Bill Dance Giant Bass Open Goes Nationwide: Every Lake, Every Cast, Every Angler

If you’re a bass angler, you know that next cast could be the one that changes everything—the first fish in the biggest school you’ve ever seen, or maybe your personal best, or the state record, of maybe even the world record. But you also know, those casts just don’t seem to happen on a tournament day very often…until now.

Why Every Angler Should Join the Giant Bass Open

We wanted to make fishing fun, affordable and accessible, and we believe we have accomplished all of these things with this exciting new format
Bill Dance

This is truly a tournament for every angler. Whether you fish the top bass lakes in the country from the finest bass boat money can buy, or paddle your way down a rocky river in your kayak, or walk the shores of your local pond, everyone has a shot at serious cash and prizes. And an entry fee of just $44.99 per year puts this competition within nearly every angler’s reach. No budget for cross-country travel. No complicated scheduling. Just the thrill of knowing that next cast could be the one.

How the Nationwide Bass Fishing Format Works

Two photos - one showing a giant bass being measured by length and another being measured by weight. — You decide whether you'd like to compete by length or weight. | Bill Dance Nationwide Giant Bass Open

The format is simple. Go to FishingChaos.com to get signed up. Pick your region. Then decide if you want to measure your fish by length or weight. When you catch a bass that meets your region’s criteria, make sure you take the required photo, and you’re officially in the Bill Dance Giant Bass Club. Your membership earns you a collectible coin, a club decal.

Prizes Worth Casting For — Up To a Bass Boat, a Ford F-250 and $100,000

Winners from each region and division will receive cash prizes and all additional anglers that join each month will go into that month’s drawing for even more cash and prizes. Monthly prizes and payout will be determined by the number of nationwide entrants and will eventually include a 21-foot fiberglass bass boat and a Ford F-250 truck given away at the end of the year.

And make sure to encourage your fishing buddies to get on board here, because if the Bill Dance Nationwide Giant Bass Open hits 50,000 entrants, the top anglers from every state will meet in Tennessee for a no-entry-fee championship with a $100,000 minimum purse.

Fishing Rules and Regional Criteria

All fish must be caught on public waters, artificial baits only, and you must be properly licensed for the waters you fish. Minimum qualifying fish size is set by the following regions:

A table showing the bass size criteria for 5 regions across the U.S. — The tournament is only open to public waters, and the criteria is different for each of the five regions to join the Bill Dance Giant Bass Club. | Bill Dance Nationwide Giant Bass Open

Central — Length 21 inches; Weight 5 1/2 pounds
Northeast — Length 21 inches; Weight 5 1/2 pounds
Southeast — Length 22 inches; Weight 7 pounds
West — Length 21 inches; Weight 5 1/2 pounds
Nationwide/Big 3 (California, Florida, Texas) — Length 24 inches; Weight 9 pounds.

In each division, all fish entered with a minimum length of 18 inches or minimum weight of 4 pounds gives anglers an additional chance at the year-end drawing, but they will not provide entrance into the Bill Dance Big Bass Club.

How to Enter and Start Competing Today

Go to FishingChaos.com to sign up for $44.99
Choose your region and your preferred division (length or weight).
Fish as much or as little as your personal schedule will allow—hopefully, it’s a lot!
Photograph your qualifying catches, making sure the monthly code is clearly visible.
Winners will be notified at the end of each month.

Key Points to Remember

$44.99 is for a full year of competition.
Every qualifying fish gives you a chance to win.
There is huge potential for massive year-end prizes up for grabs.
All anglers are welcome—all experience levels, boaters, kayakers, waders, shore anglers. Everyone!

A New Era of Bass Tournaments Where Every Cast Counts

A group of tournament anglers gathered on the stage in front of the Bill Dance Nationwide Giant Bass Open banners — The thrill of big bass tournament competition with the fun and ease of everyday fishing. | Bill Dance Nationwide Giant Bass Open

If you’ve ever wanted to experience the thrill of bass tournament competition, but felt like your first tournament was out of your reach, this might be for you. And if you’re an experienced tournament angler who wished your best days of fishing were all tournament days, this might be for you, too.

With advancing technology, the landscape of bass fishing and bass tournament fishing are evolving quickly. It’s exciting to see new tournament formats like the Bill Dance Nationwide Giant Bass Open that tap into that essence of what makes bass fishing exciting—every next cast might be the big one.

Go to: gbonationwide.com or fishingchaos.com