The Wildest, Biggest Big Bass Bash Stories From Lake Of The Ozarks
There's no fishing tournament like the Big Bass Bash.
It draws thousands of anglers to Lake of the Ozarks every spring and fall, with every one of them hoping and praying for a $100,000 fish. All it takes is one: the biggest fish of the weekend wins big money for the angler who caught it.
For the fall 2026 Bash, the big bass prize jumped to $200,000. And that doesn't include the prizes for all the other "almost biggest" bass. Weigh-in time slots run through the two-day tournament, with the top 25 fish winning money.
With a tournament this big, there are bound to be some wild stories. We've been collecting them over the years...
A boat is a key component for fishing—especially when $100,000 is on the line. So when Kyle Swerczek’s engine gave out with a 6.71-pound fish …
It's one of the biggest fishing events of the year: the Big Bass Bash. And with $100,000 on the line, some folks might be tempted to cheat.
Last weekend, thousands of anglers prepared tackle and bait for the chance to win $100,000 at the Big Bass Bash, but only one could claim the …
When a $100,000 fish is on the line, there's bound to be a big-fish story attached to it.
Nate Boelter figured it was over. Someone else had already pulled in a record 8-pounder at the Spring Big Bass Bash, but then came a fish — an…
It was an unusually warm Saturday afternoon in October at Lake of the Ozarks, and Bryce Rieder was doing what he loved—fishing. But this wasn’…
LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. — For many anglers, the twice-a-year Big Bass Bash tournament is a longstanding tradition. This spring's event marked …
One of the best things about the Big Bass Bash is its unpredictability. The tournament blends skill with sheer chance, so anyone can win. This…
On his very first cast at his very first tournament, Brock Boyher won the 2023 Spring Big Bass Bash with a 7.27lb giant! Fighting torrential r…
Kevin Grace, this year’s winner of the Big Bass Bash, weighed in his winning fish just 10 minutes before the last timeslot on Saturday closed.…
Kaleb Allison has been fishing since before he could walk and it paid off for this 20-year-old from Lincoln, Mo. when he won the $100,000 gran…