What Is Big Bass Bonanza?
Big Bass Bonanza is a fishing-themed online slot developed by Pragmatic Play and released in September 2020. It quickly became one of the most played slots in Canada thanks to its straightforward mechanics, high volatility, and the satisfying free spins round where the Fisherman Wild symbol collects all Money Symbols on the reels.
The game is played on a 5x3 grid with 10 fixed paylines. Despite its simple layout, the win potential reaches 2,100x your stake, which means a C$2 bet could return up to C$4,200 in a single spin. The combination of accessible minimum bets (starting from C$0.10) and high-reward potential is what makes this slot so popular across Canadian online casinos.
How Big Bass Bonanza Works
The base game plays like a classic slot. You spin the 5 reels and aim to land matching symbols across the 10 paylines from left to right. The paytable includes fishing-themed symbols like tackle boxes, dragonflies, bobbers, and fish — each with different multiplier values.
Symbol Values
The pay structure rewards patience. Lower-value symbols (A, K, Q, J, 10) pay between 0.5x and 1.5x your stake for five of a kind. The premium symbols — the bobber (2x), dragonfly (5x), tackle box (8x), and fish (10x) — are where the base game delivers its best returns.
The Fisherman Wild
The Wild symbol is the Fisherman himself. In the base game, he simply substitutes for all symbols except the Scatter. But during free spins, he transforms into a collecting Wild — this is the core mechanic that defines Big Bass Bonanza and the reason it generates such explosive wins.
Free Spins: Where the Big Wins Happen
Landing 3, 4, or 5 Scatter symbols (the fishing tackle boxes with "FREE SPINS" text) triggers the bonus round with 10, 15, or 20 free spins respectively.
During free spins, the game fundamentally changes. Money Symbols can now appear on the reels, each carrying a random cash value between 2x and 50x your bet. When a Fisherman Wild lands on the same spin as Money Symbols, he "catches" (collects) the values of all visible Money Symbols and adds them to your win total.
Here is what makes it powerful: the Fisherman stays on the reels for the remainder of the free spins round. Every new Money Symbol that lands while a Fisherman is present gets collected automatically. If you land multiple Fishermen, they each collect independently, compounding your wins.
Every 4th Fisherman Wild that appears during free spins also re-triggers the feature, awarding additional spins. The more Fishermen you collect, the more free spins you earn, and the higher your payout climbs. This cascading mechanic is what produces the slot's maximum 2,100x wins.
RTP and Volatility Explained
Big Bass Bonanza has an RTP (Return to Player) of 96.71%, which sits above the industry average of approximately 96%. In simple terms, for every C$100 wagered across millions of spins, the game is designed to return C$96.71 on average.
The slot is classified as high volatility. This means wins come less frequently compared to low-volatility slots, but when they do hit, they tend to be significantly larger. A typical session might involve extended dry spells followed by a sudden big payout during the free spins round.
For Canadian players, this volatility profile suits those who prefer sessions with higher risk and higher reward. If you prefer steady, smaller wins, lower-volatility alternatives like Starburst may be a better fit. But if you have the bankroll patience for it, Big Bass Bonanza rewards those who stick around.
Big Bass Bonanza Series: All Sequels
Pragmatic Play expanded the franchise into a full series, with each sequel introducing new mechanics and higher win ceilings. Here is how they compare:
| Game | RTP | Max Win | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bass Bonanza | 96.71% | 2,100x | 2020 |
| Bigger Bass Bonanza | 96.71% | 4,000x | 2021 |
| Big Bass Bonanza Megaways | 96.50% | 5,000x | 2022 |
| Christmas Big Bass Bonanza | 96.71% | 2,100x | 2021 |
| Big Bass Splash | 96.71% | 5,000x | 2022 |
| Big Bass - Hold & Spinner | 96.70% | 4,000x | 2023 |
| Big Bass Halloween | 96.70% | 2,100x | 2022 |
| Big Bass Amazon Xtreme | 96.70% | 10,000x | 2024 |
Big Bass Amazon Xtreme (2024) is the standout sequel with a 10,000x maximum win — nearly 5 times the original. It adds multi-level fisherman upgrades and expanded reel mechanics. For players who enjoy the original, Amazon Xtreme is the natural next step.
Where to Play Big Bass Bonanza in Canada
Not every online casino offers the same experience for this slot. We tested 15 Canadian sites and these three stood out for Big Bass Bonanza players specifically:
All three accept Interac e-Transfer for CAD deposits and have been verified to carry the full Pragmatic Play portfolio including every Big Bass sequel.
See our full list of the 10 best Big Bass Bonanza casinos in Canada →
Tips for Playing Big Bass Bonanza
- Manage your bankroll for volatility — High-volatility slots need a larger session bankroll. A good rule is 200-300x your bet size per session. At C$1 per spin, budget at least C$200-300.
- Use casino free spins wisely — Many Canadian casinos offer free spins on Pragmatic Play slots as part of welcome bonuses. Use these to extend your session without extra cost.
- Watch for Money Symbol clusters — During free spins, the size of your payout depends entirely on how many Money Symbols appear alongside Fisherman Wilds. Sessions with high Money Symbol frequency are where the 2,100x potential lives.
- Try the demo first — Every casino on our list offers a free demo mode. Use it to understand the free spins mechanics before committing real CAD.
- Set a loss limit — Use the responsible gambling tools built into sites like Lucky7even and PlayOjo to set session limits. Walk away when you hit them.
Big Bass Bonanza vs Other Popular Canadian Slots
How does Big Bass stack up against other top slots available at Canadian casinos?
| Slot | RTP | Volatility | Max Win |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bass Bonanza | 96.71% | High | 2,100x |
| Book of Dead | 96.21% | High | 5,000x |
| Gates of Olympus | 96.50% | High | 5,000x |
| Sweet Bonanza | 96.48% | Medium-High | 21,100x |
| Starburst | 96.09% | Low | 500x |
Big Bass Bonanza sits in the sweet spot — higher RTP than most competitors, with enough volatility to deliver exciting sessions without the extreme variance of slots like Sweet Bonanza.
Frequently Asked Questions
Big Bass Bonanza has an RTP of 96.71%, which is above the industry average of around 96%. This means that for every C$100 wagered over the long term, the theoretical return is C$96.71. Keep in mind that RTP is calculated over millions of spins and individual sessions will vary significantly.
You need to land 3 or more Scatter symbols (the fishing tackle boxes) anywhere on the reels. Landing 3 Scatters awards 10 free spins, 4 Scatters gives 15 free spins, and 5 Scatters triggers 20 free spins. During free spins, the Fisherman Wild collects all visible Money Symbols for big payouts.
No. Big Bass Bonanza is developed by Pragmatic Play, which is licensed and audited by multiple gaming authorities. The game uses a certified Random Number Generator (RNG) that is regularly tested by independent labs to ensure fair outcomes.
Yes. Most online casinos that carry Pragmatic Play slots offer a demo mode where you can play Big Bass Bonanza with virtual credits. This is a great way to learn the mechanics before wagering real CAD.
The maximum win on the original Big Bass Bonanza is 2,100x your stake. So if you are betting C$2 per spin, the maximum possible payout is C$4,200. Newer sequels like Big Bass Amazon Xtreme offer up to 10,000x.
Final Verdict
Big Bass Bonanza earned its place as one of Canada's favourite online slots for good reason. The mechanics are easy to understand, the free spins round delivers genuine excitement, and the 96.71% RTP is fair. It is not the highest-paying slot on the market, but the combination of theme, simplicity, and that satisfying Fisherman collect mechanic keeps players coming back.
If you are ready to try it, Jackpot City is our top recommendation for Canadian players, offering the smoothest experience with fast Interac payouts and the full Pragmatic Play library.
Remember to set limits and play responsibly. Gambling should be entertainment, not income. Learn more about responsible gambling.