The Brief

  • The Humminbird Big Bass Classic is underway on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, running through Sunday with $108,000 in guaranteed prizes

  • Anglers from 14 states are competing in a unique hourly weigh-in format instead of traditional end-of-day catches

  • The overall grand prize is $20,000 for the biggest single bass caught during the three-day tournament

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) — The Humminbird Big Bass Classic is underway on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, bringing together competitive anglers from across the country for a three-day fishing tournament with a unique format and substantial prize purse.

The tournament runs through Sunday and features $108,000 in guaranteed prizes and payouts. Fishing begins at 5:30 a.m. each day at Veterans Freedom Park in La Crosse, with weigh-ins occurring hourly throughout the day.

Scott Gordon, the tournament director, explained the significance of the event and its growing popularity.

“It’s our fourth year,” Gordon said. “Love it, we love coming out here. This is day one, it’s a three-day event.”

The tournament features a distinctive format that sets it apart from traditional fishing competitions. Instead of anglers catching their best five fish and bringing them in at the end of the day, the Big Bass Classic uses hourly weigh-ins throughout each day.

“This is a big bass format,” Gordon said. “So, unlike a traditional tournament where anglers endeavor to catch their best 5 fish and bring them in at the end of the day, with the big bass format we have hourly weigh-ins. So, each day we have 7 hourly weigh-ins. We have 10 cash payouts every hour. So, the big bass each hour pays $1,000 all the way down to 10th place, which is $100.”

The hourly weigh-in structure provides multiple opportunities for anglers to earn prize money throughout each day. Each hour, the top 10 largest bass weighed in receive payouts, with first place earning $1,000 and 10th place earning $100.

The tournament has attracted anglers from 14 states, making it a regional draw for competitive fishing enthusiasts. Participants compete on the Upper Mississippi River in pools 7, 8, and 9 near La Crosse.

The overall grand prize is $20,000 for whoever catches the biggest single bass across the entire three-day tournament. This prize will be awarded Sunday at 2 p.m. to the angler with the largest fish weighed in during the event.

Weather conditions have played a role in the tournament’s early success. Gordon noted that rain on the first day helped improve fishing conditions.

“The rains really helped. Putting some oxygen in the water, it’s turned the bite on a little bit,” Gordon said. “We’ve seen some bigger fish. Last hour we have a new overall big bass leader at 5.45 pounds. Big fish are biting right now.”

Gordon predicted that conditions would change as the tournament progresses, with warmer temperatures expected in the coming days.

“I predicted today would be the day with the rain, overcast, a little cooler temperature, definitely helps the bite out,” Gordon said. “As compared to the next few days, it’s going to be a little bit warmer.”

A youth division is also part of the tournament, with participants 12 and under competing for a top 3 event payout.

Fish size limits require largemouth and smallmouth bass to be at least 14 inches. Participants under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or adult with written parental permission, unless fishing with a parent or relative.

The tournament continues through Sunday, with weigh-ins scheduled from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day at Veterans Freedom Park, located at 120 Clinton Street in La Crosse.

For tournament result, you can visit Big Bass Tour’s website.

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