Gerald Swindle Big Bass Classic Returns to Lake Guntersville with $175,000 Guaranteed Purse
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. — One of the Southeast's most popular amateur bass tournaments returns to Alabama this fall as the Gerald Swindle Big Bass Classic presented by Marshall County Tourism and Sports comes to Lake Guntersville October 9-11, 2026, offering $175,000 in guaranteed prizes and payouts.
Open to anglers of all skill levels, the three-day big bass event features hourly cash awards, a guaranteed grand prize package worth $58,570, and a youth division, giving weekend anglers multiple opportunities to win with a single trophy bass.
The tournament's overall winner will take home a 2026 NITRO Z18 bass boat powered by a Mercury 150L Pro XS FourStroke, fully equipped with Minn Kota Ultrex QUEST trolling motor, dual Humminbird XPLORE 9 electronics and other premium accessories.
In addition to the grand prize, the tournament guarantees $63,525 in hourly payouts, with cash awards paid to the top 10 fish weighed during each hourly period. First place each hour earns $1,000, followed by payouts through 10th place.
Anglers may enter the full three-day event for $250, two days for $175, a single day for $125, or compete in the Youth Division for $75. The youth division, open to anglers 12 and under, will award $600 in prize money to the top three bass weighed during the event.
Early registration also pays dividends. The first 250 online entrants in the two- or three-day divisions will receive a new Abu Garcia Revo X VoltiQ Low Profile Reel, a prize valued at nearly $200, adding approximately $50,000 in additional value to the event.
Tournament headquarters and weigh-ins will be held at Guntersville State Park, with hourly weigh-in windows running from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. each tournament day. Fishing will begin at safe light, with the official first-cast time announced by text message during tournament week.
Lake Guntersville has long been recognized as one of America's premier bass fisheries, producing heavyweight largemouth throughout the fall and making it an ideal setting for a tournament where every cast could produce a winning fish.
Registration for the three-day event closes at 9 p.m. Thursday, October 8. Competitors are encouraged to register online in advance and sign up for tournament text alerts by texting "gerald" to 833-933-1717.
Additional information, tournament rules, registration and lodging information are available at BigBassTour.com.