JIM MORRISON LANDS 7.11 LB. BASS, WINS $101,500 AT THE BIG BASS BASH

Posted by editor on October 5, 2021

2021 AFTCO BIG BASS BASH, PRESENTED BY PHOENIX BOATS
Lake of the Ozarks / Truman Lake: October 2-3, 2021

One of the largest BIG BASS events in the nation took place at Lake of the Ozarks / Truman Lake on October 2-3. Anglers from across the country made their way to central Missouri, ready to hit the water and cast their lines for a chance to win some of the $325,000 in GUARANTEED cash & prizes.
Anglers dropped their lines in at 7am on a cool, rainy, Saturday morning, searching for that 1 BASS that could land them the $100,000 GRAND PRIZE !

Jim Morrison, of O'Fallon, IL, was one of those anglers looking for that elusive $100,000 bass. Jim visited Fitz Fishing Tackle the day prior to the tournament and purchased a 6 inch bone colored SB150 top water bait. He had that bait tied on Saturday morning as he was fishing the lower end of the lake, near the 1 mile marker. Jim tossed that SB150 behind a dock and started working it down the side, when it exploded. Jim wrestled the bass to the boat, netted it and put her in the livewell, then raced over to the Point Randall Resort weigh-in station located at the 2 mile marker.
The Big Bass Bash staff took over from there, placing Jim's BIG BASS on the scale where it locked in on 7.11 lbs, which gave Jim the lead in the tournament. That fish held up the remainder of the weekend, giving Jim the WIN and the 1st place overall GRAND PRIZE of $100,000. Congratulations again to Jim Morrison, your champion of the 2021 Aftco Big Bass Bash, presented by Phoenix Boats.

We want to thank all of the anglers that participated in the Big Bass Bash, and hope you enjoyed your time at the lake (despite the weather Saturday :)
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.

Save the Dates for the 2022 BBB Season:

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 destroys 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

Congratulations to Jim Morrison, winner of the 2021 Aftco Big Bass Bash, presented by Phoenix Boats. Jim Morrison, of O'Fallon, IL, caught his fish near the 1 mile marker of the Osage on Saturday and weighed it in at the Point Randall Resort weigh-in station in the 9-11am time slot. Jim caught his fish on an Evergreen SB150 topwater bait that he purchased for $23.99 at Fitz Fishing Tackle the day prior to the tournament. That $23.99 investment turned in to a massive $101,500 PAYDAY for Jim. Congratulations again !!

2nd Place Overall went to Travis Hill, of Festus, MO. Travis was fishing the Niangua arm on Sunday, throwing a plum colored Texas rigged bull worm. Travis was dragging that plum worm around a bluff end on Sunday when his 6.84 lb. bass slammed it. Travis weighed his fish in at the 7-9am time slot at Red Oak Resort. That bass landed Travis a cool $21,500 payday. Congratulations, Travis !

Justin Janish, of Cedar Hill, MO, placed 3rd overall for the event. Justin was fishing his first Big Bass Bash event, and he made it count. Fishing the Little Niangua arm on Sunday morning, Justin was throwing a black/gold buzzbait in around 2-3 feet of water when his buzzbait was engulfed. Justin fought the 6.49 lb. bass to the boat, placed her in the livewell and took off to Red Oak Resort to weigh in for the 7-9am time slot. Travis took home a total of $11,200 for that bass! Congratulations, Justin !

4th place overall went to Richard Mundt, of Douglas, KS. Richard was fishing way up the Niangua Arm, around the HaHa Tonka State Park area, using a 12 inch plum colored worm. Richard was dragging that worm on a shelf around a bluff end when he got bit, set the hook, and fought that 6.24 lb. bass back to the boat. They raced off to the Red Oak Resort weigh-in station and got her weighed in during the 9-11am time slot. Richard won a total of $6,500 for that bass. Congratulations, Richard !

First place in the Ladies Division went to Erin Schrimsher. Erin weighed in her 5.47 lb. bass in the 9-11am time slot on Sunday at the PB2 weigh-in station. Congratulations, Erin.

William Bankowski, of Crossville, TN, took home the Phoenix 818 draw boat. ($40,000 Retail Value) Congratulations William !
William was not in attendance when we drew his name, but he was contacted via phone afterwards and was shocked and sincerely grateful for winning this boat. William is having Anglers Port Marine install a keel guard, prop, and batteries and ready to pick up his new boat on Wednesday, October 13th.

$6,500 in Exact Weights Paid Out

Saturday Exact Weight Prizes
$500 - Kevin Stricklin: 3.00 lbs.
$500 - Ray Kaestner: 3.00 lbs.
$500 - Marty Stawizynski: 3.00 lbs.
$500 - Pat Kowal: 4.00 lbs.
$500 - David Griffin: 3.00 lbs.

Sunday Exact Weight Prizes
$500 - Mark Farley: 4.00 lbs.
$500 - Danny Morton: 4.00 lbs.
$500 - Russ Whitworth: 3.00 lbs.
$500 - Tim Harris: 3.00 lbs.
$500 - Josh Dyrland: 4.00 lbs.
$500 - Lou Huelsing: 3.00 lbs.
$500 - Chase Fitzpatrick: 4.00 lbs.
$500 - Jacob Becker: 4.00 lbs.

Early Bird Winners: $6,000 Paid Out

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

Draw Boat: $40,000