BENTON, Ky. (June 20, 2006) - FLW Outdoors announced its 2007 FLW Tour schedule Tuesday during registration for the season's final qualifier on Lake Champlain and indicated that complete details will be released soon. Next season's schedule takes the bass-fishing circuit to seven of the nation's best fisheries and includes a change from Wednesday through Saturday tournaments to Thursday through Sunday events.
The change to a Sunday finale in conjunction with the FLW Tour's previously announced move to public venues for 2007 is designed to accommodate a rapidly growing fan base and ever-increasing sponsor involvement in the sport.
"Our goal is to always provide the most fan-friendly experience possible," said FLW Outdoors Chairman Irwin L. Jacobs. "Having our final weigh-ins on Sunday afternoons will allow more families and children to participate in FLW Tour events than ever before, and having the weigh-ins indoors at convention centers and other public venues will further enhance the fan experience."
Competition kicks off Feb. 15-18 on Lake Travis in Austin, Texas, then continues on Fort Loudoun Lake in Knoxville, Tenn., March 29-April 1. Lake Norman in Charlotte, N.C., will host the third stop April 26-29 followed by the tour's annual visit to Beaver Lake in Rogers, Ark., May 17-20. The Potomac River in Washington, D.C., will host the fifth tour stop June 14-17, and Lake Erie in Detroit, Mich., will host the final qualifier July 12-15.
The $2 million Forrest Wood Cup, which offers a top award of $1 million to qualifiers from the FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, TBF (The Bass Federation) and Ranger Owners' Tournaments, will be held on Lake Ouachita in Hot Springs, Ark., Aug. 1-5.
"To date the FLW Tour Championship held in 2005 is the largest and most successful event we've held in the Hot Springs Convention Center," said Steve Arrison, executive director for the Hot Springs Convention and Visitor's Bureau. "With anglers qualifying for a shot at the sport's first $1 million award through the BFL and TBF ranks as well as the FLW Tour and FLW Series, the 2007 Forrest Wood Cup and accompanying outdoor show promises to be a great fishing show."