Story by Heath Hambrick

It’s that time of year again on Lake Guntersville, as the Sealy Outdoors Big Bass Splash makes its annual trip to Scottsboro and Goose Pond Colony.

The Big Bass Splash events are the largest hourly Big Bass tournament in the country. The hourly Big Bass concept was created by Bob Sealy in 1984 to allow the weekend angler to “Win Like the Pros!”

This weekend Sealy Outdoors will give away a total of $315,000 in guaranteed cash and prizes. The grand prize is a Phoenix 919 ZXL powered by Mercury 225 PXS TM, equipped with Minn Kota, Humminbird, and Power Pole. Each hour of the tournament, beginning during the 7 a.m.-8 a.m. period of each day, there will be 15 places an hour that will receive a cash payout, starting at $1,500 for the first and going to $200 for 15th place. The hourly total for all three days will be $148,050.

But that’s not all, there is also a “Ladies Big Bass Bonus” that will be awarded to three ladies and a $1,000 award for anyone who brings in a bass that has the exact weight of three, four, and five pounds.

Tournament hours and weigh-in are, fishing from 6 a.m.-2 p.m. with weigh-in beginning with the 7 a.m.-8 a.m. hour and ending with the 1p.m.-2 p.m. hour. The awards ceremony is Sunday at 2:30 pm at Goose Pond Colony.

Entry fees per person are $290 for all three days, $240 for two days, and $190 for just one day. People may register online at www.sealyoutdoors.com or in person starting on Thursday, March 27, from 12 p.m.-8 p.m. at Goose Pond Colony and each morning of the tournament from 5 a.m.-6 a.m.

One thing to remember, you don’t have to have a boat to enter, you can fish from the bank if you would like. And as a reminder, everyone must have boater safety either in your home state or if you are an Alabama resident, you must have a vessel endorsement on your license.

If you are on the water and would like to find out the weigh-in totals for each hour, tune in to 98-3 Wild Country on your radio or your device.