Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza

The Nation's Largest Amateur Fishing Tournament

This tournament is for amateur anglers. If you consider yourself a professional fisherman, or if the majority of your annual income is received from prize money won in tournaments, income received from sponsors, and other fees and income derived from fishing, you are ineligible to fish this event.

Early Registration Incentive

Entries received on or before Friday, May 30, will be eligible to win Early Bird prizes of cash or merchandise.

2008 Tournament Schedule

Friday, August 1
6 a.m. Fishermen, cast your lines
8 a.m. First hourly weigh-in
9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Hourly weigh-ins at the top of the hour

Saturday, August 2
6 a.m. Fishermen, cast your lines
8 a.m. First hourly weigh-in
9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Hourly weigh-ins at the top of the hour

Sunday, August 3
6 a.m. Fishermen, cast your lines
8 a.m. First hourly weigh-in
9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Hourly weigh-ins at the top of the hour

Awards Ceremony

Sunday, August 3, 4-6 p.m., North Little Rock

All tournament participants are invited to the awards ceremony located near the weigh-in site for Pool 3. Indicate if you will attend on your entry form.

To reach this site in North Little Rock, take the Broadway exit off I-30 and drive west to Cypress. Travel south on Cypress to Riverfront Drive. Enter site through an entrance in the seawall. Plenty of parking is available.

Tournament Rules
This event is sponsored by The Arkansas Hospitality Association. Hereinafter, for the purpose of reference, they will be referred to as "sponsor."

The Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza will be contested in five separate pools for the purpose of paying hourly prizes. The five pools have been combined into two competition pools for the purpose of paying overall prizes. Eligible water will include nearly 300 miles on the Arkansas River, all within the boundaries of the state of Arkansas.

Pool Boundaries

Pool #1: Downriver from the Garrison Ave. bridge near Fort Smith to the upriver side of Ozark Lock and Dam (mile marker 257).

Pool #2: Downriver from Ozark Lock and Dam #12 to the upriver side of Ormond Lock and Dam #9.

Pool #3: Downriver from Ormond Lock and Dam to the upriver side of Terry Lock and Dam #6.

Pool #4: Downriver from Terry Lock and Dam to the upriver side of Hardin Lock & Dam #3.

Pool #5: Downriver from Hardin Lock and Dam to the upriver side of Lock #2 and Dam #2.

General Rules

1. All local, state, federal, Coast Guard and Arkansas Game and Fish regulations shall apply and must be observed at all times during the tournament.

Specifically:

(a) All boats must have running lights if you are on the water before daylight.

(b) All contestants must wear a securely fastened Coast Guard-approved life vest when the main engine is in use.

(c) All boats must have an operating kill switch attached to the operator while the main internal combustion engine is operating.

(d) All boats must be equipped with an operating live well. (An aerator in an ice chest is acceptable)

(e) Contestants must have a valid Arkansas fishing license in their possession unless exempt.

(f) All tournament boats my be inspected by tournament officials upon request.

2. All applications for entry, determination of winners, and rights to awards and prizes are subject to the approval of tournament officials.

3. If a contestant is disqualified for rules violations, all other contestants in his boat will also be disqualified.

4. Protests must be registered in writing with the pool weighmaster within 30 minutes of the dispute. Decisions will be communicated to the parties involved by the pool weighmaster.

5. The sponsor of this event expressly reserves the right to accept or reject any entry form.

Launching and Fishing Rules

6. All contestants must gain access to their fishing area on the Arkansas River by launching their boats from:

(a) a hard surface public ramp or marina slip on the Arkansas River.

(b) a designated Corps of Engineers camp ground or launching area.

(c) launching ramps on the Arkansas River which are maintained by state or local government agencies.

(d) private boat docks or hard surface ramps in Arkansas River backwater can be used by the property owner for launching. Examples: Homeowners on Lake Langhofer near Pine Bluff and Piney Creek, Spadra Creek and Illinois Bayou off Lake Dardanelle.

7. Any backwater that can be accessed from the Arkansas River by floating your boat into the area without getting out of your boat is eligible water.

Note: Truax Lake and Echubby Lake in Pool #5, commonly referred to as "Massey Ole River," is off limits for this event.

8. No casting or fishing allowed before 6 a.m. either day of the event. Final weigh-ins will be at 1 p.m. each day.

9. You can fish all pools during the tournament. However, you are required to weigh your fish at the weigh-in site for the pool in which the fish was caught. You may pull your boat out and trailer to the weigh-in site.

10. Official time shall be broadcast by one or more commercial radio stations to be identified.

11. Only largemouth, smallmouth and Kentucky spotted bass (black bass) will be eligible to be weighed in.

12. All fishing will be done with a rod and reel and artificial lures only. The use of pork rind is acceptable. No trolling is permitted.

13. A non-contestant can ride in a boat with a contestant. However, the non-contestant cannot fish, drive the boat, or assist the contestant by netting a fish, etc.

14. No contestant is permitted to fish nearer than 50 yards to another contestant's boat that is anchored, unless permission is received, or 100 yards either side of each pool weigh-in site.

15. Fish must be weighed the same day as caught. Dead fish will not be weighed.

16. Each contestant is allowed to have a total of two (2) fish in their possession at any given time during the tournament. Fish entered in the hourly contests do not carry over from hour to hour. Only the largest fish per contestant is eligible to win an overall prize.

17. No electronic tracking devices (implanted microchips) may be used to locate fish for tournament purposes. However, depth-finders and graph charts are acceptable.

18. No contestants can have more than one (1) fish in a weigh-in bag and cannot weigh more than one fish per tournament hour. Tournament weigh-in bags will be provided.

19. Any artificially weighted or preserved bass will be disqualified and that contestant will be subject to prosecution under federal law.

20. No fish under 16 inches in length (measured on a flat board) will be weighed in.

21. All fish weighed in each day automatically become the property of the tournament committee and will, if possible, be returned live and healthy to the Arkansas River.

Rules Governing Tournament Integrity

22. Tournament integrity will be protected by polygraph tests administered on a random basis. Contestants must pass these tests.

23. Each contestant, by signing the entry form, agrees to submit to polygraph testing and/or a drug scan.

24. Polygraph tests will be randomly administered to hourly winners in each pool at the end of each hour of the tournament.

25. Use of alcohol and/or illegal drugs is strictly prohibited. Any contestant determined by polygraph examination or by tournament officials to have consumed alcohol or illegal drugs, or to have an illegal substance in their possession or in their boat during tournament hours, is in violation of tournament rules and will be disqualified.

Legal Concerns

26. All tournament contestants, by their entry applications, shall grant permission to the tournament sponsors and to their agents the right to publicize and/or broadcast his/her name, character likeness or voice, and fact that he/she was a participant and/or prize winner and all other matters incidental thereto. If a participant is a minor (under age 18), a parent or legal guardian shall be required to grant such permission as part of the entry procedure for the minor.

27. The tournament sponsor, officers, employees, agents, etc., will not be responsible for boating or water accidents. Each tournament contestant shall be solely responsible for his/her actions with regard to inclement weather or any other potentially dangerous situation which may arise. The contestant or non-contestant expressly assumes the risk of any and all damage or injury of any nature which may result from any source whatsoever during the tournament. Should any contestant be a minor, a parent or legal guardian shall grant such release on the part of the minor.

28. All tournament contestants, by their entry applications, shall grant to the sponsor and its officers, employees, and agents, unconditional release of any liability of personal injury, death, damaged, lost or stolen property, or accidents.

29. Any property that is posted during normal water conditions cannot be entered during periods of high water.

30. All tournament contestants must read and sign the form entitled "Waiver and Release " that is printed on the back of the entry form. Your signature on this form will constitute a certification that the contestant has read and understood the "Waiver and Release" form. All terms of the "Waiver and Release" form are hereby incorporated by reference into these rules in the same manner as if the terms of the "Waiver and Release" form were printed verbatim in these rules.

Pool Weigh-In Sites

Pool #1: Fort Smith - Clear Creek Park

Pool #2: Dardanelle State Park, Russellville side.

Pool #3: North Little Rock Marina and Boat Dock.
Located on the east side of the I-30 bridge in North Little Rock.

Pool #4: Pine Bluff Regional Park.

Pool #5: Pendleton Bridge located 9.5 miles east of Dumas on Hwy. 165.

• Daily Weigh-Ins- Beginning each day at 8 a.m. and ending at 1 p.m.

• Polygraph tests will be given hourly at each pool. If you are selected for a polygraph test you must take it before resuming fishing.

Other Important Information

1. To win hourly bonuses, you must have purchased and be wearing an official 2008 tournament t-shirt and cap.

2. For those registering by mail or the Internet, your credentials and anything else you purchase will be mailed from the Arkansas Hospitality Association.

3. If you have questions about the tournament and live outside Little Rock call 1-800-472-5022.

4. The Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza will continue the tradition established by King Cotton Sports, Inc., and allow past overall winners to fish free.

Format for 2008

For the distribution of prize money: Pool 1 (Fort Smith), Pool 3 (Little Rock), and Pool 4 (Pine Bluff) will be combined to form Pool "A."

Pool 2 (Russellville-Dardanelle) and Pool 5 (Pendelton Bridge, 9.5 miles east of Dumas) will be combined to make Pool "B." Each of the two pools will pay the same amount.

Distribution of Prize Money

3000 Fishermen

(Based on projected 3,000 entries. Prize monies may be adjusted upward or downward depending upon actual number of entries)

• 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).

In addition, hourly winners wearing an official tournament T-shirt and cap will receive a $100 bonus.

• Pool Money -- $10,000 to the winner in each of the five pools

• Bonus to overall winner -- $90,000 for a total winning of $100,000

• Super Pool Prize Money

Beginning with the second place winner, fishermen in Pool 1 (Fort Smith), Pool 3 (Little Rock) and Pool 4 (Pine Bluff) will be combined to form "Super Pool A."

Pool 2 (Russellville/Dardanelle) and Pool 5 (Dumas) will be combined to form "Super Pool B."

Each of the two pools will pay the same amount based on the number of entries. For the purpose of pool and super pool winners, a contestant may win only one time.

First place $6,000
Second place $5,000
Third place $4,000
Fourth place $3,000
Fifth place $2,500
Sixth place $2,000
Seventh place $1,500
Eighth place $900
Ninth place $600
Tenth place $500

Available prize money for pool winners will increase or decrease by approximately $10,000 for every 100 fishermen more or less than 3,000.

• Willow Leaf Award - $1,000 cash to parent/child or grandparent/grandchild weighing largest bass.
Tell your weighmaster if you are eligible.

2500 Fishermen

(Based on projected 2,500 entries. Prize monies may be adjusted upward or downward depending upon actual number of entries)

• Hourly Money -- $100,000 total

• Pool Money -- $10,000 to the winner in each of the five pools

• Bonus to overall winner -- $90,000 for a total winning of $100,000

• Super Pool Prize Money

Beginning with the second place winner, fishermen in Pool 1 (Fort Smith), Pool 3 (Little Rock) and Pool 4 (Pine Bluff) will be combined to form "Super Pool A."

Pool 2 (Russellville/Dardanelle) and Pool 5 (Dumas) will be combined to form "Super Pool B."

Each of the two pools will pay the same amount based on the number of entries. For the purpose of pool and super pool winners, a contestant may win only one time.

First place $4,000
Second place $3,000
Third place $2,000
Fourth place $1,000
Fifth place $900
Sixth place $800
Seventh place $700
Eighth place $600
Ninth place $500
Tenth place $400

Available prize money for pool winners will increase or decrease by approximately $10,000 for every 100 fishermen more or less than 2,500.

• Willow Leaf Award - $1,000 cash to parent/child or grandparent/grandchild weighing largest bass.
Tell your weighmaster if you are eligible.

2200 Fishermen

(Based on projected 2,200 entries. Prize monies may be adjusted upward or downward depending upon actual number of entries)

• Hourly Money -- $100,000 total

• Pool Money -- $10,000 to the winner in each of the five pools

• Bonus to overall winner -- $90,000 for a total winning of $100,000

• Super Pool Prize Money

Beginning with the second place winner, fishermen in Pool 1 (Fort Smith), Pool 3 (Little Rock) and Pool 4 (Pine Bluff) will be combined to form "Super Pool A."

Pool 2 (Russellville/Dardanelle) and Pool 5 (Dumas) will be combined to form "Super Pool B."

Each of the two pools will pay the same amount based on the number of entries. For the purpose of pool and super pool winners, a contestant may win only one time.

Available prize money for pool winners will increase or decrease by approximately $10,000 for every 100 fishermen more or less than 2,200.

• Willow Leaf Award - $1,000 cash to parent/child or grandparent/grandchild weighing largest bass.
Tell your weighmaster if you are eligible.

Past Overall Champs Fish Free -- Past Pool Champs Will Receive One Free Day of Fishing

Past Champions

1989 - Steve Hardin, Dexter, MO (8.95 lbs.)
1990 - Larry Franks, Lufkin, TX (7.36 lbs.)
1991 - Calvin Johnson, Pine Bluff, AR (7.71 lbs.)
1992 - William Jasper, Memphis, TN (6.78 lbs.)
1993 - Don Botsford, Portland, AR (7.91 lbs.)
1994 - Charlie Brotherton, Wappapallo, MO (7.12 lbs.)
1995 - Pool A - W.M. Browne, Pine Bluff, AR (5.61 lbs.)
Pool B - Tony Nesterenko, Little Rock, AR (7.07 lbs.)
1996 - Pool A - Tim Land, Hope, AR (5.87 lbs.)
Pool B - Jerry Propst, Fernley, NV (6.87 lbs.)
1997 - Pool A - Chad Selman, Pine Bluff, AR (6.09 lbs.)
Pool B - Sidney Sullivant, Star City, AR (8.12 lbs.)
1998 - Pool A - Jeremy Ricker, Pine Bluff, AR (6.43 lbs.)
Pool B - Ronnie Rogers, Rison, AR (8.29 lbs.)
1999 - Pool A - Terry Stewart, Conway, AR (6.31 lbs.)
Pool B - Donnie Colvard, Murfreesboro, TN (6.76 lbs.)
2000 - Steve Scherrey, Conway, AR (6.76 lbs.)
2001 - Jim Quillman, Plano, TX (Overall) (5.89 lbs.)
Pool A - Dennis Moore, Little Rock, AR (5.58 lbs)
2002 - Clay Guinn, Conway, AR (Overall) (6.21 lbs.)
Pool A - Frank Holden, Fayetteville, AR (4.8 lbs.)
2003 - Earl Wilson, Plumerville, AR; (overall)(6.9 lbs.)
2004 - Brian Gorman, Hampton, AR (Overall) (6.68 lbs.)
Pool A - James Lee Snell, Jr. Van Buren, AR (5.58 lbs.)
Pool A - Scott Webb, Pontotoc, MS (6.34 lbs.)
2005 - Eric Andrews, London, AR (overall) (6.59 lbs.)
Pool A -Donni Tedford, Westfork, AR (5.92 lbs.)
2006 - Darby Stiles, Royal Oak, AR; (overall) (8.51 lbs.)
Pool A -Tyler Powers, Lavaca, AR (6.06 lbs.)
2007 - Johnny Holder, Hot Springs, AR (overall) (6.33 lbs.)