Pro Angler Jerseys to be Auctioned at Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship

July 28, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The winning pro angler jerseys from each of the seven Wal-Mart FLW Tour events this season will be auctioned off at the 2006 Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship presented by Castrol Aug. 2-5 with proceeds going to the FishAmerica Foundation.

At each FLW Tour qualifying event, a tournament jersey was autographed by the winning pro angler. In addition, a separate FLW Tour jersey was signed by the top 10 pro finalists at each of the six qualifiers. At the upcoming championship, a jersey will be autographed by the winning pro and a separate jersey will be signed by the 12 pro finalists. Including the championship, 14 jerseys will be available for bid.

The bidding begins on Wednesday, Aug. 2 and concludes at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5. Written bids can be entered by visiting the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, located at 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North in Birmingham. The auction booth is located in the Family Fun Zone near the FLW Outdoors membership booth.

In 2000, FLW Outdoors announced its partnership with the FishAmerica Foundation, the conservation arm of the American Sportfishing Association. Since then, FLW Outdoors has directly donated more than $285,000 and helped to generate more than $1.7 million for local conservation projects.

The FishAmerica Foundation and Castrol will also administer a conservation program through which wristbands will be sold for a minimum of $1 each. The wristbands signify support for the preservation and restoration of America's great fisheries. Proceeds will go toward the purchase of an electronic black bass fry counter. The fry counter will be used by Alabama's Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries as part of a largemouth bass stocking plan on Logan Martin Lake.

The FLW Tour Championship is the pinnacle of professional bass fishing – pitting 48 of the world's top professional anglers in head-to-head competition on Logan Martin Lake Aug. 2-5 for a shot at winning $500,000. Championship contenders will take off from Pell City Lakeside Park, located at 2801 Stemley Bridge Road in Pell City, at 7 a.m. each day, and daily weigh-ins will be held at 5 p.m. in the BJCC Arena.

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, Stratos Owners' Tournament Trail, 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 exceeding $37.9 million through 249 events in 2006.

For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournament programs, browse FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.

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 Wal-Mart.com .

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