07-14-2009, 11:10 AM
John Higman won the Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza 2009 and took home the $100,000 grand prize. He has been fishing the Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza throughout the past ten years and has finished in the top ten in most of those tournaments. In 2008 he came in 2nd place and was determined to take home 1st place in 2009. He decided that at the 2009 tournament he would fish the Fort Smith pool and head out in familiar waters that he had fished growing up. The Fort Smith pool on the Arkansas River payed off and John found himself weighing in a 7.3 lb Largemouth Bass that held the top weight of the tournament. After receiving the prize money, John contacted Arkansas Tournament Fishing with a very special story. He told us he was going to give this money to a man he felt deserved and needed it more than himself. We asked Mr Higman who this friend was and he informed us that this was a man he found living in the street 13 years ago. John offered him a job doing demolition/construction work and has been helping this man ever since. This man's name is Floyd G. Hazel and has been a dear friend to John Higman throughout the years. "I (John Higman) won the Big Bass Bonanza in the amount of $100,000.00. I was going to give my dad, Jesse Higman, half of the $100,000.00, but my dad and I decided to help Floyd G. Hazel that I took off the streets thirteen years ago, who had nothing and has helped me throughout the years in many ways. It's time to give something back. So, I am giving $86,000.00 of the Big Bass Bonanza winnings to Floyd G. Hazel. This story brought to you by Arkansas Tournament Fishing and Academy Sports + Outdoors. For the full story and videos of John Higman's Decision visit ArkansasTournamentFishing.com/higman