Kayak-Only Fishing Tournament Coming To Lake Of The Ozarks, With Big Prizes For Big Bass

Lake of the Ozarks is known for its fall fishing tournaments: every weekend, bass boats buzz back and forth across the Lake. But on Saturday, Oct. 25, a unique bass tournament is coming to the Lake: the Big Bass 250. In this tournament, anglers are required to catch bass from a kayak.

It’s the fourth year for this annual tournament, which is organized and hosted by Eco Fishing Shop — one of the nation’s top fishing kayak dealers. Eco’s main headquarters is in Arkansas, but their storefront is located in Camdenton, Mo. near Lake of the Ozarks.

The past few years, the Big Bass 250 has drawn an increasing number of anglers; in 2024, there were 163 participants.

Want to enter? There’s still time. Visit https://ecofishingshop.com/products/big-bass-250-at-lake-of-the-ozarks

Big Bass 250 Kayak Fishing Tournament — What To Know

When: Saturday, Oct. 25 (deadline to register: Oct. 24, 6 p.m.)

First Launch: 7:30 a.m.

First Cast: 8 a.m.

Lines Out: 4 p.m.

Where: Roadrunner-style tournament — anglers may launch from any public ramp (check-in info will be sent out to registrants before the tournament)

Entry fee: $250

Prizes abound: this year’s offerings include more than $50,000 worth of cash and fishing items. The top ten winners will earn a five-fish payout, with $10,000 guaranteed for the biggest fish of the weekend. 

In last year’s tournament, Stony Floyd won $16,000 at the Big Bass 250, with a 20.25” big bass that also helped him land first place in the five-fish payout.

Yes, you read that right. At the Big Bass 250, bass aren’t measured in pounds, they’re measured in inches.

Eco Fishing Shop will also be giving away items to participants throughout the weekend, including:

• Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL Pro Fishing Kayak, with a Minn Kota Terrova kayak trolling motor

• Bonafide XTR 130 Fishing Kayak

• Garmin Echomap UHD2 93SV Chartplotter/Fishfinder

• Malone Microsport Off-Road Trailer

• And many other prizes!

Eco says the total value of the giveaways is around $36,000. The giveaways are treated as door prizes, which means many anglers who may not land in the weekend’s top-10 for bass will still walk away with an awesome prize.

Kayak fishing tournaments are interesting, and quite a bit different from the more common bass boat-based fishing tournaments at the Lake. For the Big Bass 250, participants are required to use a tracking app (Tourney X) on their phone to ensure they didn’t cheat. They must photograph their catch on a specific measuring board; they then upload the photo to the Tourney X app, which tracks the leaderboard throughout the day.

Got questions? Contact tournament director Johnathan Dominguez at 573-873-2772.

Learn more about Eco Fishing Shop and register for the Big Bass 250 at https://ecofishingshop.com/products/big-bass-250-at-lake-of-the-ozarks