MINNEAPOLIS (Nov. 10, 2009) – FLW Outdoors, the world’s leading tournament fishing organization, announced Tuesday that Rapala will become an official sponsor of FLW Outdoors in 2010. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“Rapala’s name is synonymous with fishing and their partnership with FLW Outdoors is a natural fit,” said Trisha Blake, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of FLW Outdoors. “We look forward to a long-term relationship with them.”

As part of the sponsorship, Rapala will receive exposure across all platforms of FLW Outdoors, including its 189 tournaments, FLW Outdoors’ multiple websites, FLW Fantasy Fishing, FLW Outdoors Magazine, “FLW Outdoors” television show and various FLW Outdoors events. In addition, Rapala will provide product that will be given away at various events, including FLW Outdoors’ popular Family Fun Zone and Outdoor Show, where they will also receive premium space to promote their pro staff, products and more.

“Over the years, Rapala pro staffers have had a lot of success and numerous tournament victories using our lures in FLW Outdoors events. For 2010, Rapala is proud to take it up a few notches as an official sponsor of FLW Outdoors. We consider FLW Outdoors to be a giant marketing machine that will further build the reputation of the legendary Rapala brand and provide a venue for the launch of our new Trigger X soft baits,” said Tom Mackin, President of Rapala USA.”

Rapala is a leading fishing tackle company and the global market leader in the fishing lures, treble hooks and fishing related knives and tools. Group brand portfolio includes the leading brands in the industry, Rapala, and other global brands like VMC, Storm, Blue Fox, Luhr Jensen, Williamson, Terminator, Trigger X, Sufix and Marttiini. Rapala manufacturers approximately 20 million lures per year and each lure with a swimming lip is individually hand-tuned and tested for perfect swimming action.

Rapala’s legacy of unwavering quality can be seen in all their products and it is validated as its reach is through 140 countries. Rapala, which has a history of more than 70 years of lure making, has proven that its products are crafted from experience offering more new lures, new actions, new sizes, new colors, new finishes and new ways of catching more fish. For more information regarding Rapala, visit Rapala.com.

FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. FLW Outdoors has also taken fishing mainstream with FLW Fantasy Fishing, offering the largest awards possible in the history of fantasy sports.

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.