2019 Tournament Information

Simmons Bank Big Bass Bonanza Rescheduled for October

Historic flood levels on the Arkansas River have forced the state’s largest amateur bass tournament to reschedule. This year’s Simmons Bank Big Bass Bonanza, originally set for June 28-30, will now be held the weekend of October 11-13.

 

“We are really excited about moving the dates to October,” said Arkansas Hospitality Association (AHA) CEO Montine McNulty.  “It’s great for the fishermen number one. The river will be good and the fishing will be good, and we have some exciting announcements to make involving additional prizes for the fishermen.”

 

According to McNulty, a number of factors contributed to AHA’s decision to reschedule the tournament. “We know that the river is not ready right now for a fishing tournament. The Army Corps of Engineers has told us there is work to be done, the flow is still feeling the impact of high water, and some of our weigh-in sites sustained damage during the floods. In addition, a number of our anglers have been hurt by this flooding, and we want to give them time to recover.”

 

Come October, McNulty says her organization is planning on throwing a celebration of recovery. “It’s going to be an exciting, fun tournament,” she adds. “The best we’ve ever had.”

This year, the tournament is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and officials say the move to October does carry a silver lining: average temperatures in Arkansas plunge from 90-degrees in June to around 70-degrees in the fall. And, new sponsors have signed on to provide new prizes  that will be announced in the coming weeks.

All currently registered participants will be automatically entered to fish the tournament during its new dates; however, refund forms are available for those not able to fish the new dates.