Today FLW Outdoors announced a new Wal-Mart sponsored competitive bass fishing trail called the FLW Series, as well as a revamped Bassmaster Classic-like qualification process for the Forrest L. Wood Championship.


Few details are available right now, but BassFan will have much more in the next few days. Here's a quick rundown of the high points. Initial BassFan analysis appears in blue.

FLW Series Format

The FLW Series is composed of five events. It's a "companion" series to the FLW Tour, which remains intact, meaning the events are tour level – not below the FLW Tour.

> The five-event Series, alongside the FLW Tour, means FLW Outdoors will offer 11 tour-level events in 2006, plus a championship. That matches the 11-event Bassmaster Elite Series and Bassmaster Classic. BASS, however, will also host three Majors next year.

The 200-boat Series field can fish from their own boats all 4 days of competition. Anglers can display any logos (except alcohol and tobacco) on the first 3 days, but only FLW sponsor logos will be allowed on clothing for day 4.

> On the FLW Tour, anglers are only allowed to fish from their boats on days 1 and 2, and sponsor display is limited to FLW sponsors on days 3 and 4. The Bassmaster Elite Series allows anglers to display their own logos during all days of competition, except on certain parts of jerseys and boats, but requires anglers to fish from BASS-sponsored boats on day 4. Bassmaster Majors competitors can fish from their boats all 4 days.

There's a cut to 10 for day 4, but cumulative 4-day weight wins.

> This format matches the BASS format, which anglers traditionally favor because it facilitates comebacks and emphasizes consistency. Right now the FLW Tour cuts to zero after day 2 and the winner is the angler with the most cumulative weight over days 3 and 4.

Events include a 12-day off-limits period prior to practice.

> One of the biggest knocks anglers have had against the FLW Tour was its unlimited practice (no off-limits), as well as the ability of Tour pros to practice with any local they want. This seems to answer the first of those objections.

Each regular-season Series event pays $100,000 for 1st place and $10,000 for 50th. Entry fees are $2,750 ($650 for co-anglers).

> Entry fees and payout largely mirror FLW Tour events, with the exception of FLW Tour Opens, which cost more and pay out more. Notable is that 50th place pays $10,000, which seems to be a benchmark anglers now look for. That benchmark was specifically requested by anglers from BASS, and BASS has said that that is one reason for its high entry fees ($5,000 per tournament) next year.

FLW Series Qualifying

The field is 200 boats. In a first for FLW Outdoors, it has allocated 100 spots for anglers who fished the 2005 Bassmaster Tour (regardless of boat brand). They will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis to those who enter all five events. An additional 100 spots are available for anglers who fished the 2005 FLW Tour.

> FLW Outdoors chairman Irwin Jacobs has stated many times that he does not view BASS as competition. However, the olive branch – or lollipop – extended to BASS anglers, several of whom are unable to afford to compete in the Elite Series, might be an indication that his view has changed.

The Top 100 in FLW Series points receive priority entry for the 2007 Series. Top 30 pros receive priority entry for the 2007 FLW Tour.

FLW Series Schedule

Here are the tentative dates and locations for next year:

> March 8-11 -- Lake Lanier, Ga.
> May 3-6 -- Lake Cumberland, Ky.
> May 31-June 3 -- Old Hickory, Tenn.
> Oct. 11-14 -- Lake of the Ozarks, Mo.
> Nov. 15-18 -- Smith Lake, Ala.

> No surprises in terms of venues. However, the first three events directly overlap Bassmaster Elite Series events, so there's no testing the waters for BASS pros. Pros have to immediately choose which tour to fish. Also notable are the October and November dates, which are much later than usual and are after the BASS season.

FLW Series Media

Events will be nationally televised on Fox Sports Net (FSN) as part of the Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors television series.

The New Cup

The renamed (again) Forrest Wood Cup is a new, 5-day expanded-draw championship that will first take place in 2007.

Like the Bassmaster Classic that draws from various BASS trails, the Cup will pit 80 pros from the FLW Tour, FLW Series, Stren Series (formerly EverStarts), Wal-Mart BFL and Ranger owners tournaments.

> Previously anglers would only qualify for the FLW Tour Championship (Forrest L. Wood Championship) via the FLW Tour. That roadmap has changed, and now virtually mirrors the Bassmaster Classic formula.

The Top 30 in the 2006 Series points will qualify for the 2007 Cup.

First place at the Cup pays $500,000 or $1 million if the winner is a Ranger owner. The 40th-place pro in the Forrest Wood Cup will receive $10,000, and pros finishing 41st through 80th will receive $1,000 for qualifying.

The Cup features 4 days of head-to-head bracket competition. Weights are zeroed for day 5 and the heaviest 1-day total wins.

Notable

> There are no changes to the 2006 FLW Tour.

> "We are in the business of providing tournament opportunities for everyone from weekend anglers to top professionals," said FLW Outdoors Chairman Irwin Jacobs in the press release. "Countless dreams are built around our sport, and demand for professional-level events has grown rapidly since the introduction of the Wal-Mart FLW Tour 10 years ago. Due to extensive Wal-Mart FLW Tour waiting lists and recent changes in the marketplace, it became clear that demand had sharply exceeded supply. Therefore, we are pleased to open a new world of opportunity for professional bass anglers with the introduction of the Wal-Mart FLW Series as a companion circuit to the Wal-Mart FLW Tour."

> Entry into the FLW Series begins at 8 a.m. CST on Friday, Oct. 21. To enter, call 270-252-1000 or visit FLWOutdoors.com. Deposits are $750 per tournament for pros and $150 per tournament for co-anglers.