FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2004 SCHEDULE SET FOR $3.19 MILLION WAL-MART RCL WALLEYE TOUR
BENTON, Ky. (December 22, 2003) =AD Professional walleye anglers are poised=
to earn more money than ever before as the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Tour=
returns in 2004 for its fourth full season of action. The tour, which=
features the top walleye pros from the United States and Canada, will pay=
out as much as $3.19 million in 2004, including a $185,000 Angler of the=
Year program. The 2004 RCL Tour will make four regular-season stops on the=
nation=92s most prolific walleye hot spots, followed by the $1.4 million=
Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Championship on the Mississippi River in Moline, Ill.,=
Sept. 29-Oct. 2.
The tour will make its first stop March 31-April 3 on the Illinois River=
in Spring Valley, Ill., followed by an event presented by Yamaha on Lake=
Erie in Port Clinton, Ohio, April 28-May 1. The third regular-season event=
is scheduled for May 26-29 on Devils Lake near Spirit Lake, N.D., and the=
season will close on Lake Oahe near Pierre, S.D., June 16-19.
=93The 2004 season, with its schedule and lucrative payouts, encapsulates=
why the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Tour is the nation=92s premier=
walleye-tournament circuit,=94 said Mark Dorn, director of walleye=
operations for FLW Outdoors. =93The tour=92s continued growth and exposure=
is very attractive to the world=92s best walleye anglers and their fans.=94=
=20
Each regular-season event will pay out as much as $401,750 in cash and=
prizes, including as much as $50,000 cash plus a Ranger, Crestliner or Lund=
boat powered by Yamaha or Evinrude and trailer going to the winning pro.=
The winning co-angler will earn as much as $15,000 cash in regular-season=
events. The winning pro can also earn another $1,000 from Garmin if he uses=
only Garmin electronics and at least one unit is a qualifying Garmin=
Fishfinder or GPS/sounder, and Ranger boat owners can earn points in RCL=
Tour events that count toward the Ranger Cup incentive program.=20
The top 120 pros and 120 co-anglers based on year-end points standings=
will advance to the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Championship. The rest of the=
200-boat championship field is comprised of anglers who qualified through=
the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye League and other sanctioned organizations.
The winning pro at the championship will earn as much as $400,000, which=
includes a guaranteed cash award of $150,000 plus a $150,000 bonus if he is=
a Ranger, Crestliner or Lund boat owner who meets contingency guidelines=
and a $100,000 bonus from Evinrude or Yamaha if contingency guidelines are=
met.
The co-angler champion will earn as much as $150,000, which includes a=
guaranteed cash award of $75,000 plus a $45,000 bonus if he meets Ranger,=
Crestliner or Lund contingency guidelines and a $30,000 bonus from Evinrude=
or Yamaha if contingency guidelines are met.
Entry fees remain unchanged for the third consecutive year at $1,250 for=
pros and $500 for co-anglers in regular-season events. Cash prizes are=
awarded through 60th place at qualifiers, and cash awards are guaranteed=
through 100th place at the championship. Including sponsor bonuses, cash=
awards are available through 200th place at the championship. Entry fees=
for the championship remain at $1,500 for pros and $750 for co-anglers.
RCL Tour anglers will also reap the benefits of the $185,000 Angler of=
the Year program, which awards $10,000 plus a Ranger, Crestliner or Lund=
boat powered by Evinrude or Yamaha and trailer to the pro who earns the=
most points during the regular season. The top co-angler point-getter will=
earn $2,000 plus a Ranger, Crestliner or Lund boat and trailer. Cash prizes=
are awarded through 30th place in the standings, with the second-place pro=
also earning a boat. Each angler who receives weight credit in a tournament=
earns points, with 200 points going to the winner, 199 to second, 198 to=
third, and so on. These points determine angler standings.
In RCL Tour competition, pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day=
and compete for a combined boat weight. One hundred and sixty-five pros and=
165 co-anglers comprise a full field in regular-season events. The full=
field competes for two days to determine the top 20 pros and 20 co-anglers=
who will advance to the semifinal round. Weights are cleared for=
semifinal-round competition, and anglers compete for one day to determine=
the top 10 who will advance to Saturday=92s final round. The top 10 pros=
and 10 co-anglers continue competition, with the winner determined by the=
heaviest two-day weight.
Ranger, Crestliner or Lund owners may begin submitting nontransferable,=
nonrefundable deposits beginning at 8 a.m. CST Jan. 12. For all other=
entries, deposits will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. CST Jan. 15. While=
co-angler participation is open to the general public, pro participation is=
open only to Ranger, Crestliner or Lund owners. Anglers entering with a=
partner will be given priority, and anglers entering all four events with a=
partner will receive top priority. Entries are accepted online at=
FLWOutdoors.com or by calling (270) 252-1000 no earlier than the dates=
listed above.
Wal-Mart and many of America=92s most respected companies support FLW=
Outdoors and its five 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.
2004 Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Tour Schedule
March 31-April 3 Illinois River Spring Valley, Ill.
April 28-May 1 Lake Erie Port Clinton, Ohio
Presented by Yamaha
May 26-29 Devils Lake Spirit Lake, N.D.
June 16-19 Lake Oahe Pierre, S.D.
Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Championship
Sept. 29-Oct. 2 Mississippi River Moline, Ill.
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