FLW released its 2018 Tour roster today and it consists of 187 pros – 22 more than last year. Competition gets under way Jan. 25 at Florida's Lake Okeechobee and will culminate with the Forrest Wood Cup at Lake Ouachita in Arkansas in August.
The FLW press release said that emand for Tour entry was unprecedented, with well over 200 pros registering last week. Per the FLW Tour qualifying process, 160 pros gained priority entry based on finishing the 2017 Tour and being ranked among the top 100 pros or in the top 10 co-anglers, finishing a 2017 Costa FLW Series division ranked in the top 10 pros, or winning the TBF National Championship or the BFL All-American as a boater.
Additionally, there was record demand for sponsor entries, which do not count toward the maximum field size.
Due to the increased field size, 10 additional spots will be added to the pro payout at $10,000 each. In addition to the $125,000 paycheck that is awarded to FLW Tour winners, FLW will now pay out at least $10,000 to pros down to 60th place. The co-angler payout will be $700 for each additional co-angler entry over 160, so the co-angler payout for 51st to 76th place will be $700.
The 2018 Tour pro roster is headlined by two-time and reigning Angler of the Year (AOY) Bryan Thrift of Shelby, N.C., and 2017 Forrest Wood Cup champion Justin Atkins of Florence, Ala. They’ll be joined by seven former AOY winners, seven former Forrest Wood Cup champions and 25 Tour rookies.
The list also includes 10 anglers who competed on the Bassmaster Elite Series in 2017, but failed to meet the requalification standards on that circuit – Clent Davis, Chad Grigsby, John Hunter, Koby Kreiger, Shane Lineberger, Chad Morgenthaler, Britt Myers, James Niggemeyer, Brett Preuett and David Williams.
“We couldn’t be more excited to kick off another fantastic FLW Tour season next month at Lake Okeechobee,” said senior tournament director Bill Taylor. “The professional anglers on the FLW Tour are among the best in the world and we look forward to showcasing them across eight of the finest fisheries in the United States. With our record-breaking demand for participation, we expect the 2018 season to be the most challenging, competitive season in the history of the FLW Tour.”
Following is an alphabetical list of Tour anglers:
Jason Abram -- Piney Flats, Tenn.
Dean Alexander -- Georgetown, Texas
Matt Arey -- Shelby, N.C.
*Taylor Ashley -- Warrior, Ala.
Scott Ashmore -- Broken Arrow, Okla.
Justin Atkins -- Florence, Ala.
Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, S.C.
Evan Barnes -- Hot Springs, Ark.
Clayton Batts -- Macon, Ga.
*Matt Becker -- Finleyville, Pa.
Robert Behrle -- Hoover, Ala.
Zack Birge -- Blanchard, Okla.
Daryl Biron -- South Windsor, Conn.
Derrick Blake -- Rockwood, Tenn.
Randy Blaukat -- Joplin, Mo.
Greg Bohannan -- Bentonville, Ark.
Terry Bolton -- Paducah, Ky.
Allen Boyd -- Salem, Ind.
Christopher Brasher -- Longview, Texas
Aaron Britt -- Yuba City, Calif.
Chase Brooks -- Iraan, Texas
*Clint Brown -- Bainbridge, Ga.
Glenn Browne -- Ocala, Fla.
Keith Bryan -- Novato, Calif.
Grae Buck -- Harleysville, Pa.
*Tim Cales -- Sandstone, W. Va.
*William Campbell -- Middlesboro, Ky.
Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, Ala.
*Todd Castledine -- Nacogdoches, Texas
*Russell Cecil -- Willis, Texas
Ryan Chandler -- Hebron, Ind.
Glenn Chappelear -- Acworth, Ga.
Joey Cifuentes -- Clinton, Ark.
Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, S.C.
*Sheldon Collings -- Grove, Okla.
Ramie Colson Jr. -- Cadiz, Ky.
Kyle Cortiana -- Broken Arrow, Okla.
John Cox -- DeBary, Fla.
Shirley Crain -- Fort Smith, Ark.
Alex Davis -- Albertville, Ala.
Clent Davis -- Montevallo, Ala.
Darrell Davis -- Dover, Fla.
Bill Day -- Frankfort, Ky.
John Devere -- Berea, Ky.
Jeff Dobson -- Bartlesville, Okla.
Scott Dobson -- Clarkston, Mich.
Bradley Dortch -- Atmore, Ala.
Josh Douglas -- Isle, Minn.
Kurt Dove -- Del Rio, Texas
David Dudley -- Lynchburg, Va.
Tony Dumitras -- Winston, Ga.
Luke Dunkin -- Lawrenceburg, Tenn.
Richie Eaves -- Nauvoo, Ill.
Charlie Evans -- Berea, Ky.
Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, Minn.
Mark Fisher -- Wauconda, Ill.
Tim Frederick -- Leesburg, Fla.
Anthony Gagliardi -- Prosperity, S.C.
Nick Gainey -- Charleston, S.C.
*Matt Garner -- Seminole, Okla.
*Cameron Gautney -- Muscle Shoals, Ala.
Chris Gosselaar -- Fresno, Calif.
Matt Greenblatt -- Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Chad Grigsby -- Maple Grove, Minn.
Buddy Gross -- Chickamauga, Ga.
Jeff Gustafson -- Keewatin, Ontario, Canada
*Cody Hahner -- Wausau, Wis.
Bradley Hallman -- Norman, Okla.
*Steven Hatala -- St. Clair Shores, Mich.
Randy Haynes -- Counce, Tenn.
Dylan Hays -- Sheridan, Ark.
Billy Hines -- Vacaville, Calif.
Todd Hollowell -- Fishers, Ind.
Jamie Horton -- Centerville, Ala.
Jimmy Houston -- Cookson, Okla.
*Miles Howe -- San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
Rex Huff -- Corbin, Ky.
John Hunter -- Shelbyville, Ky.
*Freddy Hurley -- Somerset, Ky.
Bill Hutchison -- Bessemer, Ala.
Eric Jackson -- Walling, Tenn.
Carl Jocumsen -- Frisco, Texas
Jason Johnson -- Dawsonville, Ga.
Chris Johnston -- Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Cory Johnston -- Cavan, Ontario, Canada
Jim Jones -- Big Bend, Wis.
*Rob Jordan -- Flowery Branch, Ga.
Cody Kelley -- Conway, Ark.
Jay Kendrick -- Grant, Ala.
J.T. Kenney -- Palm Bay, Fla.
Rob Kilby -- Hot Springs, Ark.
Brad Knight -- Lancing, Tenn.
Koby Kreiger -- Bokeelia, Fla.
Jason Lambert -- Michie, Tenn.
*David Larson -- Mound, Minn.
Brian Latimer -- Belton, S.C.
Jeremy Lawyer -- Sarcoxie, Mo.
Shane Lehew -- Catawba, N.C.
Shane Lineberger -- Lincolnton, N.C.
Craig Livesay -- Johnson City, Tenn.
*Wes Logan -- Springville, Ala.
Richard Lowitzki -- Hampshire, Ill.
*Greg Mansfield -- Burnsville, Minn.
Scott Martin -- Clewiston, Fla.
Lendell Martin Jr. -- Nacogdoches, Texas
Billy McCaghren -- Mayflower, Ark.
Chris McCall -- Palmer, Texas
Johnny McCombs -- Morris, Ala.
Bill McDonald -- Greenwood, Ind.
Tim McDonald -- Prestonsburg, Ky.
Brandon McMillan -- Clewiston, Fla.
Jared McMillan -- Belle Glade, Fla.
Jason Meninger -- Saint Augustine, Fla.
Cody Meyer -- Auburn, Calif.
Kerry Milner -- Bono, Ark.
Kurt Mitchell -- Milford, Del.
Yusuke Miyazaki -- Forney, Texas
Tom Monsoor -- La Crosse, Wis.
Harry Moore -- Valley, Ala.
Andy Morgan -- Dayton, Tenn.
Chad Morgenthaler -- Reeds Spring, Mo.
Bob Morin -- Seymour, Tenn.
Troy Morrow -- Eastanollee, Ga.
Brandon Mosley -- Choctaw, Okla.
Jim Moulton -- Merced, Calif.
Jim Moynagh -- Carver, Minn.
Shawn Murphy -- Nicholasville, Ky.
Britt Myers -- Clover, S.C.
Michael Neal -- Dayton, Tenn.
Chris Neau -- New Orleans, La.
*David Nichol -- Gainesville, Ga.
James Niggemeyer -- Van, Texas
Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, Ark.
Robert Pearson -- Herndon, Va.
Pete Ponds -- Madison, Miss.
Brett Preuett -- Monroe, La.
Chad Randles -- Elkhorn, Neb.
Tom Redington -- Royse City, Texas
Matt Reed -- Madisonville, Texas
Clark Reehm -- Elm Grove, La.
Jimmy Reese -- Witter Springs, Calif.
Jason Reyes -- Huffman, Texas
Curtis Richardson -- Belleville, Ontario, Canada
Darrel Robertson -- Jay, Okla.
Mark Rose -- West Memphis, Ark.
Zell Rowland -- Montgomery, Texas
*Craig Rozema -- Simpsonville, S.C.
Casey Scanlon -- Lake Ozark, Mo.
Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, Md.
Terry Segraves -- Kissimmee, Fla.
Braxton Setzer -- Montgomery, Ala.
William Shelton III -- La Crosse, Va.
Blake Smith -- Lakeland, Fla.
David Smith -- Edmond, Okla.
Jeff Sprague -- Point, Texas
Matthew Stefan -- Junction City, Wis.
*Tyler Stewart -- West Monroe, La.
Scott Suggs -- Alexander, Ark.
Mike Surman -- Boca Raton, Fla.
Peter Thliveros -- Saint Augustine, Fla.
Timmy Thompkins -- Myrtle Beach, S.C.
*Furman (Joe) Thompson -- Clayton, Ga.
Bryan Thrift -- Shelby, N.C.
Dennis Tietje -- Roanoke, La.
Rusty Trancygier -- Hahira, Ga.
J. Todd Tucker -- Moultrie, Ga.
Jim Tutt -- Longview, Texas
Andrew Upshaw -- Tulsa, Okla.
John Voyles -- Petersburg, Ind.
James Watson -- Lampe, Mo.
Joshua Weaver -- Macon, Ga.
Joseph Webster -- Winfield, Ala.
Kyle Weisenburger -- Ottawa, Ohio
Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, Texas
Chris Whitson -- Louisville, Tenn.
*Andy Wicker -- Pomaria, S.C.
Scott Wiley -- Bay Minette, Ala.
David Williams -- Maiden, N.C.
Barry Wilson -- Birmingham, Ala.
Matt Wittekiend -- Angleton, Texas
Kenneth Woods -- London, Ky.
Michael Wooley -- Collierville, Tenn.
*David Wootton -- Collierville, Tenn.
Gary Yamamoto -- Palestine, Texas
Jay Yelas -- Lincoln City, Ore.
Andy Young -- Mound, Minn.
*Ronald Young -- Lake Wales, Fla.
* denotes 2018 FLW Tour Rookie
