Little Rock, Ark. – Herbert Holman remembers the moment he hooked it. There in the waters of Lake Dardanelle, just after midday, his world would change with the splash of a bass weighing just over seven pounds.
"When I caught the fish, I truthfully didn't realize how big he was," Holman recalls. "I knew he was at least a money fish. I knew he was a pretty good sized fish, but I never dreamed he was going to end up winning the whole tournament. It was unreal. Sometimes it still doesn't seem real."
The big bass, which Holman harnessed with a chartreuse, Terminator spinnerbait wound up leading Day One of last year's Simmons Bank Big Bass Bonanza. Had it held onto just that day, it would have netted the Delaware, Arkansas-native $10,000. Instead, Holman's lead held for two more days, earning him a $50,000 payday for just one bass. "Over those next two days, I'd listen to the radio and hear them weigh-in fish," Holman remembers. "They'd say, 'here comes another big fish,' and man it would make you sweat."
Holman's road to the winner's circle began almost twenty years ago, when he first began fishing the Big Bass Bonanza thanks to a neighbor who told him he had just as good of a chance as anyone else. In those two decades, the tournament has evolved; but it's signature sponsors have ensured a valuable prize pool for any bass angler ambitious enough to cast a line from Fort Smith to Dumas on one summer weekend each year.
"What did I do with the money?" Holman says. "I paid off my truck, and I bought a new tractor to help me take care of some acreage around here. Mostly, I use it to brush hog."
The reigning champion says he'll be back this year, June 23-25, when anglers from across the state will once again compete for the right to haul in the biggest hog of a bass on the Arkansas River. Up for grabs are another $50,000 grand prize check, plus checks of $10,000 for each of the remaining four pool winners. In all, over $100,000 in cash prizes will be awarded over the event's three-day run.
This year's pools and official weigh-in stations are located at Fort Smith, Dardanelle, Little Rock/North Little Rock, Pine Bluff and the Pendleton Bridge near Dumas.
Prizes include sonar from Raymarine, lure packages from LIVETARGET lures, rods from St. Croix Rods, a year's supply of Thickburgers from Hardee's/Saddle Peak, fish attractants from BaitCloud and performance apparel from BUFF.
"It's been a well-run tournament for many years," Holman says. "I'll be back this year with that Terminator spinnerbait."
The tournament begins Friday, June 23 and runs through Sunday, June 25, with fishing starting each morning at 6. The first weigh-in is at 8 a.m., with subsequent weigh-ins at the top of each hour until 1 p.m. each day.
Entry is $90 per person each day, and the winners will be announced Sunday, June 25, at 4 p.m. at the awards event at the Riverfront RV park pavilion, North Little Rock, Arkansas.
For more information on tournament rules or to register for the Simmons Bank Big Bass Bonanza, go to: www.arkansasbigbass.com.
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