FLW Outdoors Announces 2003 Schedule, $5.5 Million Purse.

Sports Editors, Outdoor & Fishing Writers

FLW Outdoors, the world's leading marketer of competitive fishing tournaments, announced Monday its 2003 Wal-Mart FLW Tour schedule featuring an unprecedented $5.5 million cash purse.

The tour, which features cash purses ranging from $500,000 to $1.5 million, kicks off Jan. 22-25 on Lake Okeechobee in Clewiston, Fla., then travels to the Atchafalaya Basin near Morgan City, La., Feb. 12-15 and Lake Murray, Columbia, S.C., March 12-15. Beaver Lake at Rogers, Ark., will host the $1 million Wal-Mart Open April 9-12 followed by a tour stop on Kentucky Lake in Benton, Ky., May 14-17 and the $1 million Forrest Wood Open on Wheeler Lake in Florence, Ala., June 18-21.

Anglers ranking in the top 48 spots following these six regular-season tournaments will advance to the $1.5 million Jacobs Cup in Richmond, Va., where the world champion will net a record $500,000 cash and the pro finishing 48th will win $12,200 cash, enough to cover entry fees for the entire season. The co-angler champion will receive $25,000 cash.

"Since the inception of the Wal-Mart FLW Tour in 1996, our goal has been to put professional bass fishing on the same level as other professional sports in terms of awards, prestige and national awareness," said Irwin L. Jacobs, FLW Outdoors chairman and namesake of the Jacobs Cup. "I think our 2003 schedule is proof of that commitment and how far we have come toward achieving our goal. At no other time in the history of the sport have the opportunities for professional anglers been so great."

Wal-Mart FLW Tour entry fees remain unchanged for the fourth consecutive year, which means the 2003 tour will pay out 210 percent of entry fees, an all-time high. During the past two years, Wal-Mart FLW Tour purses have increased by more than $1 million.

"The `Road to Richmond' is paved with gold," said Virginia Governor Mark Warner. "That gold is not just for FLW Tour competitors who will be casting for a share of $1.5 million in our great capital. The Jacobs Cup will also generate millions of dollars for the local economy as it showcases the James River to the nation's 77 million outdoor enthusiasts and draws thousands of spectators to weigh-ins and an outdoor show at the Richmond Convention Center. This tournament is a significant economic development victory for the Commonwealth."

The Wal-Mart FLW Tour and highlights from the EverStart Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League and Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit are broadcast on the Outdoor Life Network as part of "FLW Outdoors," which features the latest tournament news and in-depth discussions with the world's best anglers. "FLW Outdoors" airs at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. EST Saturdays as well as 1 p.m. EST Sundays and 7 p.m. EST Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Sponsors of the 2002 Wal-Mart FLW Tour are Wal-Mart, ALPO Pet Foods, BFGoodrich Tires, Castrol, Chevy Trucks, Coleman, Conseco, Eagle Electronics, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, Evinrude, Faded Glory, Frito-Lay, Fujifilm, Kellogg's, Land O'Lakes, Maxwell House, Minn Kota, Newell Rubbermaid, Pepsi, Poulan, Ranger Boats, Shop-Vac, Snickers, Stanley Works, US Bank, Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards. Associate sponsors are Abu Garcia, Act II, Berkley, David Sunflower Seeds, Eagle Claw, Hover-Lure, Laker, Plano and Solar Bat.

Stratos and Champion have joined the tour as associate sponsors in 2003 along with long-standing Wal-Mart FLW Tour sponsor Ranger Boats.