Big Bass Bash

How is this tournament different from other tournaments?

Take Off - Unlike other bass tournaments, the Big Bass Bash allows you to take off from
anywhere on the lake, although you cannot start fishing until the official start time.
Official times for the Spring BBB are 6:30am-3:00pm both days.
The Fall BBB times are 7:00am-3:00pm both days.

Semi-Hourly Weigh-Ins - Each angler can weigh-in one (1) fish per time slot. Once you have weighed in for that specific time slot, you can go out and continue fishing, but you must wait until the next time slot starts to weigh another fish. Each angler can weigh in up to four (4) times per day.

Spring BBB Time Slots: 6:30am-9am | 9am-11am | 11am-1pm | 1pm-3pm
Fall BBB Time Slots: 7am-9am | 9am-11am | 11am-1pm | 1pm-3pm

Overall Prizes - At the end of the 2 day tournament, the 3 single heaviest bass will win the overall cash prizes. You can only win 1 of the top 3 overall cash prizes.

What are the prizes?
See each event for specific details regarding payout.

BONUS WAYS TO WIN:

Early Bird Drawings - A drawing in which early bird cash prizes are given out to tournament contestants whose entries were received by the cut off date (see each event for specific date and cash award).

Exact Weight Bonus:
Every angler that brings in a bass that weighs exactly 3.00 lbs. and/or 4.00 lbs. will win $500.
Fish will only be weighed 1 time, then immediately returned to the lake.

Bonus T-Shirt Prizes:
Each day of the tournament the contestant who places one spot out of the money in any time slot will win $125.00, if you have an Official Tournament T-Shirt in your possession at time of weigh-in.
This will be for all weigh-in periods, both days, which equals eight (8) more possible payouts over the weekend.
Official Tournament T-shirts can be purchased at all the registration sites at the lake.
Shirts are $10 a piece, and must be purchased for each Big Bass Bash event you are fishing. Quantities and sizes are limited.

How does this tournament work?
You can have up to 3 people in a boat, but each person is fishing for themselves. The 20 heaviest (25 heaviest for Fall) bass weighed in during each time slot will win a cash prize.
Please visit the Spring or Fall webpages for specific payout information.
The 3 heaviest bass of the weekend will win the overall prizes.
You can only win one of the 3 overall prizes.

Who can enter?
If you have fished a Bassmaster Elite, or the “PRO” side in a FLW Tour or PAA event in the
past 2 years, you are ineligible to fish. If you have ever won a
Bassmaster Classic or FLW Championship, you are ineligible to fish.
If you have provided guide service or instructional fishing on the tournament lake for pay within 90 days of the tournament date, you are ineligible to fish.
If you have made more than $12,000 in tournament winnings (including cash, prizes, incentive
money) a year prior to the tournament date, you are ineligible to fish.
Winners of the Big Bass Bash are excluded.

For all of the Big Bass Bash events, we will have a Children’s Division in which kids 12 and under can fish to win cash and prizes. Kids division is $10 per day per child.

How many fish can I weigh in for Semi-Hourly awards?
You may only weigh in 1 fish per time slot. You can only win 1 prize during each semi-hourly weigh-in. Once you weigh in a fish it will be returned to the water by a tournament official.

How many fish can I weigh in for the overall prizes?
Only your biggest fish weighed in during the 2 day tournament will be considered for the 3 overall prizes. You can only win 1 overall prize.

If I have more than 1 person in a boat can we share fish?
NO. Each person will be fishing for themselves. No sharing of fish is allowed. You must weigh-in your own fish. There will be a CVSA or Polygraph examination given to the top 3 winners, and random tests given to the semi-hourly winners.
Refusal of an angler to submit to a test or failure of a test will result in loss of winnings, immediate disqualification, plus subsequent disqualification from future tournaments. If an anglers fails a CVSA or Polygraph examination, all anglers in the boat will face disqualification and loss of winnings.

How will the overall prizes be determined?
The 3 heaviest bass weighed in during the 2 day tournament will win the 3 overall prizes.

How much does it cost to enter?
The entry fee is $165 for 2 days (Saturday and Sunday), or $115 for 1 day (Saturday or Sunday). Each person in the boat must pay an entry fee. The combined discount when paying for 2 days must be paid for at once. For example, you cannot pay $115 for one day and decide later to fish the 2nd day and pay an additional $50. The cost would be $115 per day.

When and where is the awards ceremony?
The awards ceremony will take place at 4:30pm on Sunday at Public Beach 2, also known as PB2.
Click Here for a map showing exact location.

Can I enter if I am under 18?
Yes, you must have a parent sign a release for you on the entry form.

Can you explain the weigh-in?
There are 4 different weigh-in's each day. When you come to weigh-in you must come by water, you cannot drive your vehicle to weigh-in.
Each weigh-in station will have signs stating "All Anglers Must Be Beyond This Point
To Be Included In The Current Time Slot".
Say you are weighing in a fish for the 9am-11am time slot. Please make sure that you are past those signs by 11am to be eligible for that time frame. If your fish would be checked in after 11:00 am, your fish would then be entered for the 11am-1pm time slot.
This is critical for the last time slot each day (1pm-3pm). If you are not past the designated area or checked in with a tournament official by 3pm, you WILL NOT be able to weigh that fish in.

Where are the weigh-in sites?
PB2, Red Oak Resort, Alhonna Resort, and Red Fox Bar & Grill.

Can I use a guide on the day of the tournament?
NO. Use of a guide 7 days prior and during the tournament is prohibited.

Do I have to come to the weigh-in by boat?
Yes. You must weigh-in by water. You can not trailer your boat and drive to a weigh-in station.

Does everyone in the boat have to pay an entry fee?
YES. Each person in the boat must be a paid contestant and abide by all tournament rules and regulations. Non-contestants are not allowed in paid contestants boat at anytime during official tournament hours.

Do I need to be present to win?
You must be present to win for all drawings, and all semi-hourly and overall prizes. We require this in the case you are called for a CVSA or Polygraph Test.

How do I enter?
Anglers can enter online. Enter Online Now.
By Mail: Midwest Fish Tournaments, PO Box 803, High Ridge, MO 63049
Click here to download an official 2013 entry form.

Will there be "In Person" registration at the Lake of the Ozarks?
YES. Please Click Here for registration information. When registering at the lake, only cash
or credit cards will be accepted, no checks.