MINNEAPOLIS (Nov. 24, 2008) – FLW Outdoors has announced its 2009 Walmart FLW Walleye League schedule featuring four divisions, each with three one-day qualifying tournaments.

The Heartland Division will kick off the 2009 season March 21 on the Illinois River in Spring Valley, Ill., followed by events April 25 on the Mississippi River in Dubuque, Iowa, and May 30 on Lake Rathbun in Centerville, Iowa.

Anglers fishing the Michigan Division will visit Lake Erie in Port Clinton, Ohio, April 4, followed by tournaments June 20 on Lake Erie in Monroe, Mich., and Aug. 22 on Saginaw Bay in Au Gres, Mich.

Competition in the Minnesota Division will begin May 2 on the Mississippi River in Red Wing, Minn., followed by tournaments June 6 on Leech Lake in Walker, Minn., and July 11 on Lake Bemidji in Bemidji, Minn.

Wisconsin Division competition will start May 16 on Lake Petenwell in Arkdale, Wis., followed by tournaments June 27 on Green Bay in Oconto, Wis., and Aug. 8 on Lake Winnebago in Oshkosh, Wis.

After all qualifying events are complete, the top 30 boaters and co-anglers in the points standings from each division will advance to the no-entry-fee Walmart FLW Walleye League Finals to be held Sept. 17-19 on Lake Wissota in Chippewa Falls, Wis. The boater and co-angler points champions from each division will also advance to the Walmart FLW Walleye Tour Championship on the Missouri River in Bismarck, N.D., Sept. 30-Oct. 3, where they can win as much as $150,000 and $20,000, respectively. The top 10 boaters and co-anglers from each division will receive priority entry into the 2010 FLW Walleye Tour.

The top boater award in each qualifier jumps from $7,500 to $9,000 for 2009 thanks to a $2,000 Ranger Cup bonus. If the winning boater is not Ranger Cup qualified, the highest finishing Ranger Cup boater will receive a $1,000 bonus. The top co-angler award is $3,500.

Entry fees are $300 per event for boaters and $150 per event for co-anglers. Entry dates will be released soon.

Please see the 2009 Walleye League schedule and payouts below or go to FLWOutdoors.com for complete details.

FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. In 2008 alone the organization is offering more than 90,000 anglers the chance to win over $40 million through 230 tournaments in 10 circuits. FLW Outdoors also took fishing mainstream with FLW Fantasy Fishing, awarding a historic $1 million prize to Michael Thompson of St. Michael, Minn. Details on an enhanced 2009 FLW Fantasy Fishing league will be announced soon.

For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player’s Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com.

FLWOutdoors.com

2009 Walmart FLW Walleye League Schedule

Heartland Division:

March 21 Illinois River Spring Valley, Ill.

April 25 Mississippi River Dubuque, Iowa

May 30 Lake Rathbun Centerville, Iowa.

Michigan Division:

April 4 Lake Erie Port Clinton, Ohio,

June 20 Lake Erie Monroe, Mich.

Aug. 22 Saginaw Bay Au Gres, Mich.

Minnesota Division:

May 2 Mississippi River Red Wing, Minn.

June 6 Leech Lake Walker, Minn.

July 11 Lake Bemidji Bemidji, Minn.

Wisconsin Division:

May 16 Lake Petenwell Arkdale, Wis.

June 27 Green Bay Oconto, Wis.

Aug. 8 Lake Winnebago Oshkosh, Wis.

Walmart FLW Walleye League Finals:

Sept 17-19 Lake Wissota Chippewa Falls, Wis.

2009 Walmart FLW Walleye League Payouts

Ranger

Place Boater Cup Co-angler

1 $7,000 $2,000* $3,500

2 3,500 1,750

3 3,000 1,500

4 2,500 1,250

5 2,000 1,000

6 1,500 750

7 1,250 625

8 1,000 500

9 750 375

10 600 300

11-15 500 250

16-20 400 200

* $1,000 to the highest Ranger Cup finisher if winner is not Ranger Cup

All awards based on 100-boat fields.

Ranger Cup

In order to receive a Ranger Cup award, boaters must be the owner of a Ranger boat that they use during the tournament. Anglers must be registered with Ranger and meet all Ranger Cup clothing and decal requirements. The decision of Ranger Boats is final in all matters regarding Ranger Cup award eligibility.