For additional information, please contact:
Dave Washburn, Communications Director, (270) 252-1607
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
$7 Million Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League to Visit Wolf River
Winneconne, Wis. (July 1, 2002) — The $7 million Wal-Mart Bass Fishing
League for weekend anglers will visit the Wolf River July 13 for the third
of five Great Lakes Division events.
Up to 400 of the region’s best anglers will be vying for top awards of up to
$5,000 cash in the Boater Division and up to $2,500 cash in the Co-angler
Division at the tournament weigh-in, which will be held at Wolf River Resort
beginning at 3 p.m.
La Crosse will host the Great Lakes Division’s fourth tournament Aug. 10.
The division’s final regular-season event, the Great Lakes Super Tournament,
will be held Sept. 14-15 on the Mississippi River.
Following the end of regular season competition, the top 30 Great Lakes
Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition
presented by Yamaha on Kentucky Lake near Gilbertsville, Ky., Oct. 15-19,
where they will go up against top competitors from the Hoosier, Illini and
Michigan Divisions. Boaters will compete for a new Chevy truck and a Ranger
boat powered by Evinrude or Yamaha, while co-anglers fish for a new Ranger
boat powered by Evinrude or Yamaha.
Anglers who enter all five regular-season Great Lakes Division tournaments
but do not advance to the regional can fish the Chevy Trucks Wild Card
Regional Nov. 5-9 for a shot at the 2003 Wal-Mart BFL All-American
championship. With $100,000 cash going to the winning boater and $50,000
cash going to the winning co-angler, the All-American ranks as one of the
most lucrative championship tournaments in competitive angling.
Six boaters and six co-anglers from each of the BFL’s six regional
tournaments will advance to the All-American along with six boaters and six
co-anglers from the Chevy Wild Card. Three boaters and three co-anglers from
the Western Regional will also advance to the All-American, boosting the
total field to 45 boaters and 45 co-anglers.
Nationwide, the BFL is divided into 26 divisions — each featuring four
one-day qualifying tournaments and a two-day Super Tournament. Each Super
Tournament will award up to $9,600 to the winning boater and up to $4,800 to
the winning co-angler.
Under the BFL’s boater and co-angler format, boaters supply the boats, fish
from the front deck and control boat movement throughout the competition.
Co-anglers fish from the back deck and are competing against other
co-anglers. Two hundred points are awarded to tournament winners, 199 points
are presented for second and so on. These points determine angler standings
throughout the season. Every angler who receives weight credit earns points.
Awards for the 2002 BFL season could reach $7 million based on full fields
at each tournament. Additionally, Ranger Cup participants are eligible to
win a $500 to $1,000 bonus at each BFL tournament. Anglers using a
fixed-mount Garmin Fishfinder or GPS/Sounder are also eligible to win a
$1,000 bonus at each BFL tournament as part of the Garmin Grand Giveaway.
As the nation’s leading provider of affordable, close-to-home weekend
tournaments, the BFL is widely credited with opening competitive bass
fishing to the masses. It also serves as a steppingstone for anglers who
wish to advance to the EverStart Series and ultimately the Wal-Mart FLW
Tour — bass fishing’s most lucrative tournament series. Each year the top 30
BFL boaters and co-anglers from each division are eligible to advance to the
EverStart Series. All-American champions are eligible for Wal-Mart FLW Tour
competition. The top 10 pros and co-anglers from each of the EverStart
Series’ three divisions are eligible to advance to the Wal-Mart FLW Tour.
Former BFL anglers who have become fishing superstars on the Wal-Mart FLW
Tour include Kellogg’s pro Clark Wendlandt, Chevy pro Tommy Biffle and
four-time FLW Tour champion David Fritts.
Sponsors of the 2002 Wal-Mart BFL are Wal-Mart, ALPO Pet Foods, BC Powder,
BFGoodrich Tires, Castrol, Chevy Trucks, Coleman, Conseco, Energizer,
EverStart Batteries, Evinrude, Faded Glory, Frito-Lay, FujiFilm, Garmin,
Kellogg’s, Land O’Lakes, Maxwell House, Minn Kota, Newell Rubbermaid, Pepsi,
Poulan, Ranger Boats, Shop-Vac, Snickers, Stanley Works, Stren, US Bank,
Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards. Associate sponsors are Abu Garcia, Berkley,
Eagle Claw, Laker, Plano and Solar Bat.
To enter a tournament or to find more information about the Wal-Mart Bass
Fishing League, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call 270-527-4125.
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