Fishing League Worldwide (FLW), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced Thursday that Lake Chickamauga has been selected to host the sixth FLW Tour event of the 2019 season, May 2-5 in Dayton, Tn. The 2019 FLW Tour features seven regular-season tournaments and the Forrest Wood Cup. Each tournament is streamed on FLW Live and broadcast in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network and the World Fishing Network, showcasing the best bass anglers in the world competing in the sport’s most competitive circuit.
The full schedule for the 2019 FLW Tour season was announced at a live press event held at the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) in Orlando. The FLW Tour has visited Lake Chickamauga four times previously, with 2019 marking the fifth visit in the Tour’s 24-year history.
“We’ve had a great history on Lake Chickamauga and always draw fantastic crowds to our Outdoor Expos and weigh-ins,” said Kathy Fennel, president of FLW operations. “We are extremely excited to showcase some of the giant largemouth that Lake Chickamauga is known for during our 2019 season.”
The event will be hosted by Fish Dayton and the Rhea Economic and Tourism Council.
2019 FLW Tour Regular-Season Schedule:
- Jan. 10-13 Sam Rayburn Reservoir Brookeland, Tx.
Hosted by the Jasper County Development District
- Feb. 7-10 Lake Toho Kissimmee, Fl.
Hosted by Experience Kissimmee and Experience Kissimmee/Kissimmee Sports.
- March 7-10 Lake Seminole Bainbridge, Ga.
Hosted by the Bainbridge Convention and Visitors Bureau
- March 28-31 Grand Lake Grove, Ok.
Hosted by the City of Grove and Cherokee Casino Grove
- April 11-14 Cherokee Lake Jefferson City, Tenn.
Hosted by the Economic Development Alliance, Jefferson County
- May 2-5 Lake Chickamauga Dayton, Tn.
Hosted by Fish Dayton and the Rhea Economic and Tourism Council
- June 27-30 Lake Champlain Plattsburgh, NY
Hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau
Another major change announced by FLW was the cease of the longstanding FLW Tour co-angler program, replaced with a new FLW Tour Marshal program.
The FLW Tour Marshal program will provide the same learning opportunities that the co-angler program offered, along with the opportunity to win cash and a new Ranger Z518C powered by a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard, without impacting the outcome of the tournament. Each Marshal will attend a VIP dinner and seminar with select FLW Tour pros on the Wednesday before each tournament, plus get behind-the-scenes access to the biggest events in bass fishing. They will receive exclusive FLW clothing and play a vital role in live coverage of each FLW Tour event.
Marshals will be eligible for a top cash award of $2,500 at each regular-season FLW Tour stop based on the combined weight of the pros they are randomly paired with. Marshals will also receive one entry into an exclusive Ranger Z518C giveaway for each day they complete. One lucky marshal will be randomly selected to win the new boat after the season concludes.
Applications to participate as an FLW Marshal will be accepted online beginning Wednesday, Sept. 4. More information can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Along with the $125,000 paycheck that is awarded to FLW Tour winners, FLW will pay out at least $10,000 to pros down to 50th place with 51st through 60th place now paying $5,500. The entry fee is $35,000 for the season.
In FLW Tour competition anglers will compete for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2019 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing. The date and location for the 2019 Cup will be unveiled later this year.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the sport’s top anglers on the FLW Tour on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.