro from each of the eight U.S. FLW Series divisions and the International division.

  

The 2020 FLW Series season will consist of three events in eight divisions, up from five divisions in 2019. Anglers that fish all three qualifiers in any of the eight divisions and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee FLW Series Championship for a shot at winning $200,000 cash, plus lucrative contingency bonuses. The winning co-angler at the championship earns a $30,000 17-foot bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard. The new win-and-you’re-in format guarantees that anglers are never out of contention to qualify for the Championship, too. Fish all three qualifiers in a division and win a tournament, and they’ll be on their way to the Championship. FLW Series entry fees have been reduced to $1,700 pro and $550 co-angler per tournament, while top payouts in each event remain $40,000 for pros and a $30,000 17-foot bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard for co-anglers. As field sizes increase, so do payouts, with top awards reaching $65,000 pro and $35,000 co-angler at 260 boats, and awards of $2,000 pro and $550 co-angler extending through 65th place. Complete payout details are listed below.

  

MLF and FLW are also rolling back entry fees in the BFL to give grassroots anglers – the heart and soul of the bass fishing community – the best payouts at the lowest cost available anywhere. Entry fees are now just $200 per boater and $100 per co-angler for one-day qualifiers and $300 per boater and $150 per co-angler for two-day Super Tournaments – the lowest levels since 2014. While entry fees have been lowered, BFL payouts remain the same as 2019 with boaters fishing for top awards of $6,000 plus contingency bonuses in each one-day qualifier and $9,000 plus contingency bonuses in each two-day Super Tournament. Co-anglers fish for top awards of $3,000 plus contingency bonuses in each one-day qualifier and $4,500 plus contingency bonuses in each two-day Super Tournament. Anglers also have the opportunity to qualify for six no-entry-fee regional championships with top awards of $60,000 boater and $50,000 co-angler, a no-entry-fee Wild Card regional, the no-entry-fee All-American with top awards of $100,000 boater and $50,000 co-angler, and even the FLW Series Championship with top awards of $200,000 pro/boater and $30,000 co-angler. Complete payout details are listed below.

  

“Major League Fishing was founded by tournament anglers, so we are an angler-driven league,” said Boyd Duckett, MLF co-founder and board director. “We respect and value the loyal FLW Series and BFL anglers, and we are very excited to announce the enhancements to what was already the best grassroots organization on the planet. I am confident that the anglers will be extremely satisfied with both the FLW Series and BFL circuits moving forward.”

  

The BFL is the stepping stone to the FLW Series, which is now the pathway to the new 150-angler FLW Pro Circuit and ultimately MLF’s Bass Pro Tour, where 80 of the world’s top pros compete with no entry fees. The FLW Series and BFL also put anglers in front of the sport’s largest fan base, with coverage on FLWFishing.com, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter reaching more than 1 million fans each month.

  

Earlier this month, MLF announced an agreement to acquire FLW. This deal, which brings together the largest grassroots organization in the world with the best pro anglers in the world, is expected to close in the coming days.

  

"It’s the best of both worlds for FLW anglers – what you’ve come to know and expect from FLW, now with the power of Major League Fishing behind us," said Kathy Fennel, FLW President of Operations. "We are proud of the fact that no other organization offers higher rewards for lower entry fees.”

  

Registration for the 2020 FLW Series season opens Oct. 28, 2019, for the top 40 pros and co-anglers from each division of the 2019 FLW Series, the top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division of the 2019 BFL, the winner of each 2019 BFL tournament who paid an entry fee for all five tournaments in a division and fished at least two tournaments in the same division. These anglers have until Nov. 4, 2019, to secure their priority entry. Ranger boat owners may register beginning Nov. 5, 2019. Anglers who fished a full division of the 2019 FLW Series or 2019 BFL can register beginning Nov. 6, 2019, followed by Triton and Nitro boat owners Nov. 7, 2019. TBF members can register Nov. 8, 2019. All other entries will be accepted beginning Nov. 11, 2019. Register by calling 270.252.1000 or online at FLWFishing.com.

    

The complete 2020 BFL schedule, along with details, rules and payouts for the BFL season can be found online.

  

Registration dates listed are below:

 

  • December 9, 2019 – Hoosier, Michigan, Music City and Volunteer
  • December 10, 2019 – Bulldog, Cowboy, Great Lakes, Illini and Mississippi
  • December 11, 2019 – Bama, Buckeye, Choo Choo, Mountain and Ozark
  • December 12, 2019 – Arkie, LBL, North Carolina, Northeast and Okie
  • December 13, 2019 – Gator, Piedmont, Savannah River, Shenandoah and South Carolina

 

   2020 FLW Series Schedule:Central DivisionFeb. 27-29                 Lake Chickamauga – Dayton, Tenn.April 16-18                 Dale Hollow Lake – Monroe, Tenn.May 28-30                 Pickwick Lake – Florence, Ala. Eastern DivisionMarch 3-5*                 Lake Hartwell – Seneca, S.C.April 30-May 2           Lake Norman – Huntersville, N.C.Sept. 10-12                Potomac River – Marbury, Md. Northern DivisionJuly 16-18                  Lake Champlain – Plattsburgh, N.Y.Aug. 20-22                 St. Lawrence River – Massena, N.Y.Sept. 17-19                Detroit River – Trenton, Mich. Plains DivisionMarch 26-28              Lake of the Ozarks – Osage Beach, Mo.May 7-9                     Table Rock Lake – Branson, Mo.Sept. 17-19                Lake Dardanelle – Russellville, Ark. Southeastern DivisionMarch 26-28              Wheeler Lake – Decatur, Ala.May 7-9                     Lake Neely Henry – Gadsden, Ala.June 4-6                    Lake Eufaula – Eufaula, Ala. Southern DivisionFeb. 13-15                 St. John's River – Palatka, Fla.March 12-14              Lake Okeechobee – Clewiston, Fla.April 16-18                 Lake Seminole – Bainbridge, Ga. Southwestern DivisionJan. 30-Feb. 1           Toledo Bend Reservoir – Many, La.April 8-10**                Fort Gibson Lake – Wagoner, Okla.Oct. 15-17                 Sam Rayburn Reservoir – Brookeland, Texas Western DivisionMarch 12-14              Lake Havasu – Lake Havasu City, Ariz.April 30-May 2           California Delta – Bethel Island, Calif.Sept. 24-26                Clear Lake – Lakeport, Calif. FLW Series ChampionshipNov 5-7                      TBA, watch FLWFishing.com for details * Tuesday – Thursday event** Wednesday – Friday event  2020 FLW Series Payouts*:160 Boat Qualifying Event:Place                                   Pro                                                                                     Co-angler                                        1                                   $40,000                                                  $30,000 premium 17-foot bass                                                                                                                                                          boat with 115 HP outboard                                  2                                     15,500                                                                                  5,0003                                     12,000                                                                                            4,000                                         4                                     10,000                                                                                  3,5005                                       9,000                                                                                  3,0006                                       8,000                                                                                  2,5007                                       7,000                                                                                  2,0008                                       6,000                                                                                  1,7509                                       5,000                                                                                  1,50010                                     4,000                                                                                  1,25011                                     3,750                                                                                  1,00012                                     3,500                                                                                  1,00013-15                                3,000                                                                                  1,00016-20                                3,000                                                                                     80021-25                                2,750                                                                                     70026-30                                2,500                                                                                     60031-40                                2,000                                                                                     550Big Bass                             300                                                                                     200 

Entry Fee                       $1,700                                                                                   $550

260 Boat Qualifying Event:

Place                                   Pro                                                                                     Co-angler                                        1                                   $65,000                                                   $30,000 premium 17-foot bass                                                                                                                                        Boat with 115 HP outboard + $5,000                                   2                                     27,500                                                                                  8,0003                                     18,000                                                                                            6,500                                         4                                     16,000                                                                                  5,0005                                     15,000                                                                                 4,5006                                     11,500                                                                                 3,7507                                     10,000                                                                                  3,2508                                       8,500                                                                                  2,5009                                       7,500                                                                                  1,80010                                     5,500                                                                                  1,60011                                     5,000                                                                                  1,20012                                     4,250                                                                                  1,20013                                     3,750                                                                                  1,20014                                     3,750                                                                                  1,20015                                     3,750                                                                                  1,20016-20                                3,750                                                                                  1,00021-25                                3,000                                                                                     85026-30                                2,700                                                                                     80031-40                                2,350                                                                                    72541-45                                2,300                                                                                     70046-50                                2,250                                                                                     67551-55                                2,200                                                                                     60056-60                                2,100                                                                                     57061-65                                2,000                                                                                     550Big Bass                             300                                                                                     200 Entry Fee                       $1,700                                                                                   $550 *Payback is based on the number of paid entries for each tournament, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. FLW Series Championship:Place                                   Pro                                                                                     Co-angler                                        1                                 $200,000                                                  $30,000 premium 17-foot bass                                                                                                                                                            boat with 115 HP outboard                                  2                                     40,000                                                                               12,5003                                     30,000                                                                               10,0004                                     25,000                                                                                 7,5005                                     20,000                                                                                 5,0006                                     14,000                                                                                 4,0007                                     13,000                                                                                  3,5008                                     12,000                                                                                 3,0009                                     11,000                                                                                 2,50010                                   10,000                                                                                  2,00011-15                                4,500                                                                                  1,50016-20                                3,500                                                                                 1,00021-25                                3,000                                                                                    90026-30                                2,500                                                                                    80031-40                                2,000                                                                                    700Central Bonus               10,000Eastern Bonus              10,000Northern Bonus            10,000Plains Bonus                 10,000Southeastern Bonus    10,000Southern Bonus           10,000Southwestern Bonus   10,000Western Bonus             10,000International Bonus      10,000   2020 T-H Marine BFL Payouts**:Qualifying Event:Place                              Boater                                                                          Co-angler1                                     $6,000                                                                                $3,0002                                       3,000                                                                                  1,5003                                       2,000                                                                                  1,0004                                       1,400                                                                                     7005                                       1,200                                                                                     6006                                       1,100                                                                                     5507                                       1,000                                                                                     5008                                          900                                                                                     4509                                          800                                                                                     40010                                        700                                                                                     35011                                        630                                                                                     31512                                        580                                                                                     29013                                        560                                                                                     28014                                        530                                                                                     26515                                        500                                                                                     25016                                        480                                                                                     24017                                        460                                                                                     23018                                        440                                                                                     22019                                        420                                                                                     21020                                        400                                                                                     20021                                        390                                                                                     19522                                        380                                                                                     19023                                        370                                                                                     18524                                        360                                                                                     18025                                        350                                                                                     17526                                        340                                                                                     17027                                        330                                                                                     16528                                        320                                                                                     16029                                        310                                                                                     15530                                        300                                                                                     15031                                        290                                                                                     14532                                        280                                                                                     14033                                        270                                                                                     13534                                        260                                                                                     13035                                        250                                                                                     12536                                        240                                                                                     12037                                        230                                                                                     11538                                        220                                                                                     11039                                        210                                                                                     10540                                        200                                                                                     100Big Bass                                 1,000                                                                                        500                                                          Entry Fee                          $200                                                                                   $100 BFL Super Tournament:Place                              Boater                                                              Co-angler1                                     $9,000                                                                    $4,5002                                       4,500                                                                      2,2503                                       3,000                                                                      1,5004                                       2,100                                                                      1,0505                                       1,800                                                                         9006                                       1,650                                                                         8257                                       1,500                                                                         7508                                       1,350                                                                         6759                                       1,200                                                                         60010                                     1,050                                                                         52511                                        950                                                                         47512                                        870                                                                         43513                                        840                                                                         42014                                        800                                                                         40015                                        750                                                                         37516                                        720                                                                         36017                                        690                                                                         34518                                        660                                                                         33019                                        630                                                                         31520                                        600                                                                         30021                                        590                                                                         29522                                        570                                                                         28523                                        560                                                                         28024                                        540                                                                         27025                                        530                                                                         26526                                        510                                                                         25527                                        500                                                                         25028                                        480                                                                         24029                                        460                                                          ��              23030                                        450                                                                         22531                                        430                                                                         21532                                        420                                                                         21033                                        400                                                                         20034                                        390                                                                         19535                                        370                                                                         18536                                        360                                                                         18037                                        340                                                                         17038                                        330                                                                         16539                                        310                                                                         15540                                        300                                                                         150Big Bass                          1,500                                                                         750                                                                                                                                                                                    Entry Fee                          $300                                                                       $150 BFL Regional Championship:Place                              Boater                                                              Co-angler1                                   $60,000  *                                                               $50,000 *2                                   $10,000 *                                                                 $5,000 *3                                       5,000 *                                                                   2,500 *4                                       3,000  *                                                                   1,500 *5                                       2,000 *                                                                   1,000 *6                                       1,800 *                                                                      900 *7                                       1,600                                                                         8008                                       1,400                                                                         7009                                       1,200                                                                         60010-12                                1,000                                                                         50013-15                                   600                                                                         30016-20                                   500                                                                         25021-24                                   400                                                                         200 1st place boater receives a premium 18-foot bass boat with 200 HP outboard and $10,0001st place co-angler receives a premium 18-foot bass boat with 200 HP outboardBoat and engine brand details available at FLWFishing.com * Top six boaters and co-anglers advance to the All-American  BFL All-American:Place                              Boater                                                              Co-angler            1                                 $100,000                                                                  $50,0002                                     20,000                                                                    10,0003                                     15,000                                                                      6,0004                                     14,000                                                                      5,0005                                     13,000                                                                      4,5006                                     12,000                                                                      4,0007                                     11,000                                                                      3,5008                                     10,000                                                                      3,0009                                       9,000                                                                      2,50010                                     8,000                                                                      2,00011-20                                3,000                                                                      1,500

    1. -30                                 2,000                                                                      1,000

31-55                                1,500                                                                         750 The highest-finishing boater and co-angler from each Regional Championship (including the Wild Card) at the All-American advance to the FLW Series Championship for a shot at winning $200,000 and $30,000, respectively.  **Payback is based on the number of paid entries for each tournament.