WHAT A WEEKEND! The 2022 AFTCO Spring Big Bass Bash, presented by Phoenix Boats, took place at Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks on April 23-24. Anglers from across the country (and Canada) took part in one of the largest amateur Big Bass fishing tournaments in the nation.

Over $325,000 in guaranteed cash & prizes were awarded at this event, including a new Phoenix Bass Boat and a whopping $100,000 grand prize to the angler who weighed in the biggest bass of the tournament.

This event, which takes place each Spring & Fall at Lake of the Ozarks, brings a massive economic boost to the local community during the "off-season" each year. The Big Bass Bash brings family & friends together to enjoy a weekend at the lake and gives the "weekend angler" a chance to cash in on hundreds of thousands of dollars in guaranteed payouts.

One of those anglers, 20-year-old Kaleb Allison from Lincoln, MO, hooked in to a 7.58 lb. giant on Sunday afternoon, and that bass turned into a life changer for the young Missouri man.

Kaleb Allison, who had just bought a 1996 Stratos bass boat just 2 weeks before the event, was fishing the upper area of the lake near the 80-mile marker on Sunday afternoon. Kaleb, fishing alongside his 15-year-old nephew, Patrick, ran in to Turkey Creek to hit a laydown that produced a few smaller bass earlier in the day.

Kaleb threw a KVD Strike King Finesse Spinnerbait (gizzard shad color) passed that laydown and started running it back when she HIT. He fought the big bass and got her close to the boat where Patrick was able to net the big girl & place it in the live well. Kaleb & Patrick raced off to the Ivy Bend Resort weigh-in station, bagged her up and headed up to the Big Bass Bash scales, where she locked in on 7.58 lbs...and the celebration began.
Congratulations to the 2022 AFTCO Spring Big Bass Bash Champion, Kaleb Allison. Enjoy your win and your $101,500 in prize money!

Special thanks to MADD for attending and supporting this event. We encourage their mission, to stop drunk driving on our roads and waterways. Drunk drivers destroy lives and families when they murder a loved one, and they should be prosecuted with maximum prison time! We know first-hand the pain & suffering it causes. When you are taking others on the water, especially after sunset, be extremely observant of your surroundings and other boats, since they may not be. Please don't Drink & Drive!
Marie Terrell...her life taken by a drunk boater, John Dallas Bennett, on July 25, 2020

2nd Place Overall: Brenton Krueger - $20,000
6.80 lbs.

3rd Place Overall: Jim Connell - $10,0006.74 lbs.

4th Place Overall: Chuck Austin - $5,0006.70 lbs.

 1st Place Ladies Division: Jan Eubanks - $1,0005.10 lbs.

Phoenix Boat Winner: James Jones ($47,000 retail value)Special thanks to Phoenix Boats, Sales Rep Greg Wood, and Anglers Port Marine for their help & coordination with the draw boat.

EARLY BIRD WINNERS:
$500 - Andrew Boring: El Paso, IL
$500 - Mike Whitland: Ralston, NE
$500 - Gavin Breweur: Marquette Heights, IL
$500 - Corey Ross: Louisburg, KS
$500 - Alec Ely: Des Moines, IA
$500 - Kevin Dillingham: Wisconsin Rapids, WI
$500 - Michael Queen: Leadwood, MO
$500 - Randy Foster: Rocky Mount, MO
$500 - Ethridge Taylor: Laquey, MO
$500 - Scott Myettinen: Salem, MO
$500 - Tim Mitchell: Wentzville, MO
$500 - Paul Mahacek: Imperial, MO

EXACT WEIGHT WINNERS:
$500 - Garrett Wilkinson: 4.00 lbs.
$500 - Trevor Scheidle: 4.00 lbs.
$500 - Josh Miget: 4.00 lbs.
$500 - Alvis Roberts: 3.00 lbs.
$500 - Ben Martin: 4.00 lbs.|
$500 - Mike Christenson: 4.00 lbs.

Total Paid Out:
Top 4 Overall Payouts: $135,000
Bi-Hourly Payouts: $142,760 (45 places paid each time slot. Payouts below)

We want to thank all of the anglers that participated in the 2022 Spring Big Bass Bash at Lake of the Ozarks, and hope you had a safe & enjoyable time at the lake.

Thank you to our title sponsor, AFTCO, our presenting sponsor, Phoenix Boats, and to all of our other great sponsors, tournament staff, supporters, local businesses, resorts, tackle shops, Tri-County Lodging, State Parks Department, and everyone else that makes this event possible. It takes a small army to host an event like this, and it could not be done without all of you.

Tournament Results:
Grand Lake - April 9, 2022
Number of Boats: 163

2022 Pro-Guide Batteries AiA Tournament Trail, presented by Phoenix Boats. The Grand Lake Division kickoff, presented by Oklahoma Health Options, took off from the Wolf Creek Ramp in Grove, OK at 6:30am on Saturday, April 9, 2022.

With the exciting new changes for the 2022 season, $10,000 is guaranteed to the first-place team at every qualifying event this year. We also removed the cap on the number of payouts at each qualifying tournament and moved to a straight 1 place paid for every 5 boats entered, which totaled 32 payouts for this event.

Also, to qualify for the 2022 AiA Tournament of Champions this year, you must land in the top 25% of your specified division in points. The 3rd tournament in each division will be a DOUBLE POINTS tournament, so weigh those fish in and get those points.

THE NEXT GRAND LAKE TOURNAMENT IS JUNE 4TH, GOING OUT OF WOLF CREEK PARK FROM 6AM-2PM. ENTER NOW FOR AN EARLY TAKE-OFF POSITION

1st Place: Paul Heavener & Sean Cease - 22.81 lbs.

Lew's Big Bass: Ronnie Allen & Zane Johnson - 6.51 lbs

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE RESULTS

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE RESULTS

Tournament Results:
Lake of the Ozarks - April 2, 2022
Number of Boats: 189
Payback: $46,215

Stop #2
Lake of the Ozarks Division, presented by Midwest Land Group: Justin Swast-Land Agent

The 2022 Pro-Guide Batteries AiA Tournament Trail, presented by Phoenix Boats, held the 2nd event of the Lake of the Ozarks Division on Saturday, April 2nd. A total of 189 teams competed Saturday, ready to fill their live wells with some Lake of the Ozarks bass. The bite has heated up at LOZ over the past couple weeks, and that trend continued for this event...12 bags over 20 lbs. weighed in at this tournament, including a 1st Place mega bag of bass weighed in by Rob Bueltmann & Ben Verhoef (25.73 lbs.)

With the exciting new changes for the 2022 season, $10,000 is guaranteed to the first-place team at every qualifying event this year. We also removed the cap on the number of payouts at each qualifying tournament and moved to a straight 1 place paid for every 5 boats entered, which totaled 37 payouts for this event.

Also, to qualify for the 2022 AiA Tournament of Champions this year, you must land in the top 25% of your specified division in points. The 3rd tournament in each division will be a DOUBLE POINTS tournament, so weigh those fish in and get those points.

THE NEXT LAKE OF THE OZARKS TOURNAMENT IS SEPTEMBER 11TH, GOING OUT OF PB2 FROM 6:30AM-3PM.

Thanks to Bassing Bob for the coffee/donuts & hot dogs/refreshments at weigh-in, and to Fish-Intel for the Live Leaderboard

Congratulations to Ben Verhoef & Rob Bueltmann

1st Place: Rob Bueltmann & Ben Verhoef (25.73 lbs.)
Total Winnings: $10,000 + $7,000 incentive cash

Sponsored by: BoatWrx, Caymas Boats, Bassing Bob

2nd Place: Steve Heitman & Rick Rouse (23.89 lbs.)
Total Winnings: $4,650.00

3rd Place: Mike Scott & Darryl Zastrow (22.94 lbs.)
Total Winnings: $3,774.00

LEW'S BIG BASS: Jeff Hoots & Mel Taschler (7.14 lbs.)
Total Winnings: $1,496.00

TOP 40 RESULTS

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE RESULTS

VIEW PHOTO GALLERY 

Thank you to our sponsors. Please support those that support the tournaments you fish.

Tournament Results:
Table Rock Lake - March 19, 2022
Number of Boats: 170
Payback: $44,355 (Over 100% Paid Out)

The 2022 Pro-Guide Batteries AiA Tournament Trail, presented by Phoenix Boats, kicked off the Table Rock Lake Division on March 19, 2022. An outstanding field of 170 teams arrived at the Port of Kimberling Resort on Saturday morning, ready to hit the lake, hook some bass, and take their shot at the $10,000 guaranteed 1st place prize.
A total of $44,355 was paid back to the field with over 100% PAYBACK (103% to be exact)

With the exciting new changes for the 2022 season, $10,000 is guaranteed to the first-place team at every qualifying event this year. We also removed the cap on the number of payouts at each qualifying tournament and moved to a straight 1 place paid for every 5 boats entered, which totaled 34 payouts for this event.

Remember, to qualify for the 2022 AiA Tournament of Champions this year, you must land in the top 25% of your specified division in points. The 3rd tournament in each division will be a DOUBLE POINTS tournament, so weigh those fish in and get those points.

THE NEXT TABLE ROCK LAKE TOURNAMENT IS APRIL 10TH, GOING OUT OF THE PORT OF KIMBERLING RESORT AT 6:30AM.
ENTER NOW FOR AN EARLY TAKE-OFF POSITION.

Thanks to OUR LIVE LEADERBOARD SPONSOR, FISH INTEL

BLEVINS & BLEVINS WIN THE 2022 TABLE ROCK DIVISION OPENER 

1st Place: Eric Blevins & Dustin Blevins - 22.87 lbs.
Total Winnings: $10,000

2nd Place: Brien Vaughn - 21.47 lbs.
Total Winnings: $4,500 

3rd Place: Tyler Casey & Jeff Florke - 21.15 lbs.
Total Winnings: $3,300

4th Place: Jay Hardcastle & Dusty Hardcastle - 20.22 lbs.
Total Winnings: $2,838 

5th Place: Harold Lawrence & Hank Lawrence - 20.14 lbs.
Total Winnings: $2,764

6th Place: Mike Gold & Eric Olliverson - 19.85 lbs. & 7.64 lb. LEW'S BIG BASS
Total Winnings: $2,852


TOP 40 RESULTS

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE TOURNAMENT RESULTS

PHOTO GALLERY
Click to view