FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WAL-MART RCL WALLEYE TOUR SEASON OPENER MOVED TO ILLINOIS RIVER
BENTON, Ky. (March 19, 2003) – The 2003 Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Tour season opener, originally slated for the Detroit River in Trenton, Mich., April 2-5, has been moved to the Illinois River in Spring Valley, Ill. The date remains unchanged.
Tournament officials decided to change the venue based on significant ice cover on Lake St. Clair and Lake Huron that would result in unsafe conditions on practice days and during competition on the Detroit River.
“As ice breaks up on the lakes, a significant portion of it flows down the Detroit River,” said Mark Dorn, director of walleye operations for FLW Outdoors. “This ice flow would make navigating the river hazardous at best.”
Dorn went on to say that the decision to move the tournament was made with the safety of the 330 RCL Tour competitors in mind.
No action is required for anglers previously registered to fish the Detroit River. Their entry fees will automatically apply to the Illinois River tournament. Registered anglers who are unable to attend the relocated tournament may transfer their entry fee to another RCL Tour event (based on available space), transfer into a Wal-Mart RCL Walleye League tournament, or request a full refund by calling FLW Outdoors at (270) 252-1000.
Weigh-ins during the first two days of the four-day tournament will be held at Spring Valley Boat Club in Spring Valley, Ill., starting at 3 p.m. each day. The semifinal- and final-round weigh-ins April 4-5 will be held at the Wal-Mart located at 1650 38th Street in Peru, Ill., at 3 p.m. each day. Takeoff will be at 7 o’clock each morning at Spring Valley Boat Club.
Official housing for the Illinois River tournament is available at the Econo Lodge on Route 251 in Peru, Ill.
FLW Outdoors is the world’s leading marketer of competitive fishing. In 2003, the RCL Walleye Tour offers anglers a $3.07 million overall purse plus a $181,000 Angler-of-the-Year program that offers cash awards to the top 30 points winners. Each qualifying tournament features cash awards through 50th place and a $386,000 total purse with $90,000 in cash and prizes, including a Ranger, Crestliner or Lund boat powered by Evinrude or Yamaha, awarded to the winning pro and $15,000 cash awarded to the winning co-angler.
The $1.4 million Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Championship features guaranteed cash awards through 100th place. Including sponsor bonuses, cash awards are available through 200th place at the championship. A guaranteed cash award of $150,000 plus potential sponsor bonuses totaling $250,000 will go the RCL Championship winner for a total pro award of $400,000. The champion co-angler will win a guaranteed cash award of $75,000 plus potential sponsor bonuses totaling $75,000 for a co-angler award of $150,000. One hundred and forty pros and 140 co-anglers – the top 35 from each RCL qualifying event – qualify for the championship. The remaining 60 spots in either division will be filled by anglers who compete in RCL-sanctioned events for a total of 200 championship contenders in each division.
Featuring a boater and co-angler format, the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Tour appeals to anglers of all skill levels. Pros and co-anglers fish for a combined boat weight and are randomly paired each day. At the conclusion of a two-day opening round, the field is cut to the top 20 pros and top 20 co-anglers who fish the one-day semifinal round. Only the top 10 pros and top 10 co-anglers advance to the one-day final round. Each boat is allowed a six-walleye limit on each day of competition.
Wal-Mart and many of America’s most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its six tournament trails. Wal-Mart has been the title sponsor of FLW Outdoors since 1997. For a complete list of FLW Outdoors sponsors and for more information about the premier products and services they offer, please visit FLWOutdoors.com.
For more information about the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Tour, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For housing reservations at the Econo Lodge, call (815) 224-2500.
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