FLW Outdoors, which created the first cut format in pro fishing, is revising the FLW Tour format for the 2003 season.

Next year the pro field will be cut to the Top 10 after two days, instead of this year's format of a Top 20 cut after two days and a Top 10 cut after day 3. The pros' weights will still be zeroed at the cut, but their weights over days 3 and 4 will be combined to determine the winner.

So: only one cut and only one time when weights are zeroed (after day 2); the Top 10 will then fish two days with the winner to be determined by cumulative weight over those two days.

This is the second consecutive year the FLW Tour has tweaked its format. This season it went to a Top 20 cut and a Top 10 cut, double what it had been in years past (a Top 10 and a Top 5). FLW said that change was made to give more sponsors more exposure.

No word yet on the reason for the new format, but it could be related to the new on-the-water emphasis the league will be bringing to its TV coverage next year.

At this time FLW Outdoors plans to have the same bracket-style championship in 2003, though it's not known whether the final 12 pros will be reseeded as they will this year or will simply fish for the largest limit on the last day.

New TV Show: Nixon and Parker

Next season FLW Outdoors also will be chucking its in-studio "magazine-style" TV show format, which received poor ratings and was panned by BassFans.

"The one major criticism we received is that (the 2002 show did not have) enough on-the-water action," said FLW communications director Dave Washburn. "Now we will have on-the-water segments of anglers preparing for the event, the weigh-in and (tournament) highlights, and a post-tournament show and wrap-up."

The show will be produced by the same company, and Carlton Wing, Taylor Carr and Charlie Evans will still be co-hosts. But next year FLW is bringing in some heavy-hitters to help out, namely Larry Nixon and Hank Parker.

Nixon, who still competes, will provide post-tournament analysis and fishing advice. "I'm going to shed some light on tournament-winning techniques and presentations," he said. "Fishing is one of the greatest sports in the world. It's fairly easy to get started, but almost impossible to master. My goal is to help anglers nationwide become better at their craft."

Parker is a two-time BASS Masters Classic champ (1979 and 1989) who no longer competes and who has never competed in an FLW event. He hosts his own TV show, was voted the best TV bass-fishing host in a BassFan Poll earlier this year, and has emceed a few Classics.

"I'm thrilled to join the (TV show) cast and to be part of such a well-respected company in the fishing industry," he said. "My mission is to bring the personalities of the world's top anglers to life and show the nation's fishing enthusiasts some of the intense preparation professional anglers go through before each tournament."

Nixon and Parker are both sponsored by Genmar-owned boat companies: Stratos and Ranger, respectively.

The 28-episode "FLW Outdoors" show season will run Jan. 25 to July 5, 2003 on the Outdoor Life Network, with championship episodes airing in September.

Mo' Money

FLW Outdoors also announced that the 2003 FLW Tour purse will be even bigger than it was in 2002, to the tune of $5.76 million, an increase of $660,000 from this year and a $1.3 million increase over 2001.

The two events at which the pros can earn more money are the 2003 championship, which will be known as the Jacobs Cup, and the Wal-Mart Open.

The top prize in the Jacobs Cup will be $500,000 cash and last will pay $12,200 cash, enough to cover entry fees for the entire season. That compares to $250,000 and $2,000 this season.

First place at the 2003 Wal-Mart Open will be the same ($200,000) as it was this year, but the payout is much higher down the line: the 50th-place pro will win $10,000 cash, compared to $3,000 cash this season.

FLW Tour entry fees have not increased since 1999. Pro entry fees are $1,800 for the smaller events and $2,500 for the larger-payout Open events. "This is only possible because of the world-class sponsorship team assembled by the FLW Tour, a team that will present anglers with cash awards totaling more than 219 percent of entry fees in 2003," FLW stated.

FLW Tour sponsors include Wal-Mart, ALPO Pet Foods, BF Goodrich Tires, Castrol, Chevy Trucks, Conseco, Eagle Electronics, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, Evinrude, Faded Glory, Frito-Lay, Fujifilm, Kellogg's, Land O' Lakes, Minn Kota, Newell Rubbermaid, Pepsi, Poulan, Ranger Boats, Shop-Vac, Snickers, Stanley Works, U.S. Bank, Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards.

Entry Deadlines and Gold Membership

Here's what FLW Outdoors said about Tour entries and deposits:

> FLW Outdoors must receive entries and deposits for all six regular-season events by next Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2002, to secure an FLW Tour berth.

> Ranger boat owners, sponsor entries and anglers who qualified for entry through the BFL may enter by sending deposits beginning at 8 a.m. CST Sept. 18, 2002. Champion, Javelin and Stratos boat owners may enter by submitting deposits at 8 a.m. CST Sept. 23, 2002.

> Anglers who qualified for entry via the EverStart Series will be given a designated entry date following the end of regular-season competition in each division.

> Deposits for all other entries will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. CST Sept. 26, 2002. Top priority is given to anglers who enter all six regular-season tournaments by Sept. 30, 2002.

FLW also has a new "gold membership" plan whereby participants can have a family member or friend stand in for them during registration. Gold membership is $40 vs. $23 for a standard membership.

Notable: For 2003, FLW is changing its penalties for late registration. "In an effort to maintain a more competitive balance during tournaments, anglers' catch weights will no longer be penalized when anglers are late for registration or the preregistration meeting." FLW stated. "Instead, anglers will be assessed a late fee of $50 which will go directly to the Fish America Foundation for environmental and charitable uses."

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