Saturday’s Leader Holds On To Win $50,000 In the Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza

Although Nicholas Warden of Beebe had fished in the Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza the past two years, he had not planned to compete again this year. However, his step dad talked him into going to Dumas to fish with him, and now Warden is sure glad he did.

His 6.62-pound bass that he reeled in on Saturday morning held up as the overall leader in the three-day tournament, and Warden, 30, is taking home $50,000 for his efforts. Warden beat out 1,754 other anglers to win the grand prize.

It didn’t take Nicholas Warden of Beebe long Saturday to take the overall lead in the Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza fishing tournament on the Arkansas River. Warden caught a 6.62-pound bass in Pool 5 near Dumas that he brought in during the 8 a.m. weigh-in.

If his fish remains the biggest catch of the three-day tournament, Warden will take home the guaranteed $50,000 grand prize. Anglers still have from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday to try and snag a larger bass. Each weigh-in location will be taking registrations prior to the 6 a.m. starting time Sunday for the last day of the tournament. Registration is $90 per person.

Andrew Smith Stands Atop Opening-Day Leader Board
Catch of 5.81 Pounds Near North Little Rock Could Lead to $50,000

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (June 25, 2010) — Anglers seeking the $50,000 guaranteed grand prize in the 11th annual Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza began searching up and down the Arkansas River for the five-figure fish at 6 a.m. Friday, and Andrew Smith of Alexander hopes he caught it near North Little Rock. Smith hauled in a 5.81 bass during the 9 a.m. hour to take the overall lead in the three-day tournament.

Leaders in the other four pools are:

* Gary Wayne Smith of White Hall (5.58) – Dumas pool
* Russell Pryor of Greenwood (5.36) – Fort Smith pool
* Anthony McKee of Russellville (5.19) – Dardanelle pool
* William Jasper of Millington, Tenn. (5.14) – Pine Bluff pool

North River Landing | 9:30 a.m., June 25
100 Riverfront Drive (under I-30 bridge), North Little Rock
Participants in this year’s Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza will have the opportunity to help the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission stock the Arkansas River with more than 100,000 largemouth bass.
AGFC, in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Correction and the [...]

Little Rock, Ark. – Organizers are pleased to announce that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers predicts that river flow forecasts look good at this time for the tournament dates.

Additional Prizes:

Academy Sports and Outdoors will be giving the following prizes in addition to any other tournament prizes.

* A $300.00 Gift Card to any exact 3lb. fish on the 3rd payout hour, 9:01-10 am
* A $400.00 Gift Card to any exact 4lb. fish on the 4th payout hour, 10:01 -11am
* A $500.00 Gift Card to any exact 5lb. fish on the 5th payout hour, 11:01-12 (noon)

The chance to win these bonuses will be awarded each day and for each of the five fishing pools.

Russell Chevrolet is sponsoring a new prize worth $50,000 this year. KSSN and KMJX in cooperation with Arkansas Game & Fish Biologists will tag and release 20 largemouth bass into the Arkansas River between Ormond Lock & Dam and Terry Lock and Dam. The 20 tagged bass will be a minimum length of 16 inches.

One of these bass will be worth $50,000, if it is caught, and if it is among the first five (5) tagged bass caught and presented during the Big Bass Bonanza Tournament hours (6am to 1pm) June 25-June 27. The other tagged 19 bass will have sponsor prizes attached to them. Any tagged bass caught must be presented at the official weigh-in site for Pool 3 in North Little Rock.

Thanks to Live Well Tales for covering our event!  Click here to visit their site.
Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza
June 25, 26 & 27
New Prize Format For 2010
$100,00 in Prize Money GUARANTEED
Overall Winner — $50,000 to the largest overall fish GUARANTEED.
Pool Money — $10,000 to the largest overall fish in each of the remaining four pools GUARANTEED.
Place [...]

Thank you to Arkansas News and Joe Mosby for covering our event!
Posted on 24 April 2010

By Joe Mosby
There is a new look to the upcoming Big Bass Bonanza on the Arkansas River. The prize money structure has been dramatically altered.
This is a one-fish competition that draws everyday anglers, people who don’t usually participate [...]

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 [...]

John Higman won the Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza 2009 and took home the $100,000 grand prize. He has been fishing the Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza throughout the past ten years and has finished in the top ten in most of those tournaments. In 2008 he came in 2nd place and was determined to take home [...]

Call it fisherman’s revenge. John Higman of Evansville took home the $100,000 grand prize in the annual Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza Fishing Tournament today after snagging a 7.30-pound bass near Fort Smith.
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 [...]