MINNEAPOLIS (Aug. 24, 2010) – FLW Outdoors announced that the 2010 FLW Walleye Tour Championship will feature substantially increased paybacks. The 2010 championship, which will be held on Leech Lake in Walker, Minn. from Sept. 23-25, will feature up to 80 anglers now casting for top awards up to $48,000 in the Pro Division and up to $14,000 in the Co-angler Division.

 
“The Walleye Tour has seen several changes and challenges over the recent seasons and we are excited to improve the 2010 championship,” said Kathy Fennel, President of FLW Outdoors Operations Division. “Increasing the paybacks for the championship is a way we can show our appreciation to those anglers who have continued to participate on the tour and show a glimpse of the positive changes and attention that we plan to devote to the tour in 2011.”

 
The initial purse of just over $108,000 was increased by more than $35,000 to $144,000 and is a reflection of FLW Outdoors' considerable investment in and a renewed commitment to the tour. Major announcements regarding the 2011 FLW Walleye Tour will be made over the next several weeks.

 
The payback table for the 2010 championship is listed below.

 
2010 FLW Walleye Tour Championship

 
                  Professional     Ranger Cup         Evinrude           Co-Angler     Ranger Cup         Evinrude
                                                                   Contingency                                                       Contingency
1                        $20,000             $5,000           $15,000                $5,000             $2,000             $5,000
2                          $5,000             $4,000           $10,000                $1,500             $1,250             $3,000
3                          $4,000             $3,000             $5,000                $1,000             $1,000             $2,500
4                          $3,000             $2,000             $2,500                   $900                $750             $2,000
5                          $2,500             $1,000             $2,000                   $800                $500             $1,000
6                          $2,000                                     $1,750                   $650                                        $750
7                          $1,500                                     $1,500                   $500                                        $500
8                          $1,250                                     $1,250                   $350                                        $250
9                          $1,000                                     $1,000                   $300                                        $250
10                           $750                                        $750                   $250                                        $250
11-15                      $500                                                                   $200                                              
16-20                      $400                                                                   $150                                              
21-30                      $350                                                                   $125                                              
31-40                      $300                                                                   $100                                              
TOTALS             $52,000           $15,000           $40,750              $15,250             $5,500           $15,500

                             
Pro and co-anglers can participate in an optional pot giving them an additional opportunity to win more cash. The winning pro could take home more than $8,000 while the winning co-angler could walk away with more than $2,000, if all 40 pro and co-anglers participate. The entry fee in the optional pot for pros is $750 and $250 for co-anglers. The optional pot payback table is listed below.

 
2010 FLW Walleye Tour Championship – Optional Pot

 
                    Professional            Co-Angler
1                            $8,244                 $2.093
2                            $2,473                    $753
3                            $2,061                    $712
4                            $1,649                    $628
5                            $1,237                    $544
6                               $824                    $460
7                               $783                    $419
8                               $742                    $335
9                               $701                    $251
10                             $660                    $188
11-15                        $330                    $126
16-20                        $289                    $105
21-30                        $247                      $84
31-40                        $206                      $63
TOTALS              $26,999                 $9,008
 
Anglers will take off from Walker City Park located at the lighthouse on Minnesota Avenue in Walker at 7:30 each morning. Wednesday and Thursday’s weigh-ins will also be held at the Walker City Park beginning at 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday’s final weigh-ins will be held at the Northern Lights Casino parking lot located at 6800 Y Frontage Road NW in Walker beginning at 4 p.m.

 
Fans will be treated to the FLW Outdoors Family Fun Zone at the Northern Lights Casino on Friday and Saturday from 1 – 4 p.m. prior to the final weigh-ins. Rod and reel combos will be given to the first 100 kids under 14 in attendance on Saturday, which can be redeemed following the final weigh-in. The Family Fun Zone will include the National Guard obstacle course and rock climbing walls, a Ranger boat simulator, the opportunity to interact with professional anglers, enjoy interactive games and giveaways provided by sponsors, and learn more about the sport of fishing. All activities are free and open to the public. For a full schedule of events and additional information, visit FLWOutdoors.com.