What is Big Bass Bonanza?
The first-ever Big Bass Bonanza game was released in 2020 by Pragmatic Play partner, Reel Kingdom. It’s a simple 5-reel, 3-row medium volatility video slot with 10 fixed paylines.
In this release, players could collect fisherman wilds and advance through levels, which could add additional spins and multipliers up to 10x in value, alongside the typical cash collection feature seen in most fishing slots. A similar blueprint to what Fishin’ Frenzy had years before, but with the added extra of progression in the Free Spins.
Fast forward to over six years later, and Big Bass Bonanza shows no signs of slowing down, throwing more into the mix like random hooks, dynamite features, and even different themes, like the bearded angler dressed up as Father Christmas.
Below, you’ll find a few of our favourite Big Bass Bonanza slots over the years.
Big Bass Bonanza and its sequels are also becoming somewhat of a go-to for casino operators themselves. Thanks to its popularity, you’ll often see Big Bass Bonanza plastered front and centre on welcome bonuses and no-wagering free spins to reel players in (pun intended).
Simplicity in gameplay, incredible bonus frequency, alongside its colourful graphics and popular mechanics, make it easy to see why the Big Bass Bonanza series became a winner, and why many of the studio’s biggest providers are now slinging their line into the waters to try and replicate this bolt from the blue.
Fishin’ Frenzy – Blueprint Gaming
Before Big Bass Bonanza and its school of sequels swam along and stole the spotlight, there was Fishin’ Frenzy, the OG of all fishing slots, and ironically, likely where Big Bass Bonanza got its blueprints from.
Blueprint Gaming‘s original is simpler than most modern successors, but that’s all part of its pub fruit-machine-esque charm.
This five-reel slot keeps the mechanics easy to understand, and the fisherman wilds and cash fish values in the Free Spins rounds will feel instantly recognisable to any Big Bass fans.
Big Bass Splash – Reel Kingdom
Sitting firmly within the Big Bass series and making its own splash, Big Bass Splash takes the tried-and-tested formula of the Big Bass Bonanza series and cranks up the volatility to high.
Gameplay remains pretty similar and faithful to the rest of the fishy franchise, with the cash collecting Free Spins round and extra modifiers, just with a touch of the Americana and the Wild West, in the form of monster trucks and cowboy-esque tackle boxes.
Le Fisherman – Hacksaw Gaming
If there’s one animal that’s potentially put in more air miles than the fish, it’s got to be Smokey the Raccoon, from Hacksaw Gaming’s Le series. Donning arm bands, an anglers cap, and yellow waterproof boots, Smokey is here to dangle his own worm in fish-rich waters.
Le Fisherman offers a slightly different format to Big Bass Bonanza as a cluster-paying slot, with Cascades, Golden Squares, and Instant Cash Prizes. It also steers clear of traditional aspects usually associated with fishing slots, like the ‘catch and collect’ mechanic.
If you’re after a fishing slot with a little bit more bite, and more of a chance to reel in a whopper with a 15,000x maximum win, Le Fisherman is well worth casting a net out for.
Fishin’ Pots of Gold – Gameburger Studios
Combining two classic slot themes – Ireland and fishing – we have Fishin’ Pots of Gold by Gameburger Studios, partner of Games Global. Instead of your average angler, though, there’s a cheerful leprechaun by the name of Lucky Lad Flynn.
Fans of Big Bass Bonanza will feel right at home with the setup: a 5×3 grid with 10 fixed paylines, which grows in size when Free Spins are triggered by three or more scatters. While Free Spins are active, reels expand to five-rows, with 10 additional paylines added.
A Big Bass Bonanza-style progression trail comes into play here, increasing the cash multiplier up to 10x, with additional free spins up for grabs. If you ever dreamed of Big Bass Bonanza with a coat of Emerald Isle paint, this is the way to go.
Ugliest Catch – Nolimit City
Given Nolimit City‘s reputation for exploring alternative subjects, you can assume that Ugliest Catch is not your typical recreational fishing slot.
Gone are the crystal-clear blue waters, replaced by radioactive green in a lake plagued by years of toxic waste dumping, with mutant fish lurking beneath the surface. Not to mention the features!
Instead of a progression trail, Ugliest Catch offers Enhancer Cells, xWays, and multipliers, as well as your usual catch and collect mechanics in the form of Kill N’ Grill Wild Fishing – though anything you catch in these waters probably need to be thrown back in.
Big Bass Halloween II – Reel Kingdom
The Big Bass games even adapt with the seasons, and these are some of their most popular releases to disturb the waters. Released in October 2024 for Halloween, there’s Big Bass Halloween 2 which sees our friendly bearded fisherman looking a little worse for wear as a zombie armed to the teeth with a chainsaw.
Symbols are transformed to look particularly ghoulish, with a tacklebox full of bones and zombified fish. Gameway-wise, Big Bass Halloween 2 harkens back to Big Bass Splash, recycling proven features with a bit of seasonal flair.
If you’ve already worked your way through the core Big Bass lineup and want a seasonal spin on the format without straying too far from what you know and love, this is a great pick to end on.
Final Thoughts
Big Bass Bonanza might be the slot that started it all for a lot of players, but as this list proves, there’s a whole sea of fishing slots out there worth exploring.
Check out our slot reviews for our full thoughts and honest opinions on any of the games featured here, and if you want to try before you buy, our free slot demos have you covered – tackle box and rod not included.
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