Boats, marine and boating trends

BENTON, Ky. (March 5, 2007) - In 2006, FLW Outdoors - the organization responsible for bringing bass, walleye, redfish and kingfish anglers the most lucrative tournaments in history - introduced the Wal-Mart FLW Striper Series presented by BP as the world's largest, highest-paying and most conservation-minded striper circuit. The circuit lived up to its billing and will march on in 2007 with teams fishing for guaranteed top awards of $30,000 cash in every tournament.

In 2007, the FLW Striper Series will feature four $85,000 one-day qualifying tournaments held on Saturdays. The top award in each tournament includes $10,000 plus $20,000 in Hydra-Sports, Scarab, Seaswirl, Triumph, Wellcraft, Yamaha and Evinrude contingency bonuses. Awards in every tournament extend through 20th place, which pays as much as $900 based on a 100-boat field. The highest finishing team among teams fishing all four tournaments will also receive free entries for the 2008 season.

"The Wal-Mart FLW Striper Series generated a lot of excitement in its inaugural season last year," said FLW Outdoors President and CEO Charlie Evans. "Not only did we award the largest payouts the sport had ever seen, but we proved that catch-and-release tournaments are the way of the future, and we see that ethic taking hold."

In FLW Striper Series tournaments, each team of two to five anglers is allowed to weigh in two stripers ranging in size from 28 to 34 inches (unless local regulations dictate otherwise). The fish must be kept alive in vertical Striper Tubes or new horizontal FLW Outdoors KeepAlive boxes developed in cooperation with KeepAlive Systems. KeepAlive boxes are available for purchase or rent during tournaments.

"At FLW Outdoors, we pride ourselves on maintaining annual live-release rates in excess of 98 percent," Evans said. "We surpassed that goal in 2006 in the FLW Striper Series, and we look forward to doing the same in 2007."

During 2007 FLW Striper Series competition, teams may have no more than six lines in the water at any time, and only artificial lures are permitted. Trolling is allowed, but umbrella rigs, or arrays of baits, are limited to one lure with hooks. The use of pork rinds and scents is permitted.

FLW Outdoors also lowered the minimum boat length requirement from 20 feet to 18 feet for 2007.

Competition kicks off May 19 in Atlantic Highlands, NJ, followed by tournaments June 16 in New London, Conn.; Sept. 22 in West Dennis, Mass.; and Dec. 8 in Virginia Beach, Va.

Entry fees for 2007 are $450 per team, per tournament for early entries and $500 per team for entries taken on-site. Hydra-Sports, Scarab, Seaswirl, Triumph and Wellcraft boat owners may enter the 2007 FLW Striper Series beginning April 19. All other entries will be accepted beginning April 20. Entries may be made online at FLWOutdoors.com or by calling (270) 252-1000. Phones are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time Monday through Friday.

Schedules, complete rules and tournament details for the 2007 season are available at www.FLWOutdoors.com

Named after the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, Forrest L. Wood, FLW Outdoors administers the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Stren Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail presented by Abu Garcia, Ranger Owners Tournament Championship Series, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series, Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series and Wal-Mart FLW Striper Series. These circuits offer combined purses of nearly $43 million through 238 events in 2007.

Wal-Mart and many of America's largest and most-respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its tournament trails. Wal-Mart signed on as an FLW Outdoors sponsor in 1997 and today is the world's leading supporter of tournament fishing. For more information about Wal-Mart, visit Wal-Mart.com.

2007 Wal-Mart FLW Striper Series Schedule

May 19 Atlantic Highlands, NJ

June 16 New London, Conn.

Sept. 22 West Dennis, Mass.

Dec. 8 Virginia Beach, Va.

2007 Wal-Mart FLW Striper Series Payouts

$85,000* Per Tournament

Hydra-Sports, Scarab, Evinrude &

Seaswirl, Triumph & Yamaha

Place Award Wellcraft Bonus Bonus Total

1 $10000 $10000 $10000 $30000

2 5000 5000 5000 15000

3 4250 1000 1000 6250

4 3500 1000 1000 5500

5 3000 1000 1000 5000

6 2500 500 500 3500

7 2000 500 500 3000

8 1750 500 500 2750

9 1500 500 500 2500

10 1000 500 500 2000

11 1000 1000

12 1000 1000

13 1000 1000

14 1000 1000

15 1000 1000

16 900 900

17 900 900

18 900 900

19 900 900

20 900 900

*Total purse based on 100-boat field

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Source: Wellcraft, Inc.