For those who missed the opportunity to participate in last year’s Berkley Big Bass Challenge, it’s returning to the Delta June 6 and 7 at Russo’s Marina and promising more fun and bigger payouts than before.

The Challenge’s format balances angling skill with weigh-in strategy. Each competition day consists of a six-hour period in which anglers can weigh in their single largest fish. Some anglers who participated in last year’s event called it bass fishing’s version of Texas hold ’em. Each hour, anglers bring one fish to the scales for a chance to receive one of the seven hourly cash awards. More than $1,300 is given out each hour and $500 is awarded for the biggest fish of the hour. The angler with the biggest fish each hour will also qualify as a Top 12 finalist, and at the end of the event, will get a shot at winning the keys to a new Toyota Tundra valued at $28,000. The seven hourly cash awards and the Tundra are guaranteed to be given away – regardless of the size of the field.

The catch is that only Berkley baits can be used during the Challenge.

The $150 entry fee covers both days. Anglers who can’t fish both days can sign up for the one-day entry fee of $100 dollars.

Anglers arriving Friday, the day before the event, have the opportunity to attend seminars hosted by Berkley pro-staff. The Berkley Experience trailer, a 70-foot-plus rolling event center, will be on site from Friday until the final weigh-in and awards on Sunday. The trailer features interactive presentation screens, Wii video games, a knot-tying station and competition and bait demonstration tanks.

Russo’s will also be under the big tent, ready to supply all anglers’ Berkley bait needs. Those who save their empty Berkley Gulp! and Powerbait bags will be in line for a raffle at the end of event, at which participants can trade bags for raffle tickets.

More information, rules and event particulars can be found on www.anglerspress.net or by e-mail at anglerspress@hotmail.com. If you need to speak with someone in person about the event, call 916-768-0938 and the tournament staff will be happy to get you registered over the phone. The first 150 signups will be entered into an exclusive raffle for a Humminbird fishfinder, Costa Del Mar Sunglasses, Revo reels, plus a day on the water with world champion Skeet Reese.