Looking at maybe getting in an event this year. I've never fished an event like this but I admit it would be exciting. I fish out of a 17' Triton Aluminum with a 50HP. Is this doable? The Smith Mountain and Lake Norman events are both about 3 hours from my location. Can anyone with experience in these events fill me in on what to expect?

I fished a Big Bass Bash for the first time last year and enjoyed it. You should be fine in your boat, just expect heavy boat traffic.

On 12/29/2016 at 8:38 PM, RHuff said:

Looking at maybe getting in an event this year. I've never fished an event like this but I admit it would be exciting. I fish out of a 17' Triton Aluminum with a 50HP. Is this doable? The Smith Mountain and Lake Norman events are both about 3 hours from my location. Can anyone with experience in these events fill me in on what to expect?

2017 will be my third year fishing Big Bass Tour at Smith Mountain. I have a blast each year and always look forward to the next one. You don't need a fancy rig to land a big one. And all you need is for the sun to shine one good time. 

My friend and I will be fishing the event at SML. It will be a first for us as well. Have no idea what to expect other than a ton of people. Don't quite get the format but heard it would be a fun event to try. I have fished the lake before though. It can get a little choppy with boat traffic.  

Do they shut the lake down for an event like this??

Do they shut the lake down for an event like this??

4 hours ago, RHuff said:

Do they shut the lake down for an event like this??

Do they shut the lake down for an event like this??

No, but it gets crazy out there. 

If it's Berkeley big bass they pay out every hour , at the end of it all they give a boat away to biggest fish of the tx . I missed it by 6 oz ended up in 4 th place for that one . Lots of fun if you can make it back to weight in fish every hour if you get big fish all day . You can get a check for every big fish you get if you do it right . 

On 2/4/2017 at 8:42 PM, RHuff said:

Do they shut the lake down for an event like this??

Do they shut the lake down for an event like this??

No it's still open to the public .

Your boat will be fine. There will be crazy boat traffic, and if the wind gets up a little to combine with that, you might have to take that into consideration when you plan where you might fish because you may be making hourly trips to the weigh-in site (if things are going well). You just might want to avoid having to make long runs across the main lake if things get really sketchy. I'm not as familiar with those lakes, so it might not be as big of an issue as it is at Lake of the Ozarks, where I've fished a "Big Bass" event in my aluminum boat.

 

In any case, the events are fun, and you are always one cast away from winning big.