TOURNAMENT PAYOUTS
COSTA FLW SERIES
the Costa FlW Series continues to expand via its International Division thanks to the recent addition of South Africa to the fold . Stateside , the FlW Series features five regional divisions and a no-entry-fee championship .
Photo By JoDy WhIte
TOURNAMENT PAYOUTS
$
REGULAR-SEASON EvENTS
• Pro winner : $ 40,000 , plus a Ranger z518C with 200-hp outboard if the winner is Ranger Cup qualified
• Co-angler winner : Ranger z175 with 90- hp outboard , plus $ 5,000 if the winner is Ranger Cup qualified * Prizes increase if the field size surpasses 150 .
Pat Fisher won the 2016 Costa FLW Series crown and a spot at the 2017 Cup .
The Lucky 11
eleven
2 . The remaining five invitations go to the top five pros in the
Eleven pros will qualify for the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup via the 2017 Costa FLW Series Championship . Determining the qualifiers follows a two-step process :
1 . The first six invites are reserved for the highest-finishing pro from each of the five U . S . FLW Series divisions and the FLW Series International Division at the championship .
championship standings not already selected in step 1 .
CHAMPIONSHIP PAYDAY
• Prizes and Ranger Cup bonuses for the Costa FlW Series Championship are similar to those in regular-season events , except the winning pro earns $ 50,000 cash , and payouts are increased throughout the top 40 .
STRIKE KING AOY & COY PAYOUTS
• Aoy : $ 2,000 prize package , including deposits for the 2018 season
• Coy : $ 800 prize package , including deposits for the 2018 season
Photo By JeSSe SChUltz
A qUICK LOOK AT THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Kentucky Lake near Paris , Tenn .
LOCATION : kentucky lake , Paris , tenn . DATE : Nov . 2 – 4 LAST TIME : Dan Morehead won the 2011 Costa FlW Series Championship out of Paris with a four-day total of 61 pounds , 4 ounces . he did most of his damage with an umbrella rig . CRITICAL FACTORS : the lake is drawn down in the fall , which scatters baitfish and bass . Grass is often good , but growth was poor in 2016 . that bite could turn on again if the grass recovers this year . Finally , big winds and nasty cold fronts can stir up the 160,000-acre lake overnight . A back-up plan for a cold front can be worth a fortune . TARGET AREAS : Bass will be caught on transition areas , including shallow bars in the mouths of creeks , shallow mainlake ledges , secondary points and flats in the creeks . the best spots house schools of baitfish . CATCH ESTIMATES : Daily limits in the mid- to upper teens would put a pro in contention to win .
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FLWFISHING . COM I JANUARY 2017