For additional information, please contact:
Dave Washburn, communications director, (270) 252-1607
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
$1.4 Million 2002 Wal-Mart RCL Walleye championship Set for Mississippi
River
Red Wing, Minn. (Sept. 16, 2002) — The Mississippi River will serve as the
playing field for the world’s greatest walleye anglers during the 2002
Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit Championship – the world’s most lucrative
walleye tournament. With a $1.4 million purse, the winning pro angler stands
to take home up to $400,000 cash, and the winning co-angler could earn up to
$150,000 cash.
Ranger pro Mark Brumbaugh of Arcanum, Ohio, Crestliner pro Rick Olson of
Mina Lake, S.D., and Lund pro Scott Glorvigen of Grand Rapids, Minn., as
well as 2002 RCL Angler of the Year Tim Minnema are a few of the
walleye-fishing superstars who will be competing in the lucrative
championship Oct. 2-5 in Red Wing, Minn. In 2001, Dean Arnoldussen of
Kaukauna, Wis., won $400,000 at the RCL championship and instantly joined
the sport’s top all-time money winners. He will be competing again this
year.
More than 400 walleye anglers will take off from Treasure Island Casino and
Resort in Welch, Minn., during the four-day event. In the two-day opening
round, a full field will compete for one of 12 semifinal-round spots based
on accumulated weight. Weights will be cleared for the one-day semifinal
round, and the top 12 pros will compete for one of six final-round spots.
Co-angler competition will conclude with the semifinal round. The six pros
fishing in the one-day final round will again start at zero and will be
followed by an Outdoor Life Network camera crew. The winner is determined by
the heaviest catch on the final day. Pros and co-anglers fish for a combined
boat limit of five walleyes each day of competition.
Anglers qualified for the championship via four regular-season RCL Walleye
Circuit events or through more than 49 other sanctioned organizations and
events.
Directed by FLW Outdoors and named after Wal-Mart and boat manufacturers
Ranger, Crestliner and Lund, the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit is the world’s
most lucrative walleye fishing series. Each of the circuit’s four
regular-season tournaments featured a cash purse of up to $346,000 with
$90,000 in cash and prizes, including a fully-rigged Ranger, Crestliner or
Lund boat powered by Evinrude or Yamaha, going to the winning pro. The top
co-angler in each qualifying event earned $15,000 cash.
Weigh-ins during the first two days of the tournament will be held at
Treasure Island Casino and Resort starting at 3 p.m. The semifinal- and
final-round weigh-ins Oct. 4-5 will be held at the Hastings, Minn., Wal-Mart
located at 225 33rd St. West at 5 p.m. Friday and 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
Takeoff will be at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday and 8 a.m. Friday
at Treasure Island Casino and Resort.
Sponsors of the 2002 Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit are Wal-Mart, Castrol,
Conseco, Crestliner, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, Evinrude, Faded Glory,
Garmin, Kellogg’s, Lund, Minn Kota, Newell Rubbermaid, Poulan, Ranger Boats,
Snickers, Stanley, Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards.
Ranger, Crestliner, Lund, Evinrude and Yamaha are contingency sponsors for
the event. The winning pro is guaranteed $150,000 cash, but if he meets the
Ranger, Crestliner or Lund bonus requirements, he will win an additional
$150,000. If the winner also meets the Evinrude or Yamaha bonus
requirements, he will pocket an additional $100,000 for a total of $400,000
cash.
For more information, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call 270-252-1000.
