To the common person the world of professional fishing is as confusing as figuring out the NFL salary cap. There are multiple divisions, different levels and tournaments almost every weekend that cover most of the contiguous United States.However, on a national level the cast for cash circuits basically fall into two different leagues; BASS and FLW Outdoors. Each has many choices of tournaments and involves an individual format opposed to the team format that make up most local trails.Founded by Ray Scott in 1967, BASS is the most well-known and visible fishing organization world-wide. ESPN purchased BASS in 2001 and brought the sport to national prominence with its coverage of the Bassmaster Classic and Elite Series events.BASS has three different levels of fishing that include a wide range of entry fees and paybacks. The beginning level, the Weekend Series, has 20 regional divisions that are comprised of five one-day tournaments each.Next are the BASS Opens that incorporate nine tournaments over three national regions. Winners of each Open become qualified to fish the Bassmaster Classic. The top finishers in the Open tournaments also qualify for the Elite Series Lake Texoma Fishing Guides. On a yearly basis, only 99 anglers are eligible to fish the BASS Elite Series which consists of 8 contests that each includes a 0,000 first place prize.Every February BASS hosts the Bassmaster Classic that is described as the "Super Bowl" of fishing.

Only 51 anglers qualify for this world championship that boasts a 0,000 prize and legitimizes an angler's career through endorsements and sponsors.The tournament fishing landscape changed dramatically in 1996 when businessman Irwin Jacobs purchased a little known bass tournament organization and renamed it FLW Outdoors after the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, Forest L. Wood. This company quickly signed Wal-Mart as its title sponsor and quickly became the highest paying fishing corporation in the world.FLW also consists of three different levels of competition beginning with the entry level fishing Lead Seat Wal-Mart BFL. This league has 24 divisions across the US that includes five one-day tournaments each. The Everstart Series is the mid-level circuit of FLW Outdoors and comprises five regional divisions with a four contest format. The FLW Tour is the premier series of the organization and hosts 10 national tournaments with a 0,000 first place prize.

The Forest Wood Cup is held each summer as the Championship of FLW Outdoors which boasted a first ever one-million dollar prize in 2008.If any of you have seen a host of new or wrapped boats recently on Lake Texoma, that's because the FLW Everstart Series will be coming to our fair burg beginning Thursday, May 12th. This 3-day event will consist of two divisions: Pro and Co-angler. The Pros, who fishing Lead Seat from the front of their boat and make decisions on where to fish, are randomly paired with a Co-angler, who fishes from the back of the boat. Each are allowed an individual five-fish limit per day. First place prizes for both categories include a new Ranger Boat.Because Co-anglers are still needed, I was fortunate enough to have my entry paid for by a Pro who was on the waiting list for the tournament. This is a great opportunity to see how different Pro's from all over the South fish Lake Texoma. I will report on the experience in next week's column.