Over the past five years, Sealy Outdoors has brought the McDonald’s Big Bass Splash to Lake Guntersville in Scottsboro and every year it continues to grow. The organizers have been putting on tournaments in Texas for 25 years and the tournaments there have over 5,500 boats with a payout of over $1,500,000. Bob Sealy, head of the organization said, "We are excited about being in Scottsboro, Ala. at this great lake. It is now the largest amateur tournament of its kind in Alabama. We know this lake (Guntersville) has a great bass reputation and perhaps one year the tournament here will be as large as our Texas Big Bass Splash." The number of anglers that registered and fished the McDonald’s Big Bass Splash in 2009 exceeded 2008 by 208 anglers. In 2009, 946 amateur anglers tried their skill at the $125,000 that was awarded at the annual McDonald’s Big Bass Splash held at Goose Pond last May.

This year there have been a few changes. The tournament dates have changed to March 20 and 21 and the total cash and prizes to be awarded increased to $155,000. Not much else has changed including the same format of the tournament, registration and weigh-in at Goose Pond Tackle & Grill.

It really doesn’t stop there. The promotion for our area from this tournament has reached hundreds of thousands of people. Over 350,000 brochures are printed and distributed; exhibitions are set-up at over 15 outdoor & boat shows; direct mailing goes out to over 29,000 anglers (twice); press releases are sent out to every newspaper in seven states (exclusive to the Lake Guntersville event); print media advertising is found in BASS Master Magazine, Louisiana Sportsman Magazine, Tennessee Valley Outdoors, & Great Days Outdoors Magazine; AND the City of Scottsboro, The Chamber, Goose Pond and our lodging establishments are promoted on their web site – www.sealyoutdoors.com (you can also register to fish the tournament at this site on the web).

After all was said and done, last year’s McDonald’s Big Bass Splash on Lake Guntersville had an economic impact of over $1.4 Million that was spent in our local businesses. Anglers came from 17 states to fish in the tournament and for every dollar that Jackson County Tourism invested in this tournament, $2.60 will be returned in the form of sales tax, lodging tax and fuel tax to our city and county. I would say that’s a pretty good return wouldn’t you?

If you love to fish and love winning cash and prizes, pick up a tournament registration at the Chamber, K-98 (the official radio station for the tournament), McDonald’s restaurants, and area businesses that outfit our anglers. Call the Chamber at 256-259-5500 if you need more information.

 Written by JP Parsons - VP Destination Marketing, The Greater Jackson County Chamber of Commerce