The 2017 FLW Tour rules, released on Monday, feature no significant changes to rules governing competition, but the deposit schedule for the upcoming season will require Tour competitors to lay out 60 percent more money prior to the first tournament than was required a year ago.
For the 2016 Tour season, competitors paid a $6,000 deposit upon registration, then a $4,200 installment before the season opener for a total of $10,200. That’s in contrast to the $16,800 they need to come up with prior to making a cast at the 2017 opener at Lake Guntersville in early February. The entry fees for the 2017 season will be $31,500 or $4,500 per tournament.
A full field for the 2017 FLW Tour will be 160 boats.
In addition, FLW announced it will not stage any Invitational tournaments next year. Instead, a seventh Tour event was added to the schedule.
One minor change made under Rule 11 which covers Boat Operation will allow pros to use “smart phones and/or tablets during tournament hours for GPS, mapping, weather, power generation, tidal charts, personal fishing notes and related data.” Previously, anglers had to gain approval from the tournament director to use mobile devices for such purposes in the event boat-installed electronics failed.
In light of B.A.S.S. announcing Monday that it will allow rods up to 10 feet in length in 2017, it's worth noting FLW Tour rules do not stipulate a length limit on fishing rods.
To read the complete 2017 FLW Tour rules, click here.
