Oct. 31: Bass Fishing League Wildcard Tournament Print E-mail
For Immediate Release: October 9, 2008
Contact: Lindsey Holt, Florence/Lauderdale Tourism 256-740-4141
 
Tourism Officials Get Wild at Fishing Tournament!
Florence/Lauderdale Tourism Hosts Bass Fishing League
Wildcard Tournament – Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 2008
 
Florence/Lauderdale Tourism and the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League have been keeping a big secret:  Pickwick is the site of the 2008 Chevy Wild Card Tournament! The annual Chevy Wildcard Tournament remains a secret each year, and details are not released until the month of the actual tournament.
 
Tourism officials have been eagerly awaiting the day where they can announce the upcoming tournament. According to Florence/Lauderdale Tourism Director Debbie Wilson, "We have had to keep our poker faces on for the past several months to keep this major tournament a secret."
 
McFarland Park in Florence will serve as the launch and weigh-in site each day.  Boats will take off each morning at 7:00 a.m. and weigh-ins will take place each afternoon at 3:00 p.m.  As always, Florence area residents are welcome to view the weigh-in and welcome our guests.
 
Florence Mayor Bobby Irons expressed his excitement for the upcoming tournament, "It is no secret that Florence loves FLW and major bass tournaments they continue to bring to our area.  It is with great pleasure that we will be hosting the 2008 BFL Bass Fishing League."
 
Anglers have long appreciated the fishery that Pickwick Lake has to offer, and BFL Chevy Wildcard Tournament Director agrees that Florence, Alabama is an ideal location for bass fishing, “Alabama has a lot of fishermen and economically it is centrally-located from Texas, Wisconsin, New York and Florida makes sense with the gas prices and it has served as a great fishery.  We have hosted events in Florence in the past and our anglers always look forward to returning to Pickwick Lake.  It serves as an excellent fishery and we are always supported by the Florence community.”
 
The Wild Card Tournament will be held October 31-November 1, 2008 at McFarland Park, and is the last chance for anglers to qualify for the 2009 $1Million Wal-Mart All-American Tournament.
 
To qualify for the no entry fee BFL Chevy Wild Card Tournament, anglers must fish at least five BFL tournaments throughout the year.  Last year, out of the 1,500 eligible anglers, nearly 600 attended the BFL Chevy Wild Card Tournament, which was hosted on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Alabama.
 
The Bass Fishing League is the ultimate “weekend warrior” tournament trail, providing the opportunity for anglers to quality in three no-entry-fee championships with cash awards exceeding $3 million.
 
The Chevy Wildcard is an important part of the Bass Fishing League for so many anglers because it is the last chance to compete in a no-entry-fee championship and for the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers from each BFL division to move up to the Stren Series for 2009 or qualify as an “All-American” champion and have the option to advance directly to the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, and has anglers from across the country scrambling to “get in the boat” and get to Florence, Alabama on October 31st.   The top six anglers from the Chevy Wildcard Tournament will qualify as Wal-Mart All-Americans and be given a chance to fish for the $1Million dollar ultimate bass fishing prize! The All-American is one of the toughest bass tournaments to make and is the toughest in which to win.  Over 35,000 anglers have fished the FLW Tournament Series this year but only one will be crowned the Wal-Mart All-American.
 
For more information on the BFL Chevy Wildcard Tournament, visit www.flwoutdoors.com or you may email Tournament Director Rob Vannerson at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
 
To learn more about Pickwick Lake or Florence/Lauderdale Tourism, go to www.VisitFlorenceAL.com.
 
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