Tournaments
FLW's tournament circuits are geared to meet the needs of all anglers regardless of experience level or ability. Ranging from bass fishing to walleye fishing, from weekend competitions to top-level pro events, FLW offers a complete array of tournament-fishing options that allow anglers to progress at their own pace. With tournament trails designed for every level of fishing ability, anglers can always find a viable FLW's tournament circuit tailor made to their specific level of experience.
Forrest Wood Cup
The Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing, is the most prestigious tournament of the year.
The 2012 Forrest Wood Cup will feature the top 46 pros and 46 co-anglers FLW has to offer. Competitors include the top 35 pros and 35 co-anglers from the 2012 FLW Tour Majors, the top five pros and five co-anglers from the 2011 FLW Tour Opens, the 2011 EverStart Series pro and co-angler champions, the 2012 BFL All-American boater and co-angler champions, the 2012 FLW College Fishing national champions, the 2011 Forrest Wood Cup pro and co-angler champions, the 2011 FLW Tour Angler of the Year and Co-angler of the Year, and the 2012 TBF boater and co-angler national champions. Pros compete for a top award of $500,000, while co-anglers cast away for as much as $50,000.
Walmart FLW Tour
The world's premier bass-fishing tournament circuit - home of the Forrest Wood Cup championship.
Since 1996, the Walmart FLW Tour has represented the highest level of tournament bass fishing in the FLW hierarchy. The season consists of 10 tournaments where as many as 150 pros and as many co-anglers compete for as much as $125,000 and $25,000, respectively, per tournament. Anglers also fish for valuable points in the hopes of becoming the Angler of the Year or the Co-angler of the Year as well as qualifying for the Forrest Wood Cup.
EverStart Series
Where the sport's emerging stars compete for big money and priority entry into the FLW Tour.
The EverStart Series offers regional pros the chance to garner the experience necessary to advance to the FLW Tour. The EverStart Series consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Southeast, Texas and Western. Each division consists of four tournaments where competitors fish for valuable points in each division that could help them earn the Angler of the Year or Co-angler of the Year title. The top 40 pros and 40 co-anglers from each division also qualify for the EverStart Series Championship.
Walmart Bass Fishing League (BFL)
Grass roots meet big money in this 24-division league devoted to weekend anglers.
The Walmart Bass Fishing League (BFL) is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers. This circuit offers bigger prizes to those who qualify for regional championships and those who make it to one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Walmart BFL All-American. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the EverStart Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.
National Guard FLW College Fishing
The country's largest tournament-fishing competition for college bass clubs.
National Guard FLW College Fishing consists of five divisions – Central, North, South, Southeast and West. Each division consists of four qualifying tournaments with the winning team earning $5,000 for their college bass club. The top five teams from each qualifying tournament advance to a regional championship where the first-place team wins a Ranger 177TR bass boat wrapped in school colors with a 90-horsepower outboard motor for their fishing club. The top five teams from each regional tournament advance to the national championship where the first-place team wins a prize package worth $100,000: $50,000 cash and a Ranger 177TR bass boat wrapped in school colors with a 90-horsepower outboard motor for their fishing club plus $25,000 for the school they represent.
High School Fishing
The High School Fishing program includes a High School State Championship for every state in the continental United States and the province of Ontario, Canada. Two-person teams from grades 9 through 12 compete and are paired with a “coach” who provides a boat for competition. The winning team from each state championship advances to a High School Fishing Regional Championship that is held in conjunction with a National Guard FLW College Fishing Regional Championship on a college campus. The winning team from each regional championship advances to the High School Fishing National Championship, which is held on a college campus in conjunction with the National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship.
Boats and a travel allowance are provided for teams that advance to the regional and national championships. The winners of the High School Fishing National Championship each will receive a $5,000 scholarship for use at a university of his or her choice. All SAF members and High School Fishing State Championship contestants automatically qualify for High School Fishing’s largest event, the SAF High School Fishing World Finals.
National Guard FLW Walleye Tour
A lucrative professional walleye tournament circuit with the highest profile in the sport.
The National Guard FLW Walleye Tour consists of four regular-season tournaments and a championship where pros fish for as much as $100,000 and co-anglers compete for as much as $15,000.
Anglers in FLW Walleye Tour competition also compete for valuable points in hopes of earning the Angler of the Year or Co-angler of the Year title.
Getting started in tournament fishing: A primer
