Cash in on the Big Bass Bash at Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks

The Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. - The Lake of the Ozarks will be buzzing with bass boats April 16-17 as Big Bass Bash contestants pursue prize-winning lunkers.

"The Lake of the Ozarks Tri-County Lodging Association (TCLA) Board of Directors is absolutely thrilled to be one of the sponsors for this year's Big Bass Bash," says Jim Divincen, TCLA executive director.  "This fishing event has quickly become the single largest fishing tournament on the Lake of the Ozarks, largely due to the amount and number of prizes offered to the anglers.  And with more than 500 fishing tournaments annually here at the Lake of the Ozarks, that's really saying something!  We are so pleased that the Big Bass Bash tournament coordinators have chosen Central Missouri's beautiful Lake of the Ozarks."

Grab your tacklebox and head to the Lake for the Big Bass Bash.

The lake's reputation as one of the best bass fisheries in the nation and its drawing power across the Midwest lures the Big Bass Bash back each year.  "We draw really big out of St. Louis and Western Illinois, and Iowa anglers come down to Lake of the Ozarks a lot," says Randy Terrell, Big Bass Bash coordinator, who notes anglers from throughout the country, including the state of California,  competed in last fall's event.  "This year there will be five boats from Minnesota coming down here to fish."

Joseph Britton of Russellville, Ky. took home last year's grand prize.

The tournament will be held during a prime time of the month with a full moon on April 17, so big bass in the late phase of the prespawn or the early spawning stage should be shallow throughout the lake. This spring's wet weather has stained the lake's water which also makes conditions ideal for catching big bass in the shallows.

The lake's wide array of lodging and restaurant choices will provide a good night's sleep and hearty meals for the anglers during their cast-for-cash quest. Divincen believes the Big Bass Bash will have a "huge economic impact" in the area as the tournament field will generate "hundreds of thousands of dollars" for the lake's lodging, restaurants and other businesses.

The Big Bass Bash caters to casual fishermen and gives weekend anglers an equal chance at winning big bucks in a tournament.  "This is the type of tournament where you can get up in the morning and have your coffee or whatever on your dock and then go fishing since there is no takeoff point," says Terrell. "We have a rule that if you make over $12,000 in cash or prizes in the previous 12 months (in tournaments) then you can't fish in it. We also have a rule if you guide on the lake you can't fish in it."

Matt Meininger of St. Peters, Mo. won the second place prize at last year's Big Bass Bash.

Last fall's Big Bass Bash drew 2,012 entrants vying for the top prize of $51,200 and other prize money for second and third places and semi-hourly payouts.  Joseph Britton of Russellville, Ky., won last fall's event with a 6.85-pound largemouth. Second place and $21,200 went to Matt Meininger of St. Peters, Mo., with a 6.47-pound lunker, while Dan Reynolds from Doniphan, Mo., took the third-place prize of $11,200 with a 6.31-pound bass.

The top three payouts for this spring's event based on 1,000 entries will be $30, 000 for first place, $20,000 for second, and $10,000 for third. A guaranteed $68,000 will be awarded for semi-hourly payouts during four time slots throughout both competition days. 

Twenty places are paid out during each time slot and every angler who weighs in an exact 3.00- or 4.00-pound bass will win $500. This spring's event will have four weigh-in sites at the following locations:  Red Oak Resort at the 32-mile marker of the Osage; Alhonna Resort, 8-mile marker of the Osage; Lake of the Ozarks State Park Public Beach 2, 3-mile marker of the Grand Glaize; and Red Fox Bar & Grill, 50-mile marker of the Osage.

Dan Reynolds from Doniphan, Mo. shows off his third place catch.

Alhonna Resort served as a weigh-in site last fall, and owner Sheryl Elia is looking forward to hosting the weigh-ins again this spring. "It was an excellent opportunity for visibility for us," Elia says. "It brought in a lot of people who had never been to see us before. So just for traffic purposes it was excellent."

The event left a lasting impression on both Elia and her lodging guests. "Everybody that we talked to absolutely loved it," she recalls. "I think there was much more opportunity for them to win. It kind of leveled the playing field a bit. It was just very professionally put together and very professionally staffed. The tournament entrants were all very pleasant and it was just an overall fun event."

Another Fall Big Bass Bash will be held Oct. 1-2 at the Lake of the Ozarks. For more details about the fall event, visit http://midwestfishtournaments.com.

For more information on lodging, camping, restaurants and marina services at the Lake of the Ozarks, call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau at 800-FUN-LAKE (800-386-5253) or visit www.funlake.com.   

# # #