BENTON, Ky. (Oct. 19, 2006) - FLW Outdoors announced Thursday that competitors in the Texas Tournament Trail will fish for a share of $226,500 in every qualifier next season. The 2007 TTT will also pay awards through 30 places in every qualifier compared to 20 places in 2006.
Another change for 2007 allows the entire field of 200 pros and 200 co-anglers to compete for two days in every qualifier, with the winners determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from both days.
The regular season will kick off Jan. 6-7 on Lake Amistad in Del Rio, Texas, followed by an April 21-22 event on Lake Livingston in Livingston, Texas. The third and final qualifier will be held May 19-20 on Lake Texoma in Denison, Texas.
Every qualifier offers a top pro award of $65,000, which includes $10,000 cash and a $40,000 Ranger 519VX powered by an Evinrude or Yamaha outboard plus a $15,000 bonus if the winner is the registered original owner of a 2000 or newer Ranger boat. Ranger Boats will award an additional $5,000 bonus if the winner is a Ranger Cup participant. If "Powered by Yamaha" guidelines are met, Yamaha will award an additional $2,500 bonus for a potential top award of $72,500.
The top co-angler award in every qualifier is $44,000, which includes $4,000 cash plus a $40,000 Ranger 519VX powered by an Evinrude or Yamaha outboard if the winner is the registered owner of a 2000 or newer Ranger boat.
Payouts in both the Pro and Co-angler divisions extend through 30th place, which pays a minimum of $450 and $150, respectively, based on a 200-boat field.
The top 50 pros and top 50 co-anglers from the year-end standings will advance to the $210,000 no-entry-fee Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail Championship on Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Jasper, Texas, Oct. 13-14 for the opportunity to win awards of $75,000 and $50,000, respectively.
"The Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail is the greatest value in bass fishing," said FLW Outdoors President and CEO Charlie Evans. "We're pleased to provide weekend anglers in the Lone Star State and neighboring states the opportunity to fish close to home for incredibly lucrative awards."
Entry fees for 2007 are $450 per event for pros and $150 per event for co-anglers. Ranger, Champion and Stratos boat owners and TBF members have priority entry into the 2007 Texas Tournament Trail. Entry dates will be released soon.