De QUEEN, Ark. --The 33rd annual Tri-Lakes Big Bass Festival will be May 27 on De Queen, Dierks and Gillham lakes.
The fishing competition has also been officially renamed as the Judge Ray Tri-Lakes Big Bass Festival in honor of former Sevier County Judge Greg Ray. Ray died in August 2022.
The tournament is hosted by the Sevier County Chamber of Commerce.
The event is scheduled for 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. on all three lakes. The early registration fee is $65 and enters each angler into a chance to win some of the $20,000 in cash prizes. On-site registration is $70.
A $75 registration bundle includes the chance to win an extra $50 if an angler's catch takes first place during the hourly weigh-in.
This year's cash awards include the $10,000 Snag the Bass presented by De Queen Auto Group. The prize will go to whomever catches the tagged bass. The bass will be released secretly before the tournament at one of the three featured lakes.
The cash award for the overall biggest bass is $2,000. There is also a $200 bonus for hourly winners.
Registration forms are available at the KDQN studios in De Queen and the chamber office on the courthouse square in downtown De Queen. Registration forms can also be obtained by calling the chamber at (870) 584-3225.
For more information, call Jarod Lyon at 870-582-5719 or the Sevier County Chamber of Commerce at 870-584-3225.