The Big Bass Splash on Toledo Bend celebrated it's 29th year May 15-17 at Cypress Bend Park. Hourly winners included those from Rhode Island to California, cashing in on a part of the $500,000 up for grabs in guaranteed total cash and prizes. Only 3/100ths of a pound separated 1st and 2nd place overall.
Three days of hit and miss thunderstorms did not stop the anglers from cashing in on big winnings.The biggest storm hit on the final day. A strong storm system had made it mid-way through Texas and was marching steadily eastward towards Toledo Bend.
Gil Leger, who took the lead on day two, had a long wait until the scales closed at 2pm Sunday. As the crowd watched, one more angler entered the top five overall, but Leger's weight held to win.
Anglers were contending for fifteen places paid each hour, plus a $5,000 bounty on the first three, four, and five even pounds bass brought to the scales. In an event like this, it’s much like playing poker. You've got to know when to hold' em and know when to weigh' em if you want to win cash.
The Little Anglers also competed in their own division, winning prizes for the biggest bass, crappie, catfish or perch. Winners in the Little Anglers division received gift cards from Academy Sports and Outdoors.
Winners on Day 1:
Two anglers weighed in $5,000 fish:
William Spurgeon of Pineville, LA caught a 3.00
Jeffery Tall of Jennings, LA caught a 5.00.
Top Five Tournament Leaders Day One:
9.91 lbs Joe Daw
9.00 lbs Bobby Amacker
8.71 lbs William Hillebrandt
8.55 lbs Dean West
8.10 lbs Christopher Sonnier
Day 2: The only exact weight bass on day 2 was brought in by Michael Hubbell of Many, LA with his 3.00 lb catch for a $5,000 check.
Top Five Tournament Leaders Day Two:
11.48 lbs Gil Leger
11.45 lbs Andrew Lee
9.91 lbs Joe Daw
9.00 lbs Bobby Amacker
8.71 lbs William Hillebrandt
Final Day - Preston Bryan of Haughton, LA reeled the 3.00 exact weight bass in and Chester Slayton of DeRidder, LA caught the 5.00. All of the unclaimed exact weight bonuses were up for grabs and all contestants had a chance to be drawn to win - but you had to be present to claim the prize.
When the scales came to a final close, Gil Leger of Lake Charles, LA was declared the winner and Champion of the 2015 Big Bass Splash Presented by Sealy Outdoors and B.A.S.S. on Toledo Bend with his 11.48 pound catch.
He won his grand slam catch on a 10" worm. Along with his hourly winnings, he won the Grand Prize Package, including a 2015 Triton 20 TRX powered by Mercury, equipped with MinnKota, Lowrance, Navionics and Power Pole, as well as, a 2015 RAM Truck, along with $7,000 cash. Interestingly, this fish was caught before, and entered into the Toledo Lunker Program earlier this year.
Second place was won by Andrew Lee of Alexandria, LA with his 11.45 pound catch. Third place winner Frank Little of Many, LA won with 10.37 lbs. Fourth place winner Joe Daw of Conroe, TX came in with 9.91 pounds. Fifth place winner was Bobby Amacker of Cypress, TX with 9.00 pounds.
Every year, a portion of the proceeds from the Big Bass Splash events is donated to the Ronald McDonald House. This year, St. Jude Children Research Hospital was also taken on as a beneficiary. A representative from St. Jude was onsite to accept the donation. "It takes $2 million per day to run this facility," Channell Hogan began. "No family ever received a bill or services, travel, or anything. Thanks to the donations we receive like this one, we can continue to find new cures for children." An $11,500 check was given to St. Jude from Sealy Outdoors.