Wal-Mart Bass Fishing Leaque Visits Ohio River

  • bill_cadwell
    Rochester, Minnesota
    Posts: 12607
    #1324210

    For additional information, please contact:

    Dave Washburn, Communications Director, (270) 252-1607

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    $7 Million Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League to Visit Ohio River

    Maysville, Ky. (July 8, 2002) — The $7 million Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League
    for weekend anglers will visit the Ohio River July 20 for the third of five
    Buckeye 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 Maysville River
    Park beginning at 3 p.m.

    Lake Erie will host the Buckeye Division’s fourth tournament Aug. 10
    followed by the Buckeye Super Tournament Sept. 7-8 on the Ohio River.

    Following the end of regular season competition, the top 30 Buckeye Division
    boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition on Kerr Lake
    near Henderson, N.C., Oct. 15-19, where they will go up against top
    competitors from the Mountain, Northeast and Savannah River 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 Buckeye 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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