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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Aug. 3, 2008) — 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 [...]

Tournament is moving full steam ahead! Follow Us Live via Twitter and the Arkansas Tournament Fishing Live Stream! 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 [...]