Sometime this weekend, an angler will catch a largemouth bass on the Arkansas River worth $50,000 in the 25th annual Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza.

Sponsored by the Arkansas Hospitality Association, the Big Bass Bonanza is one of America's largest amateur bass tournaments. It takes place on the entire length of the Arkansas River within Arkansas' boundaries. Like last year, the river will be divided into five pools to help spread out fishing pressure.

Most bass tournaments reward the angler who catches the heaviest total weight over a period of one to four days. The Big Bass Bonanza rewards the angler who catches the biggest individual bass of the tournament. That angler will win the top prize of $50,000, but the tournament also pays cash prizes to anglers who catch the biggest bass in the other four pools, as well as to anglers who catch the biggest bass in each hour of the event.

Anglers who catch the biggest bass in each of the other four pools will win $10,000.

The amounts of the hourly payouts depend on the number of entries. In 2013, the tournament awarded almost $203,000 in cash prizes, based on 2,014 entries. First place per hour paid $500, second place paid $300 and third place paid $200.

Most anglers in the tournament aim for the hourly prizes. Based on history, however, catching a $50,000 bass isn't as remote as it seems. The average winning weight of the tournament is 7.14 pounds, but the last time an angler weighed a bass heavier than 7 pounds was in 2009. Since 1999, a 6-pound, 12-ounce bass has usually been big enough to win. Jonathan Swink of DeValls Bluff won the grand prize last year with a bass that weighed 6.63 pounds, or 6-10 ounces.

The overall winner is almost always caught in Lake Dardanelle or in the Dumas Pool. Consequently, most of the anglers concentrate in specific portions of those waters. Other areas are lightly fished, which makes them excellent places to win hourly money and a good shot to win a $10,000 pool prize.

In 2006, for example, Tim Griffis and I fished between the Interstate 430 bridge and Conway. We spent a good part of the day in Palarm Creek. A few crappie anglers were in Palarm that day, but we were the only bass anglers.

Other pools contain areas that can surrender a 5-pound or better bass at any time. The Little Rock Pool, the most lightly regarded and most maligned part of the Arkansas River bass fishery, actually produced a 9-pound-plus bass on the first day of the 2005 Bonanza. That fish would have won the tournament, but the angler who caught it was disqualified after volunteering that he celebrated by smoking an illegal substance.

Usually, the weather is hot and the river is low during the Big Bass Bonanza. The weather has been moderate this summer, and water conditions in the Arkansas River have been generally conducive to bass fishing.

The Big Bass Bonanza draws anglers from all over the country. Montine McNulty, executive director of the Arkansas Hospitality Association, said anglers have entered the tournament from as many as 24 states. In 2013, anglers represented 18 states. Some come to try to win the money. Others are former Arkansans who moved out of state but plan their vacations around the tournament so they can come home and fish with friends and family.

The awards ceremony at the end of the tournament will be held at the Verizon boat ramp in North Little Rock. That's a good place to enjoy a barbecue dinner and visit with friends and other anglers.

Entry fees for the Big Bass Bonanza are $80 for one day, $160 for two days or $240 for three days. Anglers can register at Arkansas Rod & Reel or the Arkansas Hospitality Association in Little Rock, Fish 'N Stuff in Sherwood, Trader Bill's in Hot Springs, Bates Field & Stream in Mayflower, Wilkins Brothers Outdoors in Russellville, The Tackle Box and Barling Boat Sales in Fort Smith, Terri Foods in Redfield, Spencer's Marine in White Hall and Back Gate One Stop and Motel in Dumas.

Anglers also can enter at any Academy Sports and Outdoors store.

For more information or to register online, call the AHA at (800) 472-5022 or look online at arkansasbigbass.com.

Sports on 06/26/2014