World’s Richest Fantasy Sports Game Opens 2011 Season

FLW Fantasy Fishing presented by Straight Talk to award more than $500,000 in cash and prizes

FLW Fantasy Fishing permanently changed the landscape by awarding the largest prizes in the history of fantasy sports. Presented by Straight Talk in 2011, FLW Fantasy Fishing is set for another record year as play begins today. Fans can visit FantasyFishing.com immediately to get set up for the season and to select their teams for a shot at winning some of the greatest prizes in all of fantasy sports.

Irwin L. Jacobs, chairman and chief executive officer of FLW Outdoors as well as the creator of FLW Fantasy Fishing, said: “Fantasy Fishing is something we have put a lot of time and effort into and feel it is one of our best undertakings. The participation from the fans is unbelievable, and with the game being played all over the world, it has helped build the sport and bring recognition to the anglers and our partners.”

TracFone Wireless, America’s largest “no-contract” cellular service provider will become the official and exclusive mobile phone service provider of FLW Outdoors. The partnership is significant as mobile communication has become a fundamental part of modern tournament fishing and outdoor recreation. To enhance its sponsorship, TracFone will support a two-member professional fishing team. Team Straight Talk’s Scott Canterbury and JT Kenney will compete in internationally televised events on the 2011 Walmart FLW Tour.

Trisha Blake, president of FLW Outdoors Marketing Division, stated: “Fantasy Fishing has proven to be one of the best things to happen to our sport as it allows fans worldwide to be much closer to the action on the water and have a vested interest in the outcome of the tournaments, as well as win phenomenal prizes. We launched this game with the anticipation that it would bring new fans to fishing and have a significant impact on the sport, and it has succeeded even beyond our goals.”

Fantasy Fishing is free to play, but fans can gain an edge with Player’s Advantage. Player’s Advantage is a unique tool that offers additional resources and information, and those with Player’s Advantage have won at a rate of four-to-one.

The 2011 Fantasy Fishing season will consist of 10 tournaments surrounding the Walmart FLW Tour with an increase in cumulative and individual tournament prizes. Fans will compete for more than $25,000 in cash and prizes from each of the 10 tournaments and a top prize of $15,000. The cumulative grand prize is $100,000 with the overall runner-up winning a Ranger Z-520 boat with a Ranger Trail Trailer, 250 Mercury outboard, Minn Kota Maxxum 80 trolling motor, Lowrance electronics and trolling motor batteries – all valued at $54,000.

The third-place overall winner will win a Chevy 1500 Silverado valued at $38,000, and fourth place will take home a FinCraft 17 Dual Console boat with a 115 Evinrude outboard that is valued at $27,000. A BRP Can-Am Outlander 400 All-Terrain vehicle, valued at $8,000, will be awarded to the fifth-place finisher; while sixth- through 10th-place finishers will win Walmart gift cards ranging in value from $9,000 to $5,000.

Player’s Advantage offers additional resources and information that has continued to prove it is a vital tool that increases participants’ chances at winning. Players that use Player’s Advantage have won at a rate of four-to-one over players who did not access Player’s Advantage. An added benefit to purchasing Player’s Advantage is receiving access to the FLW Outdoors Magazine e-edition.

To begin playing, visit FantasyFishing.com and sign up. A team will automatically be selected for you, but you can edit that team and choose the 10 anglers you think will place the highest in the next Tour event. You must then select the angler you think will win the tournament and predict that angler’s cumulative winning weight, which will serve as the tiebreaker. Player’s modifications to their teams must be finalized by 11:59 p.m. ET the night prior to the tournament.