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 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.

Bi-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 three single largest bass will win the 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:
Each day of the tournament any contestant(s) to weigh in an exact weight bass of 3.00 lbs and/or 4.00 lbs will win $500.

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.
Shirts are $10 a piece, and must be purchased for each Big Bass Bash event you are fishing. Quantities 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 bi-hourly prize.
Please see specific lake for the number of payouts every other hour.
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 Bassmaster Open, FLW Series/
Tour or PAA event in the past 10 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 Bi-Hourly awards?
You may only weigh in 1 fish per time slot. You can only win 1 prize during each bi-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. Polygraph tests will be given and anyone caught cheating will be disqualified. In addition, if you have more than 1 person in your boat and you fail a polygraph test everyone in your boat will be disqualified.

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 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 off for you on the entry form though.

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, 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 days is prohibited.

Do I have to come to the weigh-in by boat?
Yes, you must come to all weigh-in locations by boat. Trailering is not allowed.

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 bi-hourly and overall prizes. We require this in the case you are called for a 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 2012 entry form

Will there be "In Person" registration?
YES. You cannot pay by check when registering at the lake. Cash or Credit Card only.
Click Here for registration information.