FLW's fantasy fishing richest in world

Fantasy sport
offers $1 million
grand prize

By Mary Garrison
Tribune-Courier Reporter
mgarrison@tribunecourier.com

MARSHALL COUNTY – Somebody’s gotta win, might as well be you.

Move over Kentucky lottery, FLW fantasy fishing is gaining momentum, and unlike the lottery, it’s free.

Fantasy fishing is a steadily growing activity on the internet. Like most fantasy sports, users can click their way to cash and prizes by choosing their favorite tournament fisherman to win.

“It’s the richest fantasy sport in the world,” said Jayme Gordon, media specialist for FLW Outdoors. “Where else can you win $1 million just by playing a sport that you really don’t have to play?”

Gordon said the concept is similar to picking basketball brackets for the NCAA. Each player chooses the top 10 fisherman from each tournament they feel will do best in the event. The more accurate the player’s choices, the more points the player accumulates. Players can choose to play for the span of the tournament season, and the player with the most points at the end of the season wins the grand prize of $1 million.

Players must sign up prior to the next fishing tournament to be eligible for play; however, players can jump in at any time during the season.

“As long as they sign up by midnight the night before an event, they’re qualified,” Gordon said.

FLW has six qualifying tournaments leading up to the championship event on July 30, all of which fantasy fishermen can toss in their picks in hopes of winning.

And the prizes are plenty. Each tournament offers payouts up to 303rd place, with the overall winner taking home $100,000. Second place in the qualifying tournaments brings home a $5,000 Wal-Mart gift card.

“The prizes are made possible by our tournament sponsors,” Gordon said. “You can win anything from cash to coupons.”

And the sport is catching on. While only in its second year, FLW fantasy fishing has participants in 123 countries around the world.

“It just keeps growing,” Gordon said. “As soon as people realize that it really is that easy, they dive right in.”

Insider information is game. Players can obtain additional statistics and information about tournament fisherman for a $10 fee to boost their chances of winning. However, participants can play for free.

“People can form leagues and play with their friends,” Gordon said. “We’re not allowed to play here at FLW, but we always have an office pool going to see how close we are. It’s a lot of fun.”

The next tournament is set to begin on Thursday, April 23.

On June 11, FLW is bringing a qualifying event to Kentucky Lake. The Wal-Mart FLW Fishing Tour will kick-off at Kentucky Dam Marina. The first two days of the tournament will be held at Kentucky Dam, and the last two days will cast off from Kenlake State Park Marina in Hardin.

“We’re holding the final weigh-ins at the RSEC [Regional Special Events Center] in Murray,” Gordon said. “I’m excited we’re having a local tournament, this year.”

A full tournament schedule can be found at www.flwoutdoors.com. For information, or to start fantasy fishing, visit www.fantasyfishing.com.

“I’d really like to see somebody local win,” Gordon said. “It’s nice that it’s caught on so well, but it’s always exciting when your friends and neighbors get the spotlight.”