ONALASKA, Wis. (Aug. 5, 2005) - Pro Fred Roumbanis of Auburn, Calif., caught five bass weighing 15 pounds, 14 ounces to lead day three of the EverStart Series Northern Division bass fishing tournament on the Mississippi River near Onalaska. Pros are competing for a Ranger 519VX plus $10,000 cash. Ranger also awards an additional $10,000 to the winner if he is a qualified Ranger owner for a total of $69,000 in cash and prizes.
"I live on the California Delta, and I've found that the fishing here is similar to what it is at home," Roumbanis said. "I'm fishing grassy areas with a little current as well as in the main river. I've been catching them up shallow on a grass frog, and on a drop-shot around wing dams in the main river."
Roumbanis said he's lost several big fish over the last couple of days, so he has confidence there are enough fish in his areas to last him through the end of the event.
Rounding out the top five pros are Jim Jones of Big Bend (five bass, 15 pounds, 5 ounces); Jeff Ritter of Prairie Du Chien (five bass, 14 pounds, 12 ounces); Bill Lowen of Cincinnati, Ohio (five bass, 13 pounds, 10 ounces); and Chris Cox of Appleton (five bass, 13 pounds, 1 ounce).
Marc Grahn Sr. of Wautoma caught five bass weighing 11 pounds to lead the Co-angler Division. Grahn fished several different areas, both around weeds and in the main river, with four different baits, the exact style of which he chose to keep to himself.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Daniel Mancini of Necedah (four bass, 8 pounds, 7 ounces); Richard Herold of Cedar Rapids, Iowa (four bass, 7 pounds, 15 ounces); Robert Horick of St. Petersburg, Fla. (three bass, 5 pounds 6 ounces) and BJ Nelson of Louisa, Ky. (two bass, 4 pounds, 3 ounces).
Saturday's takeoff will be at Clinton Street Landing West in La Crosse. Saturday's weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart located at 3107 Marketplace in Onalaska beginning at 4 p.m.
EverStart Series tournaments are four-day events consisting of two rounds. The entire field competes Wednesday and Thursday, and the top 10 pros and co-anglers - based on two-day accumulated weights - advance to the final round. Anglers start at zero Friday, and pro and co-angler winners are determined Saturday based on two-day accumulated weights.