2009 FLW Tour Entry Dates

FLW Outdoors has announced 2009 bass tournament details at the Forrest Wood Cup that includes enhancements at every level, starting with smaller fields in all Walmart FLW Tour and FLW Series tournaments and an increase in the Forrest Wood Cup purse to $2.5 million in 2010. Today the world’s largest fishing-tournament organization announced entry dates for the 2009 FLW Tour.

The top 100 pros and co-anglers from the 2008 FLW Tour season, the top 30 pros and co-anglers from each division of the 2008 Walmart FLW Series, the top 10 pros and co-anglers from each division of the 2008 Stren Series and the boater and co-angler champion from the 2008 Walmart BFL All-American may enter the 2009 FLW Tour beginning Nov. 4. Ranger boat owners may enter beginning Nov. 10. Champion and Stratos owners and TBF members may enter beginning Nov. 11. All other entries will be accepted beginning Nov. 12.

Pros are no longer permitted to fish single events. They must commit to fish all six FLW Tour events in 2009, and a $9,000 deposit for the season is required at the time of entry. Co-anglers are permitted to fish single events, and a $200 deposit per tournament is required at the time of entry. Deposits will be applied to the pro entry fee of $27,000 for the season, and the co-angler entry fees of $700 per regular tournament and $800 per open. Entry may be made online at FLWOutdoors.com or by calling (270) 252-1000. Phones are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time Monday through Friday.

A field of 150 to 160 pros for the 2009 season will be set by Nov. 17, at which time pros not accepted into the field will receive a full refund of their deposit. Once accepted into the field, pro deposits are nontransferable and nonrefundable. There will be no waiting list in the pro division. If a pro drops out during the course of the season, they will not be replaced. Co-angler deposits are nontransferable and nonrefundable once accepted into a tournament. Co-anglers placed on a waiting list and not accepted into a tournament will receive a full refund after the event. Please see the 2009 FLW Tour rules for compete details.

As previously announced the top payouts in FLW Tour qualifiers are $125,000 for pros and $25,000 for co-anglers, including Ranger Cup bonuses of $25,000 and $5,000, respectively. Top payouts in FLW Tour opens are $200,000 and $40,000, respectively, including Ranger Cup bonuses of $50,000 and $10,000. Payouts of $10,000 extend through 50th place on the pro side in every tournament. In the event that more than 150 anglers compete, one additional place will be awarded for each contestant over 150. These awards are $4,000 in qualifying events and $5,000 in opens for pros and $700 in qualifiers and $800 in opens for co-anglers. The 2010 Forrest Wood Cup payout will increase from $2 million to $2.5 million with every pro who qualifies earning at least $7,000. Please see the 2009 FLW Tour schedule and payouts for compete details.

FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. In 2008 alone the organization is offering more than 90,000 anglers the chance to win over $40 million through 230 tournaments in 10 circuits. FLW Outdoors also took fishing mainstream with FLW Fantasy Fishing, offering the largest awards possible in the history of fantasy sports, $7.3 million in cash and prizes.

For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player’s Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com.

Keep Bass Alive in the Heat

By Hayley Lynch

Bass tournaments are an exciting and popular activity on Kentucky’s lakes. However, tournaments held during the heat of summer place a great deal of stress on fish.

“We don’t promote summertime tournaments because of the potential for increases in mortality of fish,” said Gerry Buynak, assistant director of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources’ fisheries division. “We recommend that tournaments not be held when water temperatures are over 80 degrees.”

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