FLW released the 2018 FLW Tour rules last week and there are a few additions that stand out.
> The section of the rules governing “Ties” has been expanded. For FLW Tour qualifying tournaments and the Forrest Wood Cup in 2017, ties were handled as follows:
QUALIFIERS: The heaviest one-day catch for the tournament will break ties on day 2. If a tie remains, it will be broken first by total number of fish for the tournament, then by total number of live fish for the tournament, then by point standings and then by lottery. Ties on day 3 will be resolved by day-2 standings. Ties on day 4 will be resolved by day-3 standings.
FORREST WOOD CUP: The heaviest one-day catch for the tournament will break ties on day 2. If a tie remains, it will be broken first by total number of fish for the tournament, then by total number of live fish for the tournament, then by qualifying circuit rank (with FLW Tour being first, FLW Series being second, BFL being third, TBF being fourth and College Fishing being fifth) and then by lottery. Ties on day 3 will be resolved by day-2 standings.
For 2018, a one-hour fish-off has been added to the tie-breaker criteria as a last resort. The new rule regarding ties now reads:
QUALIFIERS: The heaviest one-day catch for the tournament will break ties on day 2. If a tie remains, it will be broken first by the second heaviest one-day catch for the tournament, then by total number of fish for the tournament, then by total number of live fish for the tournament, and then by Angler of the Year or Co-angler of the Year standings. If a tie remains for first place in the co-angler division, it will be broken by a one-hour fish-off. All other pro and co-angler positions will remain tied with contestants tied below the cut position awarded points equally based on the tied position. For ties in money positions, awards will be combined and split equally among the tied contestants. For pro ties in the cut position, each tied contestant will advance to day 3. Ties on day 3 will be resolved by day-2 standings. If a tie remains, it will be broken first by the heaviest one-day catch for the tournament, then by second heaviest one-day catch for the tournament, then by third heaviest one-day catch for the tournament, then by total number of fish for the tournament, then by total number of live fish for the tournament, and then by Angler of the Year standings. If a tie remains below the cut position, contestants will remain tied with awards combined and split equally among the tied contestants and points awarded equally based on the tied position. For ties in the cut position, each tied pro will advance to day 4. Ties on day 4 will be resolved by day-3 standings. If a tie remains, it will be broken first by the heaviest one-day catch for the tournament, then by second heaviest one-day catch for the tournament, then by third heaviest one-day catch for the tournament, then by fourth-heaviest one-day catch for the tournament, then by total number of fish for the tournament, then by total number of live fish for the tournament, and then by Angler of the Year standings. If a tie remains below first place, contestants will remain tied with awards combined and split equally among the tied contestants and points awarded equally based on the tied position. If a tie remains for first place, it will be broken by a one-hour fish-off.
FORREST WOOD CUP: The heaviest one-day catch for the tournament will break ties on day 2. If a tie remains, it will be broken first by second heaviest one-day catch for the tournament, then by total number of fish for the tournament and then by total number of live fish for the tournament. If a tie remains for the cut position, the contestants will remain tied and will each advance to day 3. If a tie remains below the cut position, contestant will remain tied with awards combined and split equally among the tied contestants. Ties on day 3 will be resolved by day-2 standings. If a tie remains, it will be broken first by heaviest one-day catch for the tournament, then by second heaviest one-day catch for the tournament and then by third heaviest one-day catch for the tournament, then by total number of fish for the tournament and then by total number of live fish for the tournament. If a tie remains for first place, it will be broken by a one-our fish-off. All other positions will remain tied with awards combined and split equally among the tied contestants.
> In addition, FLW will require FLW Tour competitors to display a minimum 12-inch wide FLW Tour logo on both sides of their boat above the waterline on the rear third of the boat or on the driver’s windshield during each day of competition. Previously, FLW did not stipulate its logo had to appear on any competitor’s boat. Also for 2018, anglers must display a 4-inch wide FLW logo on their tournament jersey as opposed to a 5-inch version a year ago.
