additional information, please contact:
Dave Washburn, Communications Director, (270) 252-1607
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
$7 MILLION WAL-MART BASS FISHING LEAGUE TO VISIT DETROIT RIVER
WOODHAVEN, Mich. (Aug. 5, 2002) – The $7 million Wal-Mart Bass Fishing
League for weekend anglers will visit the Detroit River Aug. 24 for the
fourth 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
Elizabeth Park beginning at 3 p.m.
The division’s final regular-season event, the two-day Michigan Super
Tournament, will be held Sept. 14-15 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.