Stren Series anglers will once again have the opportunity to compete in any of five divisions to qualify for the $1 million no-entry-fee Stren Series Championship. The top pro and co-angler from each division at the championship will also advance to the $2 million no-entry-fee Forrest Wood Cup, where pros can fish for a $1 million first-place prize - the biggest award in the sport's history.
Stren Series pros will fish for a top award of $65,000 in every qualifier. This includes $25,000 cash plus a $40,000 Ranger 198VX powered by Evinrude or Yamaha if the winner is the registered original owner of a 2004 or newer Ranger boat. Ranger Boats will award an additional $3,000 bonus if the winner is a Ranger Cup participant. If "Powered by Yamaha" guidelines are met, Yamaha will award an additional $1,500 bonus for a potential top award of $69,500.
Pros finishing second and third in every qualifier will earn $10,000 and $9,000, respectively, plus a $5,000 bonus if they are registered original owners of 2004 or newer Ranger boats.
In every qualifier, co-anglers will fish for a top award of $35,000, which includes $5,000 cash plus a $30,000 Ranger 198VX if the winner is the registered owner of a 2000 or newer Ranger boat.
Payouts in both the pro and co-angler divisions extend through 60th place, which pays $825 and $325, respectively. Total Stren Series payouts of $6.5 million are based on 200-boat fields. Every qualifier features four days of competition running Wednesday through Saturday, with the full field competing on the first three days and the top 10 pros and top 10 co-anglers advancing to day four. Similar to Wal-Mart FLW Series competition, the combined weight from all four days will determine Stren Series winners. Day-four weigh-ins will be held at the local Wal-Mart in each host community.
Stren Series competition in the Texas Division kicks off Jan. 9-12 on Falcon Lake in Zapata, Texas, followed by tournaments Feb. 20-23 on Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Jasper, Texas; May 7-10 on Lake Texoma in Denison, Texas; and Sept. 24-27 on the Red River in Natchitoches, La.
Western Division competition begins Jan. 9-12 on Lake Shasta in Redding, Calif., followed by tournaments Feb. 20-23 on Lake Havasu in Lake Havasu, Ariz.; April 16-19 on Clear Lake in Kelseyville, Calif.; and May 14-17 on the California Delta in Oakley, Calif.
The Southeast Division will launch its first tournament Jan. 30-Feb. 2 on Lake Seminole in Bainbridge, Ga., followed by events March 12-15 on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Ala.; April 16-19 on the Santee Cooper Lakes in Manning, S.C.; and June 4-7 on Pickwick Lake in Florence, Ala.
The Central Division will hold its first tournament March 5-8 on Norfolk Lake in Mountain Home, Ark., followed by tournaments April 30-May 3 on Kentucky Lake in Benton, Ky.; July 23-26 on the Mississippi River in Fort Madison, Iowa; and Oct. 8-11 on Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Mo.
Northern Division competition kicks off July 16-19 on Lake Champlain in Plattsburgh, N.Y., followed by tournaments Aug. 20-23 at Thousand Islands in Clayton, N.Y.; Sept. 17-20 on Kerr Lake in Henderson, N.C.; and Oct. 15-18 on the Potomac River in Charles County, Md.
The $1 million Stren Series Championship, which offers a top pro award of $140,000 and a top co-angler award of $70,000, will be held Nov. 5-8 on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Mo. The top 40 pros and top 40 co-anglers from each division advance to the championship, and the top 10 pros and top 10 co- anglers in each division will have the option to move up to the Wal-Mart FLW Series or the Wal-Mart FLW Tour in 2009.
Entry fees for 2008 are unchanged at $825 per event for pros and $325 per event for co-anglers. The top 40 pros and co-anglers from each Stren Series division in 2007 and the top 40 boaters and co-anglers from each Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League division in 2007 have priority entry into the 2008 Stren Series along with Ranger, Champion and Stratos boat owners and members of the TBF. Entry dates will be released soon.
Since its introduction in 1998, the Stren Series has been among the sport's fastest-growing bass-tournament circuits thanks to its exceptional payouts and minimal travel requirements. The Stren Series also offers up-and- coming anglers from across the nation a chance to advance to the sport's highest levels – the FLW Series and the FLW Tour. Additionally, the Stren Series offers anglers an opportunity to compete in not one, but two no-entry- fee championships with total awards of $3 million.
Stren has been the title sponsor of the Stren Series since 2006. Stren, the standard of dependability since 1958, is a world leader in fishing line and known for is strength, dependability, and innovative technology – all of which combine to create a most successful and enjoyable day on the water.
Named after the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, Forrest L. Wood, FLW Outdoors administers the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Stren Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail presented by Abu Garcia, Ranger Owners Tournament Championship Series, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series, Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series and Wal-Mart FLW Striper Series. These circuits offer combined purses of nearly $43 million through 241 events in 2007.
Wal-Mart and many of America's largest and most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its tournament trails. Wal-Mart signed on as an FLW Outdoors sponsor in 1997 and today is the world's leading supporter of tournament fishing. For more information about Wal-Mart, visit Walmart.com.
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.
2008 Stren Series Schedule
Texas Division
January 9-12; Falcon Lake; Zapata, Texas
February 20-23; Sam Rayburn; Jasper, Texas
May 7-10; Lake Texoma; Denison, Texas
September 24-27; Red River; Natchitoches, La.
Western Division
January 9-12; Lake Shasta; Redding, Calif.
February 20-23; Lake Havasu; Lake Havasu, Ariz.
April 16-19; Clear Lake; Kelseyville, Calif.
May 14-17; California Delta; Oakley, Calif.
Southeast Division
January 30-February 2; Lake Seminole; Bainbridge, Ga.
March 12-15; Lake Eufaula; Eufaula, Ala.
April 16-19; Santee Cooper; Manning, S.C.
June 4-7; Pickwick Lake; Florence, Ala.
Central Division
March 5-8; Norfork Lake; Mountain Home, Ark.
April 30-May 3; Kentucky Lake; Benton, Ky.
July 23-26; Mississippi River; Fort Madison, Iowa
October 8-11; Lake of the Ozarks; Osage Beach, Mo.
Northern Division
July 16-19; Lake Champlain; Plattsburgh, N.Y.
August 20-23; Thousand Islands; Clayton, N.Y.
September 17-20; Kerr Lake; Henderson, N.C.
October 15-18; Potomac River; Charles County, Md.
$1 Million Stren Series Championship
November 5-8; Table Rock Lake; Branson, Mo.
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