FLW Announces New Wal-Mart FLW Series

In a move to meet the needs of professional bass anglers in a rapidly evolving marketplace, FLW Outdoors has announced a new companion circuit to the successful Wal-Mart FLW Tour. Named the Wal-Mart FLW Series, and launching in March 2006, the new circuit features five $900,000 events that qualify anglers for a new, no-entry-fee $2 million championship that will debut in 2007.
The new Wal-Mart FLW Series will allow anglers to use their own boats on all four days of competition. Every tournament will feature an accumulated weight format with 200 boats fishing days one through three and the top 10 competing on day four. The winner will be determined based on total weight from all four days, and every tournament will have a 12-day off-limits period prior to practice days. Entry fees are $2,750 for pros and $650 for co-anglers.
On the exposure front, every Wal-Mart FLW Series tournament will be televised nationally on FSN (Fox Sports Net) as part of the "FLW Outdoors" television series that covers the Wal-Mart FLW Tour. Every event will also receive in-depth coverage in FLW Outdoors Magazine and daily coverage on FLWOutdoors.com through nightly features and the innovative FLW Live leaderboard featuring real-time streaming audio and video. With the exception of alcohol and tobacco logos, anglers may wear any logos they choose during the first three days of competition. Only FLW Outdoors sponsor logos will be allowed on clothing during day four of competition.
The top 100 pros from the 2006 Wal-Mart FLW Series will receive priority entry into the 2007 Wal-Mart FLW Series. The top 30 pros from the 2006 Wal-Mart FLW Series will also qualify for the new $2 million Forrest Wood Cup and receive priority entry into the 2007 Wal-Mart FLW Tour.
"We are in the business of providing tournament opportunities for everyone from weekend anglers to top professionals," said FLW Outdoors Chairman Irwin Jacobs. "Countless dreams are built around our sport, and demand for professional-level events has grown rapidly since the introduction of the Wal-Mart FLW Tour 10 years ago. Due to extensive Wal-Mart FLW Tour waiting lists and recent changes in the marketplace, it became clear that demand had sharply exceeded supply. Therefore, we are pleased to open a new world of opportunity for professional bass anglers with the introduction of the Wal-Mart FLW Series as a companion circuit to the Wal-Mart FLW Tour."
There are no changes for the 2006 Wal-Mart FLW Tour, but for 2007, the Forrest Wood Cup will replace the Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship and pit top anglers from the 2007 Wal-Mart FLW Tour against top anglers from the 2006 Wal-Mart FLW Series, Stren Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League and Ranger owners tournaments (details to be announced later). Eighty pros and co-anglers will qualify for the five-day Forrest Wood Cup, which will award $500,000 to the winning pro. If the winner is a Ranger owner, he or she will receive $1 million.
At the Forrest Wood Cup, the full field of pros will compete head-to-head for two days. Winners from the opening round will continue head-to-head competition on day three. Winners from day three will advance to day four for a final round of head-to-head elimination. On day five, weights will be cleared and the winner will be determined among the 10 remaining anglers based on the day's heaviest catch. The 40th-place pro in the Forrest Wood Cup will receive $10,000, and pros finishing 41st through 80th will receive $1,000 for qualifying.
Tentative dates and locations for the 2006 Wal-Mart FLW Series are Lake Lanier in Atlanta, Ga., March 8-11; Lake Cumberland in Somerset, Ky., May 3-6; Old Hickory Lake in Nashville, Tenn., May 31-June 3; Lake of the Ozarks in Ozark, Mo., Oct. 11-14; and Smith Lake in Cullman, Ala., Nov. 15-18.
One hundred entries in the 2006 Wal-Mart FLW Series have been reserved for pros who competed on the 2005 Bassmaster Tour. These entries will be awarded, regardless of boat brand, on a first-come, first-served basis to anglers who enter all five events beginning at 8 a.m. Central time Oct. 21. To enter, call 270-252-1000 or visit FLWOutdoors.com. Deposits are $750 per tournament for pros and $150 per tournament for co-anglers.

From FLW