BENTON, Ky. (Sept. 21, 2007) - FLW Outdoors announced its 2008 Wal-Mart FLW Series schedule today with plans for return visits to some familiar waters as well as some new stops for the world's top bass anglers fishing the circuit's Eastern Division and Western Division.
Each division features four $1 million qualifying events that advance anglers to the East/West Fish-Off and ultimately to the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup for a shot at winning $1 million.
A top award of $125,000 is offered in the Pro Division at ever qualifier, and $10,000 cash awards extend through 50th place. Pros finishing as low as 75th place receive $2,000 cash, and pros finishing in 76th through 100th place receive a $100 gas card from BP at each qualifier in the Eastern Division and a $100 Wal-Mart gift card at each qualifier in the Western Division. Co-anglers fish for a top award of $25,000 cash in every qualifier and receive cash awards through 75th place.
Competition in the Western Division begins March 12-15 on the California Delta in Oakley, Calif., followed by a tournament on Lake Mead in Henderson, Nev., May 7-10. The division's third stop will be held on the Columbia River in Tri-Cities, Wash., Sept. 17-20 with the final qualifier taking place on Lake Shasta in Redding, Calif., Oct. 8-11.
Wal-Mart FLW Series competition in the Eastern Division kicks off Jan. 23-26 on Lake Okeechobee in Clewiston, Fla., followed by a tournament on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Ala., March 26-29. The division's third stop will be held on Lake Champlain in Plattsburgh, N.Y., Sept. 10-13 with the final qualifier taking anglers to Clarks Hill Lake in Appling, Ga., Oct. 22-25.
At the end of the season, the top 30 pros and top 30 co-anglers in each division's Angler of the Year standings will be invited to the East/West Fish-Off at an undisclosed venue where the pros will fish head-to-head for three days to determine who will advance to the 2009 Forrest Wood Cup. At the Fish-Off, to be held Nov. 20-22, the No. 1 Eastern Division pro will face the No. 30 Western Division pro and the No. 1 Western Division pro will face the No. 30 Eastern Division pro, etc. The top 30 co-anglers based on accumulated weight at the Fish-Off and the winners of the head-to-head match-ups will proceed to the Forrest Wood Cup. The pro with the heaviest overall weight will earn $25,000, and the co-angler with the heaviest overall weight will earn $5,000.
The top 100 pros and top 100 co-anglers from each division of the 2008 FLW Series will receive priority entry into the 2009 FLW Series, and the top 30 pros and top 30 co-anglers from each division will receive priority entry into the 2009 FLW Tour. Entry fees for 2008 are unchanged at $3,500 per qualifier for pros and $700 per qualifier for co-anglers.
FLW Series tournaments are four-day, cumulative weight events that begin on Wednesday and conclude on Saturday. Weigh-ins the first three days are held lakeside and the top 10 pros weigh in Saturday at Wal-Mart. Pros use their own boats on all four days of competition, and every tournament has a 12-day off-limits period prior to four practice days.
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.
2008 Wal-Mart FLW Series ScheduleWestern Division
Date Lake/River City, State
March 12-15 California Delta Oakley, Calif.
May 7-10 Lake Mead Henderson, Nev.
Sept. 17-20 Columbia River Tri-Cities, Wash.
Oct. 8-11 Lake Shasta Redding, Calif.Eastern Division
Date Lake/River City, State
Jan. 23-26 Lake Okeechobee Clewiston, Fla.
March 26-29 Wheeler Lake Decatur, Ala.
Sept. 10-13 Lake Champlain Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Oct. 22-25 Clarks Hill Lake Appling, Ga.East/West Fish-Off
Date Lake/River City, State
Nov. 20-22 TBA TBA
2008 Wal-Mart FLW Series Payouts$1 Million Qualifiers:
Ranger Ranger
Place Pro Bonus Co-angler Bonus
1 100000 25000 20000 5000
2 50000 10000
3 40000 9000
4 30000 8000
5 20000 7000
6 19000 6000
7 18000 5000
8 17000 4000
9 16000 3000
10 15000 2000
11-15 12500 1500
16-20 12000 1400
21-25 11500 1300
26-30 11000 1200
31-40 10500 1100
41-50 10000 1050
51-60 2500 1050
61-75 2000 800
76-100 100
Big Bass 500 Days 1, 2 & 3 300 Days 1, 2 & 3