FLW Announces 2008 Schedule

[Press Release]

http://www.walleyecentral.com/articles/?a=1693

[Juls]

"The pro and co-angler Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year winners in the FLW Walleye Tour will also receive free entries for the 2009 season – a value of $6,000 and $1,600, respectively."

This is new...:)

And, it's finally confirmed...the 3rd event is Cass Lake.:raisin:

This is new too...
"Yamaha and Evinrude will award an additional 50 percent of Ranger Cup winnings to these anglers if “Powered by Yamaha” or “Powered by E-Tec” guidelines are met."

Juls
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BENTON, Ky. (Nov 1, 2007) – FLW Outdoors announced its 2008 Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour schedule today complete with a new Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year award, top pro awards of $100,000 offered in every qualifier and a top pro award of $150,000 offered in the tour’s lucrative championship, which will return to Cleveland Sept. 24-27.

Qualifying for the championship will begin April 16-19 with a tournament on the walleye-rich waters of Lake Erie in Port Clinton, Ohio, followed by a tournament on Lake Sharpe in Pierre, S.D., May 7-10. Cass Lake in Cass Lake, Minn., will host the season’s third event June 11-14, and Bays de Noc in Escanaba, Mich., will host the fourth and final qualifier July 23-26.

Every stop will be featured in a one-hour episode of “FLW Outdoors,” which is broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States. “FLW Outdoors” is also broadcast in Canada on WFN (World Fishing Network) and to more than 429 million households in the United Kingdom, Europe, Russia, Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East through a distribution agreement with Matchroom Sport, making it the most widely distributed fishing program in the world. Additionally, FLW Outdoors is proud to provide tournament coverage to more than 800,000 servicemembers stationed around the world in 177 countries and aboard Navy ships through broadcasts on the American Forces Network. The program airs Sunday mornings at 11 Eastern time.

The top pro award in each qualifier includes $60,000 plus $40,000 in Ranger, G3, Evinrude and Yamaha contingency bonuses. In the Co-angler Division, the top award includes $10,000 plus $10,000 in contingency bonuses. At the end of the season, the top 10 Ranger Cup participants will also receive bonuses ranging from a new Ranger 620VS to $1,500 cash. Yamaha and Evinrude will award an additional 50 percent of Ranger Cup winnings to these anglers if “Powered by Yamaha” or “Powered by E-Tec” guidelines are met. Ranger Cup guidelines are posted at Rangerboats.com.

Even pros finishing as low as 50th place will receive as much as $2,500 in every qualifier. Co-anglers will also share the rewards, with 50th place receiving as much as $700 in every qualifier.

FLW Walleye Tour qualifiers are four-day, cumulative weight events that begin on Wednesday and conclude on Saturday. Weigh-ins the first three days are held lakeside and the top 10 pros and co-anglers weigh in Saturday at a local Wal-Mart. Pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day and fish for a combined boat weight.

The top 50 pros and co-anglers in the Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year points standings advance to the championship along with the boater and co-angler points champions from the Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Heartland divisions of the Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League for a total field of 54 pros and 54 co-anglers. The pro and co-angler Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year winners in the FLW Walleye Tour will also receive free entries for the 2009 season – a value of $6,000 and $1,600, respectively.

Entry fees for 2008 are unchanged at $1,500 per event for pros and $400 per event for co-anglers. The top 50 pros and co-anglers from the 2007 FLW Walleye Tour season and the top 10 boaters and co-anglers from each FLW Walleye League division in 2007 have priority entry into the 2008 FLW Walleye Tour along with Ranger, G3, Champion and Stratos boat owners. Entry dates will be released soon.

For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.

2008 Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour Schedule

Qualifying Events

April 16-19 Lake Erie/Port Clinton, OH
May 7-10 Lake Sharpe/Pierre, S.D.
June 11-14 Cass Lake/Cass Lake, Minn.
July 23-26 Bays de Noc/Escanaba, Mich.

Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour Championship

Sept. 24-27 Lake Erie/Cleveland, Ohio

[Thats a crowd]

150 boats on Cass!!!??? Hope they explore the whole chain. Don't forget your bumpers!!

[Juls]

There won't be any boundries, so the competitors will not be restricted to Cass only.

You win the prize for the fastest bash though...job well done! lol

Juls

[Payouts]

Anyone no why the payouts went down for the FLW Walleye Tour?

[disappointed angler]

Actually went down quite a bit - here's what I put together reviewing the 2006 and 2007 FLW Walleye Tour brochures:

Comparing 06 vs. 07 vs. 08 and it's not a good trend in my opinion:

2006: $1360/pro $360/co - $1.032M in entry fees and $2.6882M potential payouts (with bonus)

2007: $1500/pro $400/co - $1.14M in entry fees and $2.71305M potential payouts (with bonus)

2008: $1500/pro $400/co - $1.14M in entry fees and $2.496M potential payouts (with bonus)


Several questions come to my mind:
- Why are G3 and Ranger paying less bonus than in previous years? Both Yamaha and Evinrude increased their payouts - why not at least hold G3 and Ranger to their 2007 levels, it's not like they aren't selling boats because of this circuit...
- Increase in entry fees in 2007 of $108K only accounted for an increase in payouts (with bonus) of $24.85K
- Where did $217K+ of payouts(with bonus) go from 2007 vs. 2008 levels?
- Since we are filling the events, why isn't the walleye tour seeing the benefit of all the additional sponsor dollars that are flowing into the FLW? In 2006 there were 34 main sponsors and 11 associate, in 2007 those numbers grew to 36 main sponsors and 14 associate. Additional sponsors in the FLW are not reflected in the dollars that we are fishing for - what's up with that?

Am I way off base here or what do others think?

[wow-that hurts]

disappointed angler says it all...
The FLW says its growing but it's not allowing the anglers to do so too. I would love to get an interview posted with a FLW top guy rationalizing this.
Everything is going up fuel prices, hotel, baits, lures, but the payouts are going down, a man would have to be a pretty poor buisness man to consider investing that much money with little or no return.
You better have a whoooole bunch of money. Plus, this should start thinning the talent level too. The talent pool had been growing. Also its making it even harder unless you own a Ranger or G3. Why not call it the Ranger Cup Circuit?

PWT-if your still alive, this might be your chance.

[Stacker1]

Did they take money from the angler entry fee's or lessen the payouts from the sponsor pool? If it is the first, thats bad, if its the latter, well, thats business.

[Stacker1]

The anglers entry fee's remain the same for 2008 and the cash payout stays the same. The same amount of money is going back to EVERYONE. The only place that has shrunk a bit is contingency's.

[KHedquist]

I see the Leagurs get first crack at Cass, going to be crowded.

Juls, you and Rick bringing the puppy dogs I assume, have to bring Molly


quoting Mr McNamara. A SKUNKED ANGLER SHOULD BE DELIRIOUSLY CONTENT TO GO FISHING AND ACCEPT HUMILITY:exactly:. moreyes <'{{^}}< :cheers:http://www.walleyecentral.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=106750

[questioner]

How many walleye guys made the top-10 in ranger cup points this year?

[Juls]

>How many walleye guys made the top-10 in ranger cup points
>this year?

10 anglers. http://www.rangerboats.com/staticPages/rcupwall.cfm

Ranger Cup-Walleye payouts for 07 were:

1st Place Ranger 620VS*
2nd Place - $6,500
3rd Place - $5,000
4th Place - $4,500
5th Place - $4,000
6th Place - $3,500
7th Place - $3,000
8th Place - $2,500
9th Place - $2,000
10th Place - $1,500

Juls

[Raybob]

Interesting - I've been doing a lil' reading on Bass/The Ranger Cup vs Walleye/The Ranger Cup Walleye. Also I just read the other thread "FLW Walleye Cuts Payouts"

-start point ~ http://www.rangerboats.com/staticPages/rcuppoint.cfm ~ also checkout the ranger links

...lots of meat & tatters if you follow the surf links & use google

da old fart,
Bebob da I-Bobray

[2008-621]

have they said who the new wraps are

[Juls]

Not yet. We found out last year in December, I think?

Juls

[JLDII]

So much for any FLW guys fishing the Wave Wacker or the Merc Nationals. They're both the same week as the Cass Lake event.

[wackit]

Jack, how many would even fish the wacker if it was an open date? it appears that event has run its course. that cass lake flw will be very cool. lot's of traffic for a small lake, however with a little imagination - there are so many areas that can hold fish that time of year. pike bay, andrusia, buck, kitchi, shallow, deep...lots of great fun to be uncovered there.

[JLDII]

I believe the biggest reason that tourney has lost its luster is because since the FLW came into exsistance, the touring pro's just haven't had the free time to fish it. Used to see all the top pro's fishing it, but today they are always having to run from one curcuit event to another. It isn't that they wouldn't like to fish it, but the "curcuits" are stretching their time too thin to do it. IMHO, it is still the toughest independent team format tournament, and on one of the best walleye waters in the country. $75,000 for first place with talk of it going to $100,000 soon! Plus, the Merc Nationals on Winnebago as part of "Walleye Weekend" is nothing to look down on either.

[Scott Steil]

I can relate to what Jack is saying. It has been many years since I have been able to fish the Wacker. Every year the FLW has an early-mid June tour event and that has to be our priority if you are fishing all of the events. Prefishing time is precious and my focus has to be on the tour.

Scott Steil

[Troy Loeckle]

I don't understand the discontent from some people. These are way over 100% payouts. We are happy locally to fish for 80% payouts at the grass-roots level. The sponsors owe nothing to the anglers. It sure would be nice to have greater bonus money but if the companies are going in a different direction it is their choice. The FLW has done an awesome job to increase tournament payouts. Maybe they should look for more or different sponsors to fill the void. Doesn't Mr.Jacobs own other boat brands? Just the way I see it. OUT... Captain Anchor

[Robert M]

Not to change the subject here but I dont see how the Wave Wacker has lost any luster due to touring pros not being able to make it.They still get plenty of boats and the competition is as stiff as any out there.I think it is one of the best run tournaments out there and in 20 years you hardly hear anyone complaining about entry fees and payouts etc.Its a great group of guys having fun and I hope it continues that way.

[JLDII_UL]

Don't get me wrong, I still think its a great tourney, but it just doesn't get all the big names it used to. It is always fun to fish against guys you see and read about in the magazines. It's even more fun to place ahead of those guys too!!:rockit:

[Rg]

Jack,

Maybe there wont even be a Wave Wacker in 2008. I'm betting there wont be one, but I may be wrong. If there is I will have to try to compete against you because you are my hero!!!!!!!! :)

Grates

[JLDII]

:funnypost:

[JLDII]

:funnypost:

[Robert M]

Im sure there will be a Wacker,I just hope the slot is the same as last year.There might not be as many tour guys fishing it as there used to be but there are some that show up.Jack do you fish the Wacker?I dont remember seeing you there the last couple years.Like I said before this is one of the best tournaments out there.Great group of guys and a lot of very good sticks.And no wining about entry fees and payouts etc.Cant wait till next June.

[Robert M]

Im sure there will be a Wacker,I just hope the slot is the same as last year.There might not be as many tour guys fishing it as there used to be but there are some that show up.Jack do you fish the Wacker?I dont remember seeing you there the last couple years.Like I said before this is one of the best tournaments out there.Great group of guys and a lot of very good sticks.And no wining about entry fees and payouts etc.Cant wait till next June.

[JLDII]

Haven't fished it the last couple years. Seems I'm the only guide on Mille Lacs thats willing to work instead of compete in it. That's fine with me, gauranteed paycheck!!

[JLDII]

Haven't fished it the last couple years. Seems I'm the only guide on Mille Lacs thats willing to work instead of compete in it. That's fine with me, gauranteed paycheck!!

[rangerpat]

Hey Jack, email me your phone #. Me and a couple guys are contemplating coming to either Mille Lacs or LOW, in early January for first ice. Pat
rangerpat01@yahoo.com

[rangerpat]

Hey Jack, email me your phone #. Me and a couple guys are contemplating coming to either Mille Lacs or LOW, in early January for first ice. Pat
rangerpat01@yahoo.com