For additional information, please contact:
Dave Washburn, Communications Director, (270) 252-1607
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
$7 MILLION WAL-MART BASS FISHING LEAGUE TO VISIT GRAND RIVER
WEST OLIVE, Mich. (July 22, 2002) – The $7 million Wal-Mart Bass Fishing
League for weekend anglers will visit the Grand River Aug. 3 for the
third of five Michigan 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
Riverside Park beginning at 3 p.m.
The Michigan Division’s fourth tournament will be held Aug. 24 on the
Detroit River followed by the Michigan Super Tournament Sept. 14-15,
also on the Detroit River.
Following the end of regular season competition, the top 30 Michigan
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 Great
Lakes, Hoosier and Illini 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 Michigan 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, 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.
To enter a tournament or to find more information about the Wal-Mart
Bass Fishing League, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call 270-527-4125.