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The McDonald's
Big Bass Splash® - A Legendary Event for Amateur Bass Anglers
In 1983
Bob Sealy had a dream. That dream was to put together the ultimate big bass
tournament – one open only to amateurs, the grass roots of the industry – and
one that would overshadow even the richest of tournaments on the professional
tour. Today that dream has become a reality. The McDonald’s Big Bass Splash®
events, which have made appearances on lakes in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas,
Oklahoma, and South Carolina, are that reality.
For
more than twenty years, thousands upon thousands of anglers of every age, race,
and gender have participated in the Big Bass Splash® events. They have come from
almost every state in the union plus Mexico and Italy for a chance to win some
of the millions of dollars that have been paid out; over $15 million dollars in
fact. There have also been more than 400 boats, trucks, travel trailers, and
four-wheelers awarded to contestants and spectators.
In
addition to paying out millions to amateur anglers, Sealy Outdoors, has been
able to raise more than $1 million
which has been paid to charities along the way too. A portion of every entry fee
has always been given back to the Ronald McDonald® House and select charities
making the events not only fun, but truly meaningful as well.
In the
beginning, the prize purse was a total of $17,300, given away on Lake Sam
Rayburn. It was a two day-event back then with an entry fee of $35 per day. The
payback was for the top forty anglers overall plus the top big fish of each
hour. The following year, that purse jumped to more than $30,000 and then
steadily climbed year after year; $50K, $70K, $100K, $125K, $143K, $148K.
In
1994, to celebrate the 10th Anniversary, the event was lengthened to
encompass three days. With that, the payback jumped to $250K, but didn’t slow
down, it continued to climb in 1997 to a whopping $305K where the entry fees did
level off at $75 per day. After that, although the entry fees have not changed,
the paybacks did, going to more than $400K in ’98. This year, the payout for
the three scheduled McBass events on Lakes Sam Rayburn, Toledo Bend, and Fork
will exceed $1,075,000!!!
Along
the way, the payback format changed as well. What began as a Top 40 overall
payback plus one big fish paid each hour became Top 40 plus three each hour,
then Top 50 plus 5 each hour. By 1994, again for the 10th
Anniversary, the payback had evolved into the current format; ten places paid in
cash each hour plus 5 overall places featuring spectacular sportsman prizes;
boats, trucks, travel trailers, ATVs, etc.
The
money and prizes didn’t stop there. In 1986 the first “Exact Weight Boat”
contest began. This award went to the first angler bringing in a bass weighing
exactly 5.00 pounds, and they then brought home a fully rigged bass boat. This
contest has been extremely popular over the years and has varied to include, on
different lakes, as many as five boats given away for 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 pound
fish. Until 1991 all overall and hourly winners were eligible for yet another
boat drawing. This was changed in 1991 to include all contestants entered into
the tournament and is now know as the “Elimination Draw Boat”.
In
addition to a dream of competition for grass roots fishermen, Bob envisioned a
family atmosphere where everyone could participate.
 The
Little Anglers Division
was created in 1989 to reach out to children and promote the future of fishing.
In this event, participating kids bring in bass, catfish, crappie, or perch,
with prizes awarded for each category. Among the prizes awarded to the kids for
their catches over the years have been cash, gift certificates, sponsor product,
and plaques certifying their achievement.
Everyone at a Big Bass Splash® Event gets into the action. Although spectators
had been a big part of the “show” from the beginning, they began to get in on
the prize action in the second season when the “Open Drawing” was added to the
agenda. Always presented as the finale for each event, it has become a fan
favorite! Over the years these awards have included bass boats, pontoon boats,
and travel trailers. Games have always added to the fun too. Along the way Bob
has played games such as “Lets Make a Deal” up on stage. It became so popular
that folks would come dressed in costume for the action.
Bob is
known for mingling with the crowd and getting involved with them in addition to
putting on the tournament show. Its not unusual to find him crouched down
talking to a child and being totally upstaged by a youngster with a story to
tell. There have even been impromptu prizes and recognitions awarded for special
anglers such as the Military Service personnel who were awarded entry fees for
an upcoming tournament. These particular anglers had participated for years in
the McBass events and had come to use it as a reunion for their group each year.
They were going to be unable to make the next tournament however as they were
being shipped overseas for duty. Bob heard about this and awarded them paid
entry fees to a future tournament.
Corporate sponsors and
special guests and
entertainers have also played a big part in bringing these events to life.
Bob has always teamed up with the leading manufacturers and retailers to bring
the best that the industry has to offer to the public. Triton Boats, Mercury
Marine, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Shimano, Lowrance, Honda, Texas Fish & Game,
and Minn Kota are some of the key companies who have provided prizes over the
years and are presently consider Platinum Sponsors.
Each year, Bob proudly
declares that we “aint seen nothin yet!” and that seems to have been proven over
the years. Sealy Outdoors has proven to be an industry leader and continues to
bring family, fishing, fun, and CASH to the grass roots anglers of the world
while benefiting those in need; indeed, the legend does live on.
Join us for
these events in 2007: Lake Sam Rayburn in Texas,
Lake Guntersville in Alabama,
Lake Toledo Bend in Louisiana, Lake Fork in Texas, and the Kissimmee Chain of
Lakes in Florida.
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