Big Bass Bonanza Pros & Cons
Big Bass has clear strengths but also some real downsides you need to know before playing.
- 96.71% RTP beats most competitors
- Free spins bonus has retrigger potential
- Max win 2,100x is solid
- Clean graphics and smooth performance
- Betting range €0.10-€250 fits all bankrolls
- High volatility = brutal dry spells
- Base game pays almost nothing
- No features outside free spins
- Can feel repetitive after extended play
- Bonus round hard to trigger (1 in 250 spins average)
Big Bass Bonanza Slot Review – Is This Fishing Game Worth the Hype?
Big Bass Bonanza, released in December 2020 by Pragmatic Play, basically took over online casinos. You've probably seen it everywhere because it became one of the most popular slots almost overnight. We tested this fishing-themed game at SlotsGamblers, and honestly, we get why people love it. The 96.71% RTP is solid, and the max win hits 2,100x your stake, so there's real money potential here. But here's the thing - it's high volatility, so your bankroll needs to handle some severe dry spells between bonus rounds.
The game features five reels, three rows, and 10 fixed paylines. You're basically fishing for cash symbols during free spins while a cartoon angler collects them for you. It's simple to understand, but the bonus round can get intense when fishermen start multiplying your wins. Betting begins at €0.10 and goes up to €250 per spin, which covers pretty much everyone from casual players to high rollers.
What makes Big Bass different from typical fishing slots? The free spins feature pays out when you collect money symbols, and wild fisherman symbols act as collectors. Land enough fishermen during the bonus, and you can retrigger spins while multiplying your collected values. The animation is clean, the soundtrack won't drive you crazy, and the whole thing works. We'll break down everything you need to know about payouts, features, and whether this slot deserves a spot in your rotation.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Pragmatic Play |
| Release Date | December 2020 |
| Reels X Rows | 5 x 3 |
| Paylines | 10 (fixed) |
| RTP | 96.71% (can vary by casino) |
| Volatility Level | High |
| Min Bet | €0.10 |
| Max Bet | €250 |
| Max Win Potential | 2,100x stake |
| Hit Frequency | ~22% (base game) |
| Default Bet Range | €0.10 - €250 |
| Mobile Compatible | Yes (iOS, Android, Desktop) |
Symbols & Payouts
The game uses nine regular symbols plus special symbols. You've got four fish as premium symbols and five playing card symbols as low-value filler. Wild Fisherman only shows up during free spins.
🐟 Bass Fish - Highest Value
The largemouth bass is your top-paying symbol, and it's designed in bright orange-red with detailed scales. Five of these on a payline pay 10x your total bet, so on a €1 spin, that's €10. The bass appears fairly often in the base game, but you'll need patience to line up a full combo. The animation shows it jumping when you win.
🐠 Perch Fish - High Value
The yellow and green striped perch symbol pays 5x your bet for five of a kind. This fish looks cartoonish and cheerful, and it lands more frequently than the bass. You'll rack up small wins with perch during base game sessions, making it decent for keeping your balance steady while you wait for the bonus.
🎣 Dragonfly - High Value
The dragonfly hovers with blue and green wings, and five symbols pay 3x your bet. It's designed with nice detail, and the wings shimmer slightly when part of a winning line. This symbol bridges the gap between high-value fish and low-value cards.
🦗 Lure - Medium Value
The fishing lure symbol is a red-and-white bobber that pays 2x for five matches. Simple design, but effective —you'll see this one land pretty regularly. It's not exciting, but it contributes to base game wins often enough to matter.
🃏 Ace (A) - Low Value
The purple-colored ace symbol pays 1.5x your bet for five matches. Standard playing card design with minimal decoration. These show up constantly and rarely deliver wins worth mentioning, but they fill the reels between better symbols.
👑 King (K) - Low Value
Blue king symbol pays 1x your bet for five of a kind. Tedious but necessary, and you'll groan when reels fill with these instead of fish. Still better than nothing during dead spins.
💚 Queen (Q) - Low Value
The green queen symbol pays 1x for five matches. Same deal as the king - filler that keeps things moving but won't get your heart racing. You need three or more to get paid anything.
💙 Jack (J) - Low Value
The light blue jack symbol pays 0.75x your bet for five symbols. At this point, you're hoping for literally anything better to land because jacks barely move your balance.
💛 Ten (10) - Lowest Value
The yellow ten symbol pays 0.5x your bet for five matches. This is bottom-tier stuff, and landing a complete line of tens feels almost insulting. But it's what you'll see most often in the base game.
🎣 Fisherman Wild - Special Symbol
The cartoon fisherman acts as a wild substitute only during free spins. He doesn't appear in the base game at all. When he lands during the bonus round, he collects all money symbol values on screen, and those values get added to your total win. Land multiple fishermen, and they each collect the money symbols independently before the values combine.
💰 Money Symbol - Special Scatter
A gold coin with a fish image appears only during free spins. These don't pay on their own—they need a fisherman wild on-screen to collect their values. Each money symbol shows a random value between 2x and 50x your bet. The more fishermen you have, the more times each money symbol value gets collected.
🐟 Scatter Symbol - Bonus Trigger
Three or more bass scatter symbols trigger 10 free spins. Scatters only need to appear anywhere on the reels, not on a payline. This is what you're chasing because the entire game revolves around getting into the free spins bonus.
| Symbol | 5 of a Kind | 4 of a Kind | 3 of a Kind | 2 of a Kind | Special Properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bass Fish
|
10x bet | 2x bet | 0.5x bet | - | Top payer |
|
Perch Fish
|
5x bet | 1x bet | 0.3x bet | - | High value |
|
Dragonfly
|
3x bet | 0.75x bet | 0.2x bet | - | High value |
|
Lure
|
2x bet | 0.5x bet | 0.15x bet | - | Medium value |
|
Ace (A)
|
1.5x bet | 0.4x bet | 0.1x bet | - | Low value |
|
King (K)
|
1x bet | 0.3x bet | 0.075x bet | - | Low value |
|
Queen (Q)
|
1x bet | 0.3x bet | 0.075x bet | - | Low value |
|
Jack (J)
|
0.75x bet | 0.25x bet | 0.05x bet | - | Low value |
|
Ten (10)
|
0.5x bet | 0.2x bet | 0.04x bet | - | Lowest value |
|
Fisherman
|
- | - | - | - | Wild + money collector (free spins only) |
|
Money Symbol
|
- | - | - | - | Shows 2x-50x values (free spins only) |
|
Scatter
|
- | - | - | - | 3+ triggers 10 free spins |
Bonus Features
Big Bass has one main feature: a free spins bonus with money-collection mechanics.
| Feature Name | Trigger Method | Description | Max Potentia I Win | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Free Spins
|
3+ scatter symbols | 10 free spins with money collection | 2,100x stake | ~1 in 250 spins |
|
Money Collection
|
Automatic during free spins | Fisherman wilds collect money symbol values | Varies | Every free spin can have money symbols |
|
Extra Wilds
|
3 scatters during free spins | +10 spins, adds 1 extra fisherman wild per spin | Contribu tes to max win | Depends on retriggers |
|
x2 Multiplier
|
4 scatters during free spins | +10 spins, all collected valuestes doubled | Contribu to max win | Rare |
|
x3 Multiplier
|
5 scatters during free spins | +10 spins, all collected valueste tripled | Contribu to max win | Very rare |
RTP & Volatility
Big Bass runs at 96.71% RTP in the standard version, though some casinos offer lower RTP variants at 94.71% or 92.71%. Always check before playing.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
|
Min Bet
|
€0.10 |
|
Max Bet
|
€250 |
|
Max Win (on €1 bet)
|
€2,100 |
|
Max Win (on €100 bet)
|
€210,000 |
|
RTP %
|
96.71% (standard) |
|
Volatility
|
High |
Mobile
Works perfectly on mobile devices. We tested on iPhone and Android with zero issues. Screen layout adjusts automatically, and all buttons are easy to tap accurately. Graphics scale nicely without loss of quality, and loading speeds match desktop performance. You can play on 4G or WiFi without lag.
Tips:
Play with bonus buy if available
Some regions allow buying directly into free spins for 100x your bet. Skips the monotonous base game grind.
Aim for retriggers
The first free spins round rarely pays out huge. You want those scatters to keep landing during the bonus for modifiers and extra spins.
Don't chase losses in the base game
Wins are rare and small. Set a limit for how many spins you'll do before cutting losses if the bonus won't trigger.
SlotsGamblers recommends starting with minimum bets
Feel out the volatility before committing more money. This slot can eat bankrolls fast.
Track your session
High volatility means huge swings. Know when you're up or down and have exit points planned.
Similar Games
Big Bass Bonanza Megaways
Pragmatic's sequel with up to 46,656 ways to win. Same fishing theme, but way more volatile.
Fishin' Frenzy Megaways
Blueprint Gaming's fishing slot with similar mechanics but a different bonus structure. Lower max wins at 10,000x but triggers more often.
Cash Truck
Pragmatic Play game with similar money collection mechanics but a truck theme instead of fishing. Less popular but same concept.
The Dog House Megaways
Also from Pragmatic, uses sticky wilds and multipliers instead of money collection, but similar high-volatility style.
Play Responsibly - 18+ Only
Gambling should be entertaining and fun. Remember that slots are games of chance, and there's no guaranteed way to win. Never gamble more than you can afford to lose, and always set limits for yourself. If you feel gambling is becoming a problem, please seek help immediately.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
How often does the Big Bass Bonanza bonus round actually trigger?
Roughly 1 in 250 spins on average. Yeah, it's brutal. Budget your bankroll accordingly because you'll hit loads of dead spins before seeing those three scatters.
What's the difference between the base version and the lower RTP variants?
Some casinos offer 94.71% or 92.71% RTP versions instead of the standard 96.71%. You're giving back way more to the house on the lower versions, so always check before playing.
Can you really win 2,100x your bet?
Yeah, but you need perfect conditions - multiple retriggers, x3 multiplier active, high-value money symbols, and several fishermen collecting them. It's possible but rare as hell.
Is the bonus buy feature worth the 100x bet cost?
Depends on your bankroll. The SlotsGamblers team tested it extensively, and you skip the boring base game, but there's no guarantee the bonus pays out more than 100x. It's a gamble.
How does Big Bass compare to Big Bass Bonanza Megaways?
Megaways version is way more volatile with higher max win potential, but the bonus triggers even less frequently. Stick with the original if you want slightly better odds.
What happens when multiple fisherman wilds land during free spins?
Each fisherman collects all money symbol values independently, then those totals combine. So one 10x money symbol with three fishermen pays 30x total.
Why is Big Bass Bonanza so popular if the base game barely pays?
The free spins bonus can deliver huge wins, and the fishing theme resonates with players. Plus, Pragmatic marketed it aggressively with streamers showing big wins.
Should beginners play Big Bass Bonanza?
Honestly, probably not. The high volatility and long waits between features can be frustrating for new players. Start with lower-volatility games first, then come back to this when you understand bankroll management.