• Full field of professionals and co-anglers compete.

• Top 10 professionals and top 10 co-anglers based on accumulated weight from days one and two start over
• Winning co-angler determined by the day's heaviest catch

• Top 10 professionals continue competition
• Winning professional determined by heaviest accumulated weight from days three and four

• 77 professionals and 77 co-anglers compete (40 FLW Tour, 30 FLW Series, 5 Stren Series, 1 BFL and 1 TBF)

• Top 10 professionals and top 10 co-anglers based on accumulated weight from days one and two start over
• Winning co-angler determined by the day's heaviest catch

• Top 10 professionals continue competition
• Winning professional determined by heaviest accumulated weight from days three and four

2009 Walmart FLW Tour Rules

• These rules will remain unchanged during 2009. Interpretation of these rules will be left exclusively to the tournament director. Decisions of the tournament director are final in all matters and are not subject to appeal. Each competitor agrees to report any rule violation to the tournament director immediately upon discovery of the violation. Failure to report violations may be cause for disqualification. The violation of a tournament rule may result in weight loss (late penalty, dead-fish penalty and short-fish penalty), the loss of weight up to a particular time in the tournament day (eligible for a restart), loss of weight for the entire day, disqualification for the entire tournament or, in an extreme circumstance, ineligibility to participate in future FLW Outdoors events. Protests must be made in writing within 30 minutes of the check-in time of the final flight of each tournament day.

• Participation is open only to Competitor members of FLW Outdoors who are 16 years of age or older. Any person under the age of 18 (19 in Alabama and Nebraska) entering a tournament must also have the signature of a parent or legal guardian in the provided space on the entry form. All contestants must have a valid fishing license.
• PRO ENTRY: The top 100 pros and top 10 co-anglers from the 2008 Walmart FLW Tour, top 30 pros from each division of the 2008 Walmart FLW Series, top 10 pros from each division of the 2008 Stren Series and the boater champion from the 2008 Walmart BFL All-American must pay a $9,000 deposit for the season by November 7, 2008 in order to secure their priority entry position. For Ranger boat owners (Ranger owners with current registrations who will use their Ranger boat in FLW Tour competition) and sponsor entries (FLW Outdoors may reserve sponsor spots in each qualifying tournament) a $9,000 deposit for the season will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. Central time November 10, 2008. For Champion and Stratos boat owners and TBF members, a $9,000 deposit for the season will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. Central time November 11, 2008. For other entries, a $9,000 deposit for the season will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. Central time November 12, 2008. Entries may be made either by mail, phone or on the Internet at FLWOutdoors.com. Do not make entry by more than one method. A field of 150 to 160 pros for the 2009 season will be set by November 17, 2008, at which time pros not accepted into the field will receive a full refund. deposits are nontransferable and nonrefundable for any reason Once accepted into the field. There will be no waiting list. If pros drop out during the course of the season, they will not be replaced.
• PAYMENT SCHEDULE: Entry fees for the year total $27,000 for all six tournaments. A $9,000 deposit is due upon entry for the season followed by payments for each event according to the schedule outlined below. Once accepted into the field, deposits are nontransferable and nonrefundable for any reason. If payment for a tournament is not made by the date due, $1,500 of the original $9,000 deposit will be forfeited for that event.

• CO-ANGLER ENTRY: The top 100 co-anglers from the 2008 Walmart FLW Tour, top 30 co-anglers from each division of the 2008 Walmart FLW Series, top 10 co-anglers from each division of the 2008 Stren Series and the co-angler champion from the 2008 Walmart BFL All-American must pay a $1,200 deposit for the season by November 7, 2008 in order to secure their priority entry position. For Ranger boat owners (Ranger owners with current registrations) and sponsor entries (FLW Outdoors may reserve sponsor spots in each qualifying tournament) deposits of $200 per event will be accepted to hold spots for tournaments beginning at 8 a.m. Central time November 10, 2008. For Champion and Stratos boat owners and TBF members, deposits of $200 per event will be accepted to hold spots for tournaments beginning at 8 a.m. Central time November 11, 2008. For other entries, deposits of $200 per event will be accepted to hold spots for tournaments beginning at 8 a.m. Central time November 12, 2008. Co-anglers who enter all six qualifying tournaments by January 22, 2009 will be given priority over anglers who enter less than six events. Entries may be made either by mail, phone or on the Internet at FLWOutdoors.com. Do not make entry by more than one method. Deposits are nontransferable and nonrefundable once accepted into a tournament. Co-angler entries received after a tournament has filled will be placed on a waiting list. Those placed on the waiting list and not accepted into the tournament will receive a full refund after the tournament. CONFIRMED ENTRIES ARE CONTINGENT UPON COMPLETE ENTRY FEE BEING PAID BY THE ENTRY DEADLINE DATE IN ADDITION TO ANY APPLICABLE DEPOSITS DESCRIBED ABOVE. Entry fees (minus the deposit amount) may be transferred or refunded if FLW Outdoors is notified prior to the entry deadline. Entry fees will not be transferred or refunded after the entry deadline.

• 200 points are awarded to the winner of each qualifying tournament, 199 to 2nd, 198 to 3rd, etc. All anglers who receive weight credit receive points. The top 40 pros and co-anglers from the point standings after six qualifying tournaments (ties resolved by total weight) will qualify for the 2009 Forrest Wood Cup. If a top-40 angler has already qualified for the 2009 Forrest Wood Cup through the Walmart FLW Series, Stren Series, BFL or TBF, the next person in the FLW Tour point standings may be invited. The top 100 pros and co-anglers will receive priority entry for the 2010 season. The top 10 co-anglers in the year-end point standings will have the option of moving to the pro side in 2010.

• Tournament waters will go off-limits to all contestants 12 days prior to the first practice day in all events. Contestants, including co-anglers on the waiting list, may not enter tournament waters to fish, test equipment, sightsee, etc., during the off-limits period. Flights over tournament waters are not permitted at anytime after the start of the off-limits period.
• During the off-limits period, practice and competition days, pros may not solicit and/or receive fishing information from anyone except confirmed pros and through publicly available sources. Beginning with practice and extending through competition, pros may not obtain fishing patterns or locations from co-anglers or fishing information from noncompetitors or follow a noncompetitor’s boat or participate in the practice of “hole sitting” or the placing of markers by anyone. Anglers eliminated after each round of competition are considered noncompetitors. Pros in the top-10 cut may not solicit or receive fishing information from anyone except other top-10 pros. Co-anglers who share fishing patterns or locations with pro competitors will be disqualified along with the pro utilizing the information.
• The purchasing of, or bartering for, information or the hiring of services will not be permitted after the start of the off-limits period. The sharing of tournament winnings in exchange for fishing information is strictly prohibited.
• Tournament waters will reopen for practice four days (Saturday through Tuesday) prior to registration day. Pros and co-anglers may practice alone, with another competitor, with a member of their immediate family (mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, grandchild or spouse) or with approved sponsor representatives who have also observed the off-limits period and procedures or with approved media representatives. Tournament waters will be closed to all contestants on Wednesday, registration day, prior to the first day of competition.

• Each contestant must register in person at the designated site or send a person who is 16 years of age or older to represent them. Non-contestants can represent one person; contestants can represent themselves and one other person. This representative must attend the pretournament meeting to record flights, takeoff time, check-in time, off-limits areas, size and creel limits, etc. This representative must also attend the partner draw immediately following the pretournament meeting to receive the contestant’s boat number, meet the contestant’s partner, and record the partner’s lodging information, phone number and exact location for the contestant and partner to meet prior to takeoff. Registration hours are 2-4 p.m. local time the day before each tournament. Contestants registering between 4-4:15 p.m. will pay a $50 late fee that will be donated to the FishAmerica Foundation. Contestants more than 15 minutes late for registration may forfeit their entry fee and not be entered in the tournament. It is mandatory that all contestants or their representatives attend the pretournament meeting that will be held at 4:30 p.m. local time the day before each tournament. Being late for the pretournament meeting will result in a $50 late fee that will be donated to the FishAmerica Foundation. Contestants not present or represented for partner pairings may forfeit their entry fee and not be entered in the tournament.

• Partners will be paired by draw. All contestants or their representatives must meet with their assigned partners during pairings at the pretournament meeting. Partners should advise each other of their respective lodging and phone numbers and establish a meeting time and place for the following morning’s takeoff. The tournament director, at his sole discretion, may reassign partners prior to takeoff.

• Safe boating must be observed at all times.
• Each contestant is required to wear a fastened U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device anytime the combustion engine is in operation during practice and from boat check until weigh-in each day of the tournament.
• All boats must be equipped with an emergency ignition-shutoff device that must be securely attached to the driver’s body whenever the combustion engine is in operation.
• At the discretion of the tournament director, tournament days may be shortened, postponed or canceled due to unsafe weather or water conditions.

• All contestants are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy and conservation and to conduct themselves in a manner that will be a credit to themselves, to FLW Outdoors, FLW Outdoors’ sponsors, the sport of fishing and FLW Outdoors’ efforts to promote the sport. Conduct not complying with these standards includes, but is not limited to, the following:
• Violation of, or failure to comply with, any of the rules for the 2009 Walmart FLW Tour.
• Consumption and/or possession of alcoholic beverages or any kind of mind-altering substance during registration, the pretournament meeting or during tournament hours extending through the weigh-in procedure.
• Abuse of, or addiction to, mind-altering substances.
• Conviction of a felony within the past 36 months.
• Suspension/disqualification from any tournament or fishing organization.
• Any other words, conduct or actions reflecting unfavorably upon efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition and compliance with tournament rules, or which fail to comply with the standards set forth in the first sentence of rule No. 8.
• In case of any conduct not complying with the standards outlined above, FLW Outdoors shall have the right to refuse an application to compete, to deny a confirmed application to compete by returning the entry fee (minus deposits) or to disqualify a contestant.

• Pros will fish from the front deck of the boat only. Co-anglers will fish from the back deck of the boat only. Pros will have complete control of boat operation and waters to be fished. Pros may not request that the co-angler not fish. Any pro that, in the judgment of the tournament director, operates the boat in such a manner that unfairly handicaps their co-angler partner will be disqualified for that day.
• The use of mobile communication devices, including but not limited to, cell phones, marine radios, walkie-talkies, CBs, etc., during tournament hours is strictly prohibited except in an emergency (severe weather, etc.) or to communicate with lockmasters about locking or with the tournament director.
• Contestants are expected to compete every day for which they are qualified; failure to do so may result in ineligibility to compete in future FLW Outdoors events.

• All boats must be propeller-driven, a minimum of 16 feet in length and have a rear deck.
• All boats must be equipped with wheel steering; no other steering device will be permitted. No barges or similar cumbersome crafts will be permitted.
• Each boat must have all required U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment.
• Boats must contain a properly aerated livewell space to maintain alive a limit catch of bass by both contestants.
• Maximum horsepower for all outboards used in tournament competition will be 250-horsepower, not to exceed the horsepower capacity set forth on the “Maximum Capacities” placard described below.
• Each boat must have a clearly legible “Maximum Capacities” (or comparably titled) placard that includes a maximum horsepower rating affixed to the boat by the manufacturer.
• The horsepower of the outboard engine must not exceed the maximum horsepower capacity specified on this placard or the 250-horsepower maximum set by FLW Outdoors.
• By signing the entry form, each contestant agrees to submit their boat and/or motor to an inspection by FLW Outdoors personnel. Falsifying information on entry forms or altering the horsepower numbers on the motor or rating placard will be cause for disqualification from the tournament and may result in ineligibility to compete in future FLW Outdoors events.
• Fishing platforms must be factory-installed equipment. No portable platforms may be used in tournament competition. Fuel may be carried only in factory-installed (built-in) fuel tanks. Any additional fuel used during the tournament day must be purchased from a retail facility open to the public and pumped through a hose with a nozzle.

• All bass must be caught alive in a conventional sporting manner.
• Only artificial lures may be used, with the exception of pork trailers and Berkley Gulp! baits and Berkley Gulp! Alive!.
• Only one fishing rod may be used at a time.
• Trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited. Fishing is defined as having a lure attached to a line and a rod and reel with the lure in the water.

• Contestants may fish anywhere on tournament waters available to the public and accessible by boat, except areas designated as “off-limits,” “no boats” or “no fishing” by local, state or federal officials or within 50 yards of a competitor’s boat that was first anchored. An anchored boat is a boat held in a stable position by a line attached to a weight or by a Power-Pole with the trolling motor in the up position.
• All fishing must be conducted from the boat. At no time may a contestant leave the boat to land a fish or to make the boat more accessible to fishing waters.
• Contestants must leave and return to the check-in by boat.
• The boat must remain in the tournament waters during the tournament day.
• No tournament boat may be loaded on a trailer before the weigh-in except with the permission of the tournament director.
• In the event of equipment failure or emergency, there will be only two permitted methods of returning to the check-in:
• by both partners remaining in their boat and being towed by water, or
• by both partners entering the boat of another tournament contestant.

Under these two conditions the contestants’ catches may be counted without a penalty (except for late penalties, dead-fish penalties or other penalties pertaining to other tournament rules). Contestants who elect to return to the check-in by any other means than cited above will forfeit their day’s catch to that point in time of the tournament day.


• Any contestant returning to the check-in point will be eligible to restart and resume competition under the supervision of the tournament director or his designated tournament official. It is the sole responsibility of contestants to locate the tournament director to request a restart.
• Partners must remain together at all times and within sight of each other until the weigh-in verification is signed. The momentary condition of being out of sight of each other for restroom breaks is permitted.

• There will be only one checkpoint for boat check in the morning and one check-in point in the afternoon. Failure to go through boat check and checkout in the morning or failure to check in at the check-in point will result in disqualification. All fishing must cease upon check-in.

• Contestants who are not at the check-in area at the appointed time will be penalized 1 pound per minute, deducted from the total weight, including any weight to be counted toward the Snickers Big Bass Award. Any contestant more than 15 minutes late will lose credit for that day’s weight.

• Every effort must be made to keep bass alive through the use of a properly aerated livewell. FLW Outdoors recommends the use of Rejuvenade, which promotes the healthy return of bass to their natural habitat. Eight ounces will be deducted from the total weight for each dead bass presented for weigh-in.

• Scoring will be determined by the pounds and ounces of each contestant’s catch during each qualifying tournament and the Forrest Wood Cup.
• Only largemouth, spotted, redeye or smallmouth bass are accepted species.
• The limit will be five unless the state or lake limit is less than five, in which case the state or lake limit will prevail. Contestants possessing more than the tournament limit will have their catch to that point disqualified.
• The minimum length limit for bass will be 12 inches unless the state or lake limit is more than 12 inches, in which case, the state or lake limit will prevail. Bass presented for weigh-in that fail to measure the prescribed length limit will be penalized at the rate of 1 pound for each short bass presented.
• Each contestant’s catch must be presented in an official weigh-in bag and verified by the signature of their partner. Failure to have a verified partner signature will result in disqualification.
• On day 3, the top 10 pros and co-anglers based on combined weight from days 1 and 2 start over at zero, and the winning co-angler is determined by the day’s heaviest catch. On day 4, the top 10 pros compete, and the winner is determined by the heaviest combined weight from days 3 and 4.

• The heaviest one-day catch for the tournament will break ties on day 2. If a tie remains, it will be broken first by point standings, then by total number of fish for the tournament, then by total number of live fish for the tournament and then by lottery. For co-anglers, ties on day 3 will be resolved by day-2 standings. For pros, ties on day 4 will be resolved by day-2 standings.

• During all days of competition, alcohol and/or tobacco logos may not be worn or displayed.
• On days 3 and 4, no logos, patches or decals other than the Walmart FLW Tour logo, logos of Walmart FLW Tour sponsors or logos of Ranger, Stratos or Champion dealers may be worn or displayed during tournament hours extending through the weigh-in.
• On days 3 and 4, anglers who make the cut must use boats, wear shirts, rainsuits and PFDs and use camera equipment and Frabill dip nets if supplied by FLW Outdoors.
• On days 3 and 4, competitors may not fish while using tobacco products. Smoking is not allowed in the weigh-in line during all days of competition.
• On days 3 and 4, FLW Outdoors may, at its sole discretion, place a camera operator in a tournament boat.

• Each contestant agrees to submit, by signature on the tournament entry form, to a polygraph or voice stress analysis examination and to abide by its conclusion. Failure to pass an examination will result in disqualification. Truth verification tests will be used at FLW Outdoors’ sole discretion, and the determination of the meaning of the results will be made solely by FLW Outdoors.

• Liability insurance with coverage in reasonable amounts is required of all contestants in FLW Outdoors tournaments.

• The captions at the beginning of each paragraph are intended to facilitate convenience in referring to the various rules. The captions are not part of the substance of the paragraph and should not be used in construction of any paragraph or of this overall set of rules.