Bass Fishing Dec 2019 - Jan 2020 | Page 57

What MLF’s acquisition of FLW means for anglers and fans T hroughout the 2019 season, the rumor mill churned like it was built on a Class III rapid as questions about FLW’s future swirled: Is FLW for sale? Who’s going to buy it? Where will we fish next season? Now we have the answers. On Oct. 10, Major League Fishing announced that it was in the process of acquiring FLW. The deal, which has since been finalized, marries two of bass fishing’s biggest brands – one a storied grassroots organization with several decades of history, and the other an angler-managed trendsetter with a substantial media enterprise at its disposal. Combined, the brands have the clout to propel tournament bass fishing to new heights. But just what does it mean for FLW fans and anglers who were a part of the organization before the acquisition? And what’s in store for tournament anglers in the immediate future? Here’s what you need to know. WINTER 2020 I FLWFISHING.COM 55