Originally Posted by
Hammmerhead
By Beth Reed
This article was published July 3, 2018 at 4:00 a.m.
Today marks a month since the "fish phone" last rang, so Visit Hot Springs, the organizer of the 2018 Hot Springs Fishing Challenge, has released a second clue as to the whereabouts of "Big Al," the contest's $15,000 grand prize fish.
"Big Al," which Visit Hot Springs identified as a crappie in early June, is lurking in Lake Hamilton, according to the latest clue released Monday.
Bill Solleder, director of marketing for Visit Hot Springs, said Monday that he has carried around the "fish phone" for two months, day and night, waiting for news that someone has apprehended "Big Al." May proved to be an exciting month for the challenge, he said, with calls twice per week "then, crickets."
"I take the 'fish phone' everywhere I go," he said. "We go to work together, out to eat, road trips, the grocery store, the movies, I even sleep with my beloved 'fish phone' in hopes that I will hear the sweet sounds of my favorite ringtone. But alas, the 'fish phone' stays quiet. Eerily quiet. Not even a telemarketer."
Since the start of the challenge on May 1, eight fish have been caught with a total of $6,500 awarded to those who reeled in the winners.
The challenge is sponsored by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and runs through 5 p.m. July 31. During the Game and Fish Commission's Free Fishing Weekend June 8-10, any $500 fish caught would have received a $1,000 payout.
Seventy-one tagged fish potentially totaling $101,000 were released into lakes Catherine and Hamilton on April 30.
During the 2017 challenge, "Big Al" was caught by Pete Clark, of Bismarck. Clark is the only angler to reel in the grand prize fish.
The challenge is open to anyone with a valid Arkansas fishing license. According to the rules of the challenge, cash prizes will only be awarded to participants presenting a tagged fish that has been caught during the fishing period, and all tags must be presented during the period of the challenge.
All tagged fish must be caught in accordance with all state and local laws, codes, rules and regulations available through the AGFC in order to collect the cash prizes, according to the rules.
Local on 07/03/2018