Big Bass Bash at Lake Eufaula

The Big Bass Bash arrives at Lake Eufaula on July 12 and 13, 2026, inviting anglers of every skill level to test their fortunes across 45,000 acres of water that has earned the title “Big Bass Capital of the World.” Cash prizes await across multiple categories, with the grand prize—a Nitro Z20 XL boat—going to the angler who proves themselves against some of the most legendary largemouth habitat in American freshwater fishing. The tournament weekend begins Friday evening with a Captain’s Meeting at Northside Cove Pavilion, where competitors can review rules and swap strategies before lines hit the water at safe daylight Saturday morning. Weigh-ins run throughout both days at Lakepoint State Park, and a portion of all proceeds supports local charities serving the Eufaula community.

The reservoir owes its existence to the Walter F. George Dam, completed in 1963 when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers impounded the Chattahoochee River along the Alabama-Georgia border. The lake takes its name from the Eufaula people, a band of the Creek Nation whose villages once lined the riverbanks before white settlers arrived in the 1820s seeking cotton land. Within a decade of impoundment, the flooded creek mouths, submerged points, and shoal structure had transformed these waters into a bass factory of national renown—Blake Honeycutt’s 138-pound, 6-ounce winning catch at the 1969 B.A.S.S. National remains unsurpassed in more than seven hundred subsequent Bassmaster events. Tom Mann, the legendary lure designer who developed the Jelly Worm and Little George from his Eufaula workshop, helped cement the lake’s reputation; today a twelve-foot bass statue named “Manny” stands downtown in his honor.

The tournament sprawls across 640 miles of shoreline where vegetation, lily pads, and productive ledges create ambush habitat that trophy largemouth exploit year-round. Those seeking registration can sign up online or visit Lucky Lure Tackle, the local retailer and proud tournament sponsor whose staff knows these waters intimately. Beyond the fishing, Eufaula itself rewards exploration—the Seth Lore and Irwinton Historic District ranks as Alabama’s second-largest collection of antebellum architecture, with more than seven hundred preserved structures lining streets shaded by live oaks, while the 11,000-acre Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge harbors alligators, white-tailed deer, and wading birds among its longleaf pine forests.

After weigh-in, Thelma’s Kitchen II serves cafeteria-style soul food that has made it a destination since 2013—the ribs fall from the bone, the fried catfish arrives golden and crackling, and the banana pudding disappears fast, all delivered with legendary hospitality from server Crystal. The Water’s Edge, inside Lakepoint State Park’s convention center, offers dining with sunset views directly over the tournament waters, perfect for toasting the day’s catch. For something with bayou heat, The Cajun Corner on Broad Street brings crawfish and gumbo to downtown’s antebellum streetscape. Book your stay now on Lake.com and discover why generations of anglers have made the pilgrimage to these storied waters where the next state record could strike on any cast.