BENTON, Ky. (Jan. 23, 2006) - In a move that will greatly expand tournament opportunities for the nation's walleye anglers, FLW Outdoors announced Friday the addition of G3 and Polar Kraft as premier boat sponsors of the $2.69 million Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour and $480,380 Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League alongside Ranger Boats. Champion and Stratos remain associate sponsors, giving anglers who run any of the five brands priority entry into both circuits.
G3, Polar Kraft and Ranger owners also qualify for contingency bonuses in every FLW Walleye Tour and FLW Walleye League tournament. Pros running the brands will compete for a top award of $100,000, including $60,000 cash plus a $25,000 cash bonus from G3, Polar Kraft or Ranger and a $15,000 cash bonus from Evinrude or Yamaha, in every FLW Walleye Tour event if contingency guidelines are met. In the no-entry-fee $675,000 FLW Walleye Tour Championship, G3, Polar Kraft and Ranger owners in the Pro Division will compete for a top award of $150,000, including $100,000 cash plus a $25,000 cash bonus from G3, Polar Kraft or Ranger and a $25,000 cash bonus from Evinrude or Yamaha.
Co-anglers will compete for a top award of $18,000, including $10,000 cash plus a $5,000 cash bonus from G3, Polar Kraft or Ranger and a $3,000 cash bonus from Evinrude or Yamaha, in every Walleye Tour event. In the FLW Walleye Tour Championship, G3, Polar Kraft and Ranger owners in the Co-angler Division will compete for a top award of $22,000, including $11,000 cash plus a $6,000 cash bonus from G3, Polar Kraft or Ranger and a $5,000 cash bonus from Evinrude or Yamaha.
The top 50 pros and co-anglers from the 2005 FLW Walleye Tour and the top 10 boaters and co-anglers from each FLW Walleye League division in 2005 may register for the 2006 FLW Walleye Tour beginning Jan. 31, 2006. G3, Polar Kraft and Ranger boat owners may register beginning Feb. 6. Champion and Stratos boat owners may register beginning Feb. 7. All other entries will be accepted beginning Feb. 8. Anglers who enter all four qualifying tournaments by Feb. 8 will be given priority over anglers who enter fewer than four events. Anglers who enter all four qualifying tournaments with a counterpart (pro or co-angler) will be given top priority. Entry fees are $1,360 per event for pros and $360 per event for co-anglers.
As a pathway to the FLW Walleye Tour, the FLW Walleye League features three divisions - Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin - with three, one-day $25,955 qualifying tournaments and one, two-day $34,945 super tournament per division. G3, Polar Kraft and Ranger boaters compete for a top award of $4,000 in each qualifier, including $3,500 cash plus a $500 cash bonus from G3, Polar Kraft or Ranger. The top co-angler award in each qualifier is $2,000, including $1,750 cash plus a $250 cash bonus from G3, Polar Kraft or Ranger. In super tournaments the top boater award is $5,250, including $4,500 cash plus a $750 cash bonus from G3, Polar Kraft or Ranger. The top co-angler award in each super tournament is $2,625, including $2,250 cash plus a $375 cash bonus from G3, Polar Kraft or Ranger.
In the no-entry-fee $141,950 Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League Finals, the top boater will earn a 621 Ranger powered by Evinrude while the top co-angler receives a G3 V185F powered by Yamaha. The second-place boater will receive a Polar Kraft V1910 Pro DC powered by Yamaha. G3, Polar Kraft and Ranger owners finishing third through 20th in the Boater Division and second through 20th in the Co-angler Division will also receive cash bonuses if contingency guidelines are met.
G3, Polar Kraft and Ranger boat owners may register for the FLW Walleye League beginning Feb. 9. Champion and Stratos boat owners may register beginning Feb. 10. All other entries will be accepted beginning Feb. 13. Anglers who enter all four qualifying tournaments by Feb. 13 will be given priority over anglers who enter fewer than four events. Anglers who enter all four qualifying tournaments with a counterpart (boater or co-angler) will be given top priority. Entry fees are $150 per qualifier for boaters and $75 per qualifier for co-anglers. Super tournament entry fees are $200 for boaters and $100 for co-anglers.
Entries for the 2006 season may be made online at FLWOutdoors.com or by calling (270) 252-1000. Phones open at 8 a.m. Central time. Schedules, complete rules and tournament details for the 2006 season will be available online at FLWOutdoors.com.
As an FLW Outdoors sponsor, G3 and Polar Kraft will be featured in a variety of media formats, including the "FLW Outdoors" TV program on FSN. G3 and Polar Kraft will also benefit from prominent advertisements in FLW Outdoors Magazine and on FLWOutdoors.com as well as signage at tournaments and product displays.
"We are thrilled to welcome G3 and Polar Kraft alongside Ranger as premier boat sponsors of the Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour and Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League," said FLW Outdoors Chairman, Irwin L. Jacobs. "With these well established brands, including Champion and Stratos as associate sponsors, we are able to offer walleye anglers more opportunities than ever before."
Named after the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, Forrest L. Wood, FLW Outdoors administers the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Stren Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series and Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series. These circuits offer combined purses exceeding $36.5 million through 235 events in 2006.
For more information on Wal-Mart, visit Wal-Mart.com. For more information on FLW Outdoors and its tournament programs, including complete contingency guidelines and bonus requirements, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.
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