2003 FLW season under way

FLW anglers soak in beautiful Okeechobee sun, mild temperatures in first day of tournament action

CLEWISTON, Fla. – With nearly four months having gone by since the end of last season, FLW Tour anglers were more than anxious to hit the open waters of Lake Okeechobee this morning. With a $500,000 total purse on the line and valuable angler-of-the-year points up for grabs, anglers were focused on beginning the 2003 season on a positive note.

However, as the full field of 175 pros and co-anglers made its way past Roland Martin Marina shortly after 7 a.m., anglers were fully aware that this season will be like no other. For starters, significant rule changes are in play throughout the 2003 season. Unlike last year, only the top 10 pros and co-anglers will advance after the day-two cut. In addition, the tournament champion in the Pro Division will be awarded to the angler who brings in the most combined weight during the final two days of competition – meaning that there will not be a day-three cut as in years past. However, the co-angler champion will still be crowned on the third day of competition as in previous years.

The field is also fully aware that angler-of-the-year points, earned at each regular season FLW Tour event, will be as valuable as ever. The reason? Angler-of-the-year points are critical for qualifying for the year-end championship – renamed the Jacobs Cup – where a nearly unprecedented sum of $500,000 will be awarded to the winner of the Pro Division. However, only the top 48 pros and co-anglers in the final year-end standings will advance to the $1.5 million Jacobs Cup, scheduled to take place on the James River in Richmond, Va., from Sept. 10-13. Consequently, anglers will have extra incentive to finish as high in the standings as possible at every regular-season event.

With pro anglers fighting for the top prize of $100,000 and co-anglers battling it out for a first-place bounty of $15,000 on Lake Okeechobee this week, there should be enough compelling bass action to be had by all.

FLW action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. at Roland Martin’s Marina, located at 920 E. Del Monte Avenue in Clewiston, Fla.

Vital statistics:

Sunrise: 7:13 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 53 degrees
Expected high temperature: 74 degrees
Water temperature: 58 degrees
Wind: From the southwest at 10 mph
Relative humidity: 64 percent
Day’s outlook: Mostly sunny

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Photos
Day-one pairings