For Immediate Release

January 22, 2010
Contact: Montine McNulty
Executive Director, Arkansas Hospitality Association
(501)376-2323

Annual Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza Fishing Tournament Set for June 25-27, 2010

$100,000 Guaranteed in Cash Prizes

Little Rock, Ark. - The Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza is excited to announce a New Payout Format for the 2010 Tournament.

Distribution of Prize Money:

Overall Winner — $50,000 to the largest overall fish GUARANTEED.

Pool Money — $10,000 to the largest fish in each of the remaining four pools GUARANTEED.

Place Money per Pool — $900 to 2^nd place, $700 to 3^rd place and $400 to 4^th place winner in each of the five pools GUARANTEED. The guaranteed cash prizes are still $100,000, it is just distributed differently to spread out the top prizes.

In addition to the guaranteed prizes, there will be hourly money. Based on projected entries of 2,200 to 2,500 fishermen.

Hourly Money — $100,000 total. $1,000 per hour will be awarded in each pool (First place $500, Second Place $300, and Third Place $200).  Hourly money will be the top priority to pay after guaranteed prizes. Also, hourly winners who purchase and are wearing an official tournament T-shirt and cap will receive a $100 bonus.

Prize money for pool winners will increase or decrease $10,000 for every 100 fishermen.

Willow Leaf Award - $1,000 cash to the parent/child or grandparent/grandchild pair weighing the largest bass

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. 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;
• Verizon Ramp, North Little Rock;
• Regional Park, Pine Bluff; and
• Pendleton Bridge, east of Dumas.

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. (More information on tournament rules and format is available on the Web site at www.arkansasbigbass.com).

Anglers can choose to fish one, two or all three days of the tournament. 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. For more information about the tournament, contact the Arkansas Hospitality Association at 1-800-472-5022 or via e-mail at aha@arhospitality.org.

# # #

The Arkansas Hospitality Association, a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organization, is the official voice of the restaurant, lodging, travel and tourism industries in the state, representing the Arkansas Restaurant Association, the Arkansas Lodging Association and the Arkansas Travel Council.

Visit us online at www.arhospitality.org!

He decided that at the 2009 tournament he would fish the Fort Smith pool and head out in familiar waters that he had fished growing up. The Fort Smith pool on the Arkansas River payed off and John found himself weighing in a 7.3 lb Largemouth Bass that held the top weight of the tournament.

After receiving the prize money, John contacted Arkansas Tournament Fishing with a very special story. He told us he was going to give this money to a man he felt deserved and needed it more than himself. We asked Mr Higman who this friend was and he informed us that this was a man he found living in the street 13 years ago. John offered him a job doing demolition/construction work and has been helping this man ever since. This man’s name is Floyd G. Hazel and has been a dear friend to John Higman throughout the years.

“I (John Higman) won the Big Bass Bonanza in the amount of $100,000.00. I was going to give my dad, Jesse Higman, half of the $100,000.00, but my dad and I decided to help Floyd G. Hazel that I took off the streets thirteen years ago, who had nothing and has helped me throughout the years in many ways. It’s time to give something back. So, I am giving $86,000.00 of the Big Bass Bonanza winnings to Floyd G. Hazel.”

This story is brought to you by Arkansas Tournament Fishing and Academy Sports + Outdoors. For the full story and videos of John Higman’s Decision visit ArkansasTournamentFishing.com/higman

Higman, who has fished the tournament for eight years, led the competition last year on the second day with a 7.81-pound catch, but was edged out on Sunday last year by Duke Gunnell, who caught an 8.14-pounder just a couple of hours before the tournament ended. This year Higman edged out Danny Sheeks of Stuttgart who had held the lead since Friday with a 7.16-pound bass.

This year marks the first year that the $100,000 grand prize fish has been caught in Pool 1 (Fort Smith). Pool 2 (Dardanelle) and Pool 5 (Dumas) normally showcase the biggest fish.

Higman caught the winner this year on a 10-inch blue worm right off the river channel near Clear Creek Park at Fort Smith. “I always fish off the bottom,” Higman said. “I got him on the down fall. The fish hit hard, but I barely hooked him.”

However, it was enough to get the fish in the boat, and this year it’s really paying off. Higman, 36, was fishing with his dad, Jesse, so he also won the $1,000 Willow Leaf Award that goes to the parent and child, or grandparent and grandchild, fishing together and weighing the largest bass.

A total of 1,998 fishermen battled extreme heat to vie for $208,500 in total prize money during the three-day tournament. It paid off for Higman and those fishermen who will share $90,000 in total hourly prize money. An additional $17,500 was paid to fishermen in bonus money for wearing this year’s Big Bass T-shirt and hat and in early-bird registration awards.
Fishermen with the largest catches in Pools 2 through 5 were:

Pool 2 – David Snow of Subiaco (7.15 pounds)
Pool 3 – Dan Piper of Little Rock (5.43 pounds)
Pool 4 ¬– Aaron Davis of Pine Bluff (5.41 pounds)
Pool 5 – Danny Sheeks of Stuttgart (7.16 pounds)

The tournament spans more than 300 miles of eligible fishing waters on the Arkansas River inside the state’s borders. For complete results, visit www.arkansasbigbass.com.

A total of 2,175 fishermen battled extreme heat to vie for prize money during the three-day tournament. However, it paid off for those who will share $90,000 in total hourly prize money. An additional $18,800 was paid to fishermen in bonus money for wearing the Big Bass T-shirt and hat.

Fishermen with the largest catches in Pools 1 through 4 also won bonus money of $2,220 each. They are:

• Pool 1 (Fort Smith) – John Higman of Evansville (7.81 pounds)

• Pool 2 (Dardanelle) – Larry Gentry of Clarksville (6.72 pounds)

• Pool 3 (North Little Rock) – Randy McPherson of Mayflower (5.42 pounds)

• Pool 4 (Pine Bluff) – Charles Puckett of Rison (6.58 pounds)

Higman and his father, Jesse, also won the Willow Leaf Award of $1,000 for catching the biggest bass as a parent-child, or grandparent-grandchild, duo. Higman’s 7.81-pound bass led the tournament at the end of Saturday’s competition.

Click here for a summary of the 2008 tournament!

• Hourly Weigh-Ins by Pool
• Overall Tournament Rankings

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.— The Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza, Arkansas’s largest amateur bass tournament, is on schedule for June 26, 27, and 28, 2009.  River conditions are excellent for bass fishing and tournament officials remain confident that river conditions will remain optimal.

Tournament officials have announced that they are participating in social networking and new media.  If you are interested in following the tournament, you may do so at the Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza Twitter feed at http://twitter.com/arkansasbigbass.  Officials are also encouraging interested parties to join the Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza Facebook fan page.

Tournament officials are also proud to announce their partnership with Arkansas Tournament Fishing.  They will have personnel on the water traveling the river and filming the tournament.  Arkansas Tournament Fishing plans to have a live feed and daily updates from the tournament on their website at: www.arkansastournamentfishing.com/bonanza.

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 guaranteed.  Other cash prizes will be available throughout the weekend (depending on the number of fishermen participating).  In addition to the $100,000 grand prize, last year more than $120,000 in hourly and bonus prize money was distributed.  Fishermen qualify for bonus money by wearing the current year’s T-shirt and hat, when they weigh-in their fish.

The Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza is a family-friendly event. Families are encouraged to fish the tournament together.  A $1,000 special prize, the Willow Leaf Award, is given to the parent/child or grandparent/grandchild team who catches the largest bass.  Participating teams must inform tournament officials when registering of their desire to compete for the award in order to qualify.

Total prize money will be determined by the total number of registrants in the tournament. In 2008, tournament officials distributed more than $225,000 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 top three fish in each pool, each hour. (More information on tournament rules and format is available on the Web site at www.arkansasbigbass.com).

Brought to you by the Arkansas Hospitality Association, Academy Sports and Outdoors, and in conjunction with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, 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.

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;
• Riverfront Maritime Park, Little Rock/North Little Rock (NLR side)
• 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).

An awards event will be held on Sunday, June 28 at 4p.m. in North Little Rock at the Alltel Ramp under the Interstate 30 river bridge.  The event is open to all participating fishermen.  They are encouraged to attend, regardless of whether they won an award or prize money.  The awards event will be catered by Whole Hog Café.

June 24 is the last day to pre-register for the tournament.  After June 24, anglers must register at one of the five weigh-in sites on the day of the tournament.  Tournament anglers are encouraged to continue registering online at www.arkansasbigbass.com.  Registration information and applications are also available at fishing and outdoors shops across the state (list of sites below). The registration cost is now $90 per day once late fees are included in the cost.

For more information about the tournament, contact the Arkansas Hospitality Association at 1-800-472-5022 or via e-mail at aha@arhospitality.org.

Official Registration Sites

Dardanelle
Murphy’s Sporting Goods
405 North 5th Street

Dumas
Back Gate One Stop & Motel
Hwy 165 (Six miles east of Dumas)

Fort Smith
Barling Boat Sales
6401 S. Zero

The Tackle Box
3001 South Zero Street

Hot Springs
Trader Bill’s Outdoor Sports
1530 Albert Pike

Little Rock
Arkansas Hospitality Association
603 South Pulaski

Arkansas Rod & Reel
8216 Cantrell Road

Mayflower
Bates Field & Stream
93 Dam Road

Pine Bluff
Razorback Marine
2405 University Drive

Redfield
Terri Foods, Inc.
111 River Road

Russellville
Wilkins Brothers Outdoors
815 N. Arkansas

Sherwood
Fish ‘N Stuff
6506 Warden Road

There is less than a week left to register before the late fee deadline on June 11. REGISTER TODAY online by clicking here to access our online registration feature or you can register in person at any of these registration locations:

* Arkansas Hospitality Association, Little Rock
* Arkansas Rod & Reel, Little Rock
* Back Gate One Stop, Dumas
* Barling Boat, Fort Smith
* Bates Field & Stream, Mayflower
* Fish N’ Stuff, Sherwood
* Murphy’s Sporting Goods, Dardanelle
* Razorback Marine, Pine Bluff
* Tackle Box, Fort Smith
* Terri Food, Inc, Redfield
* Trader Bills, Hot Springs
* Wilkins Brothers Outdoors, Russellville

# # #

The Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza is organized and sponsored (in-part) by the Arkansas Hospitality Association. The Arkansas Hospitality Association is the official voice of the restaurant, lodging, travel and tourism industries in the state, representing the Arkansas Restaurant Association, the Arkansas Lodging Association and the Arkansas Travel Council. The Arkansas Hospitality Association is a not-for-profit 501(c)(6) organization.

Visit us online at www.arhospitality.org or call us at 1-800-472-5022.

Fishing in Post Lake, a backwater area in the river, Gunnell used a white, River-2-C plastic frog to catch his prize-winning bass. He caught it at 9:45 a. m. while fishing over lily pads. The fish hit the three-quarter-ounce frog on the surface, Gunnell said, but it wasn’t an aggressive bite.
“She just sucked it down,” Gunnell said. “It was a beautiful fish, very healthy.”

Gunnell said he will share the prize money with his fishing partner, Dr. Hugh Burnett of Little Rock. Gunnell and Burnett fished Friday and Saturday at Lake Dardanelle but went to the Dumas Pool when they heard about all the big fish being caught there.

“I heard they caught one that was almost 8 pounds, so I told my partner if we’re going to win this thing, we’re going to have to go to Dumas,” Gunnell said. “We just got away from all the boats and got back in the real thick stuff.”

Gunnell finished second in the 2005 Big Bass Bonanza. He said his experience fishing previous tournaments helped give him the experience necessary to catch the winning bass. “I’ve led this thing a couple of times,” Gunnell said. “This tournament has been won in Post [Lake] before, and down in Dumas, there are three of four areas that produce large fish, and Post is one of them. We fished the other two and then went in there. Knowing the areas I fish was important, but luck played a big part, too. I hooked two other big fish that I didn’t get in. If I hadn’t gotten this one in, I probably wouldn’t have won.”

Approxiamately 2,175 fishermen entered the tournament. The Arkansas Hospitality Association paid $90,000 in hourly prize money, plus an additional $18,800 in bonus money to fishermen who weighed in their fish while wearing official Big Bass Bonanza hats and T-shirts. Over $200,000 in total prize money was awarded over the weekend to the participating fishermen.

The fishermen who caught the biggest bass in their respective pools of the Arkansas River each received checks for $2,200. John Higman of Evansville was the big bass winner in the Fort Smith Pool with a bass that weighed 7.81 pounds. Higman and his father, Jesse Higman, also won the $1,000 Willowleaf Award, which is given annually to the parent-child or grandparent-grandchild team that catches the biggest bass of the tournament.

Larry Gentry of Clarksville caught the biggest bass in the Dardanelle Pool (6.72 pounds), Randy McPherson of Mayflower caught the biggest bass in the Little Rock Pool (5.42), and Charles Puckett of Rison caught the biggest bass in the Pine Bluff Pool (6.58). Gunnell’s fish was the biggest from the Dumas Pool.

Anglers weighed in a total of 701 fish from all five pools. They weighed in 169 fish from the Fort Smith Pool, 167 from Lake Dardanelle, 145 from the Pine Bluff Pool, 115 from the Little Rock Pool and 105 from the Dumas Pool.