10th Annual Arkansas Big Bass Fishing Tournament News Release and Information

For Immediate Release
April 1, 2009
Contact: Montine McNulty
Executive Director, Arkansas Hospitality Association
(501) 376-2323

10th Annual Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza Fishing Tournament Set for June 26-28

$100,000 Grand Prize Guaranteed for Top Catch!

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.— The Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza, the country’s largest amateur big bass tournament, will return to the Natural State for a tenth consecutive year on June 26, 27, and 28, 2009.

Anglers can choose to fish one, two or all three days of the tournament. The angler who lands the largest fish in the three-day tournament will take home $100,000, with other cash prizes available throughout the weekend. Approximately 3,000 fishermen are expected to compete in the event.

Total prize money will be determined by the total number of registrants in the tournament. In 2008, tournament officials distributed over $200,000 in total prizes.

The tournament begins at 6 a.m. sharp on all three days, with the first hourly weigh-in
at 8 a.m. and subsequent weigh-ins at the top of each hour until the final 1 p.m. weigh-in. Cash prizes will be awarded for the biggest fish in each pool each hour. (More information on tournament rules and format is available on the official rules page).

Brought to you by the Arkansas Hospitality Association, the contest spans 300 miles of eligible fishing from Fort Smith to Dumas — the entire length of the Arkansas River within the state’s borders. Additional sponsors of the 2009 tournament will be announced in the spring.

As in previous years, the river will be divided into five fishing pools, and each pool will have one official weigh-in site. The five weigh-in sites are:

•    Clear Creek Park, Fort Smith;
•    Dardanelle State Park, Russellville side;
•    Alltel Ramp, North Little Rock;
•    Regional Park, Pine Bluff; and
•    Pendleton Bridge, east of Dumas.

Fishermen can choose to fish any of the five pools and can fish different pools during the
three-day event. However, all fish must be weighed in the pool in which they were caught. Eligible fish species include largemouth, smallmouth and Kentucky spotted bass (black bass).

Registration materials will be available soon. Online registration begins April 15, 2009 at 9am CST.  For more information about the tournament, contact the Arkansas Hospitality Association at 1-800-472-5022 or via e-mail at aha@arhospitality.org.

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