FLW, the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, released the expanded 2020 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit roster, which now includes top Major League Fishing (MLF) pros like Jacob Wheeler and reigning REDCREST Champion Edwin Evers. When the season restarts June 23 on Lake Chickamauga, the final three regular-season Pro Circuit events will feature 209 boats and nearly $4 million in prize money. As previously announced, FLW extended invitations to all MLF anglers to compete in three “Super Tournaments” after MLF announced an abbreviated schedule due to the mid-season pause in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Description automatically generatedAll current Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit anglers have retained their spots on the roster, but the field size has now been expanded to include 56 additional MLF pros who have committed to compete in all three “Super Tournament” events by the May 15 deadline. A total of 209 anglers will compete in the following three events: June 23-26 on Lake Chickamauga, July 29-Aug. 1 on the upper Mississippi River (La Crosse, Wis.) and Aug. 11-14 on the Detroit River. MLF pros will not compete in the Tackle Warehouse FLW TITLE, Aug. 24-29 on the St. Lawrence River.
The expanded 2020 FLW Pro Circuit roster is headlined by some of the best pros in the world, including former FLW champions like Bryan Thrift, Justin Atkins, John Cox, Brad Knight, Anthony Gagliardi, Wheeler, Brent Ehrler, David Dudley and Darrel Robertson. They’ll be joined by bass-fishing superstars like Jordan Lee, Skeet Reese and the man many deem the FLW G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time), Andy Morgan.
“I truly believe that the anglers competing in the Super Tournaments make up arguably the most prestigious field of bass fishing pros of all time,” said Daniel Fennel, FLW Senior Director of Tournament Operations. “Not only are these tournaments a great opportunity for the anglers – it also will make for some very exciting events for the fans watching online at home. We look forward to getting back out on the water next month at Lake Chickamauga.”
Fans are encouraged to watch the tournaments and daily weigh-ins online from their homes through expanded live on-the-water broadcasts rather than attend weigh-ins, in an effort to avoid crowds. FLW will livestream all four days of competition, instead of only the final two days as previously done, and the on-the-water camera crew will also be expanded to help capture more of the action. Fans can catch the live actions as it unfolds on FLWFishing.com, YouTube and Facebook.
With a field of 209 boats, the total purse in each tournament expands from $820,000 to $1,324,000, for an increase of $1,512,000 over three events. The first-place prize will increase from $100,000 to $125,000, and FLW will pay out $10,000 through 104th place and $5,000 to 105th place. Contingency prizes will also remain in effect, meaning qualified FLW PHOENIX BONUS pros fish for a top award of $160,000 in each tournament.
To see the complete roster of pro anglers that will compete in the remainder of the 2020 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit events, along with the full schedule and event payouts, visit FLWFishing.com.
“My profession is to fish tournaments, and I love to compete,” said reigning MLF REDCREST Champion Evers. “I’m missing fishing really, really bad with this season break, and I am so excited to compete in the new Pro Circuit Super Tournaments. It’s three phenomenal fisheries. It’s going to be a lot of fun reconnecting with some old friends.”
MLF pros who choose to compete in the final three Pro Circuit “Super Tournaments” will fish for prize money only. No points will be awarded toward any championship or title to MLF competitors. Only the original Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit anglers will compete for the Angler of the Year (AOY) title throughout the remainder of the season. AOY points in the final events will be awarded based on Pro Circuit anglers finishing order. The top-finishing FLW pro will receive “first-place points” regardless of where he finishes in the overall standings, and so on.
“What matters to me is fishing against the best caliber of anglers that I can,” said FLW pro Josh Douglas. “Some of these guys, I’ve fished against them many times. Others, I probably won’t have. So, I’m excited to see that caliber of fishing, and I think it’s a way of turning lemons into lemonade with our seasons cut short. I look at it as opportunity. That’s what I live for. My dreams are to beat the best, and the more money that’s in the pot and the better the anglers are, that’s great.”
