Hot Springs Fishing Challenge Paused for One Year To Consider Possible New Rules for Prize Money
Date: April 22, 2025
HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, Arkansas — As May 1 approaches, Visit Hot Springs has decided to pause for one year the $110,000 Hot Springs Fishing Challenge to consider possible new ways of conducting the event.
“We’re taking a year off to look at ways to improve the Challenge, which has always been one of our popular events,” VHS CEO Steve Arrison said. “The idea behind the Challenge has always been to spread the word about the great fishing on Lakes Hamilton and Catherine, so we’ll be working with our partners at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on improving the way we conduct the event.”
The 2024 Hot Springs Fishing Challenge was the 10th year the event was held on Hot Springs’ two adjacent lakes. The Challenge was paused for three years during the covid pandemic.
Participants had three months, starting in May, to land tagged fish worth a combined $110,000 in prize money, including $20,000 for anyone who landed Big Al, the grand prize fish named after Al Capone, who frequented Hot Springs in the days when the city was a haven for gangsters.
The tagged fish included largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and channel catfish. Each prize fish had a distinctive tag matching a designated cash prize ranging from Big Al’s $20,000 to $10,000, $5,000, $1,000 and $500.
The Challenge has always been free to participate for anyone with a valid Arkansas fishing license.
“We’ll be consulting with the Game and Fish experts on possible ways to make the Challenge more fun and attract more participants,” Arrison said, “and we’ll decide later this year on new rules for any future Challenge.”
For additional information call Steve Arrison at 501-321-2027.