DEL RIO, Texas - Lake Amistad once again proved itself as one of the best fisheries in the world Saturday, as Ishama Monroe of Hughson, Calif., brought in 34 pounds, 1 ounce to take the Day 3 lead in the Bassmaster Elite Series bass fishing tournament.
The Elite 12 fishing the final day on Sunday are gearing up to break records, and each is competing for the $100,000 top prize in the first of the 11-event, $7.4 million tournament series. Fishing fans can catch the action on The Bassmasters aired Saturday, March 18 on ESPN2 at 10 a.m. ET.
Monroe captured the lead with a 34-1 sack that hurled him from 19th to first place. He had a total weight of 81 pounds that offered a nearly 4-pound cushion for the angler and his next closest competitor, Michigan's Kevin VanDam, who is the top-ranked angler on the Bassmaster Elite Series Power Index and had a total weight of 77-2.
"This is the first time I've led going into the final day," said Monroe. "Today I swung for the fences and that's what I'm going to do Sunday. Sometimes you swing and you hit grand slams."
Monroe, currently 32nd on the Power Index, catching an average of 17-10 per tournament, fished new areas of the lake and keyed in on grass holes and edges.
Monroe's five-fish limit also earned him the Bag of the Day and a $1,000 bonus as well as the Purolator Big Bass $1,000 bonus for a 9-5 largemouth.
VanDam, who jumped from 11th to second place Saturday, caught 27-6, his largest sack of the tournament. "I'm catching a lot, but the big ones are hard to find," said VanDam. "I need 30 pounds to win Sunday. This is too good of a lake and everyone here is too good of an angler - that's why it's going to be tight."
Texan Matt Reed of Madisonville was in third with a three-day total of 76-12. The one-time Classic qualifier, who is ranked 22nd on the Power Index, looked for suspended fish and ran to 10 locations on the Texas border.
Alton Jones of Waco, Texas, and Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., were tied for fourth with 76-9 and Steve Kennedy of Auburn, Ala., was in sixth with 75-4.
On Sunday, only the top 12 Elite pros will fish. The others include Mike Reynolds of Modesto, Calif., (74-6); Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., (74-2); Fred Roumbanis of Auburn, Calif., (73-12); Gary Klein of Weatherford, Texas, (71-15); Ken Cook of Meers, Okla., (71-10); and Dean Rojas of Lake Havasu, Ariz., (71-06).
In the co-angler division, Allen Ruddick of Las Cruces, N.M. won the top prize - a Triton boat with a Mercury Marine engine valued at $45,000 - with a three-day total of 36 pounds, 8 ounces on Saturday. "This really means a lot," said Ruddick, who threw a watermelon Senko all three days. In all, the top 25 co-anglers earned cash and merchandise totaling $114,400.
2006 Battle on the Border Pro 03/09-03/12
Lake Amistad, Del Rio Texas
(PRO Division) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 15 81-00 305 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 25-11 Day 2: 5 21-04 Day 3: 5 34-01
2. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 15 77-02 295
Day 1: 5 27-03 Day 2: 5 22-09 Day 3: 5 27-06
3. Matt Reed Madisonville, Texas 15 76-12 290
Day 1: 5 31-08 Day 2: 5 20-14 Day 3: 5 24-06
4. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 15 76-09 282
Day 1: 5 23-13 Day 2: 5 29-10 Day 3: 5 23-02
4. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 15 76-09 282
Day 1: 5 25-09 Day 2: 5 28-15 Day 3: 5 22-01
6. Steve Kennedy Auburn, Ala. 15 75-04 276
Day 1: 5 27-14 Day 2: 5 22-00 Day 3: 5 25-06
7. Mike Reynolds Modesto, Calif. 15 74-06 272
Day 1: 5 20-06 Day 2: 5 26-00 Day 3: 5 28-00
8. Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 15 74-02 273
Day 1: 5 25-04 Day 2: 5 29-14 Day 3: 5 19-00
9. Fred Roumbanis Auburn, Calif. 15 73-12 264
Day 1: 5 24-04 Day 2: 5 28-13 Day 3: 5 20-11
10. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 15 71-15 260 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 25-15 Day 2: 5 26-03 Day 3: 5 19-13
11. Ken Cook Lawton, Okla. 15 71-10 262 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 31-10 Day 2: 5 17-01 Day 3: 5 22-15
12. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu, Ariz. 15 71-06 254
Day 1: 5 27-05 Day 2: 5 25-15 Day 3: 5 18-02
13. Gerald Swindle Hayden, Ala. 15 70-09 251 $10,800.00
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 29-06 Day 3: 5 21-02
14. Pete Ponds Madison, Miss. 15 70-05 248 $11,700.00
Day 1: 5 31-07 Day 2: 5 22-14 Day 3: 5 16-00
15. Terry Scroggins Palatka, Fla. 15 69-14 245 $10,600.00
Day 1: 5 26-06 Day 2: 5 19-12 Day 3: 5 23-12
16. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 15 68-15 243 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 30-05 Day 2: 5 19-07 Day 3: 5 19-03
17. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark. 15 68-07 241 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 5 24-13 Day 3: 5 24-10
18. Jason Quinn York, S.C. 15 66-15 239 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 22-01 Day 2: 5 26-04 Day 3: 5 18-10
19. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 15 66-13 237 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 24-12 Day 2: 5 18-07 Day 3: 5 23-10
20. Ray Sedgwick Cross, S.C. 15 65-10 235 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 23-09 Day 3: 5 24-10
21. Jarrett Edwards Page, Ariz. 15 65-09 233 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 25-15 Day 2: 5 25-00 Day 3: 5 14-10
22. Terry Segraves Kissimmee, Fla. 15 65-08 231 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 30-06 Day 2: 5 18-02 Day 3: 5 17-00
23. Zell Rowland Montgomery, Texas 15 64-08 229 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 22-04 Day 2: 5 20-11 Day 3: 5 21-09
24. Russ Lane Prattville, Ala. 15 64-01 227 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 25-15 Day 3: 5 20-15
25. Mike O'Shea Westlake Village, Cali 15 63-15 225 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 25-15 Day 2: 5 23-07 Day 3: 5 14-09
26. Terry Butcher Talala, Okla. 15 63-06 223 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-06 Day 2: 5 23-04 Day 3: 5 21-12
27. Mark Menendez Paducah, Ky. 15 63-01 221 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-06 Day 2: 5 23-03 Day 3: 5 20-08
28. Brooks Rogers Quitman, Texas 15 62-05 219 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 26-15 Day 2: 5 22-12 Day 3: 5 12-10
29. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 15 62-02 217 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 5 20-09 Day 3: 5 24-08
30. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 15 61-13 215 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 26-03 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 5 20-15
31. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, Calif. 15 61-09 213 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 21-09 Day 3: 5 24-04
32. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, Ark. 15 61-08 211 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 23-06 Day 2: 5 22-04 Day 3: 5 15-14
33. John Crews Salem, Va. 15 60-11 209 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-11 Day 2: 5 17-13 Day 3: 5 21-03
34. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 15 60-09 207 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 31-14 Day 3: 5 17-08
35. Robert Hamilton Jr Nashville, Tenn. 15 60-04 205 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 25-04 Day 2: 5 18-01 Day 3: 5 16-15
36. Paul Hirosky Guys Mills, Pa. 15 59-13 203 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 5 24-04 Day 3: 5 16-09
37. Denny Brauer Camdenton, Mo. 15 59-08 201 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-02 Day 2: 5 21-14 Day 3: 5 19-08
38. Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 15 58-06 199 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 22-06 Day 3: 5 16-15
39. Bill Lowen Cincinnati, Ohio 15 57-13 197 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 23-15 Day 2: 5 20-11 Day 3: 5 13-03
40. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, Ark. 15 57-03 195 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 25-08 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 5 17-10
41. Jeff Reynolds Idabel, Okla. 15 56-12 193 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-15 Day 2: 5 21-09 Day 3: 5 12-04
42. Dave Wolak Warrior Run, Pa. 15 55-15 191 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-13 Day 2: 5 18-11 Day 3: 5 17-07
43. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, Fla. 15 54-14 189 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 23-11 Day 2: 5 20-02 Day 3: 5 11-01
44. Darrin Schwenkbeck Silver Spring, Md. 15 53-02 187 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-14 Day 2: 5 15-02 Day 3: 5 16-02
45. Morizo Shimizu Murrita, Calif. 15 52-04 185 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 23-03 Day 3: 5 13-15
46. Lee Bailey Boaz, Ala. 15 50-07 183 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 23-09 Day 3: 5 13-05
47. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 14 50-04 181 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 22-07 Day 3: 4 10-10
48. Charlie Hartley Grove City, Ohio 15 48-12 178 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 22-14 Day 3: 5 9-14
48. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 15 48-12 178 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 20-10 Day 3: 5 9-14
50. Yusuke Miyazaki Mineola, Texas 15 47-15 175 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-02 Day 2: 5 19-15 Day 3: 5 8-14
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Big Bass
Day
1 Pete Ponds Madison, Miss. 10-05 $1,000.00
2 Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 10-05 $1,000.00
3 Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 9-05 $1,000.00
Busch Heavyweight
Day
1 Ken Cook Lawton, Okla. 31-10 $1,000.00
2 Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 31-14 $1,000.00
3 Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 34-01 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 102 521 1932-00
2 101 517 1938-14
3 49 249 948-07
----------------------------------
252 1287 4819-05
2006 Battle on the Border NB 03/09-03/12
Lake Amistad, Del Rio Texas
(CO-ANGLER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Allen Ruddick Las Cruces, N.M. 9 36-08 305 $45,000.00
Day 1: 3 9-03 Day 2: 3 10-03 Day 3: 3 17-02
2. Gordon Karstedt Pearland, Texas 9 36-07 295 $25,000.00
Day 1: 3 13-10 Day 2: 3 7-02 Day 3: 3 15-11
3. Jeff Cloud Pampa, Texas 9 36-02 290 $10,000.00
Day 1: 3 12-01 Day 2: 3 11-07 Day 3: 3 12-10
4. Dalton Arnold Kermit, Texas 9 35-15 285 $5,500.00
Day 1: 3 8-04 Day 2: 3 10-03 Day 3: 3 17-08
5. David Stewart Cedar Park, Texas 9 35-11 280 $4,000.00
Day 1: 3 13-02 Day 2: 3 9-08 Day 3: 3 13-01
6. David Meza San Jose, Calif. 9 35-09 281 $3,000.00
Day 1: 3 12-01 Day 2: 3 14-04 Day 3: 3 9-04
7. Michael Bass Austin, Texas 9 34-13 272 $2,500.00
Day 1: 3 10-09 Day 2: 3 12-05 Day 3: 3 11-15
8. Steven Oliver Westminster, Calif. 9 34-00 268 $2,000.00
Day 1: 3 6-08 Day 2: 3 18-08 Day 3: 3 9-00
9. Tommy Swindle Cleveland, Ala. 9 33-07 264 $1,800.00
Day 1: 3 8-14 Day 2: 3 16-08 Day 3: 3 8-01
10. Allen Burkhalter Columbus, Ga. 9 33-00 260 $1,600.00
Day 1: 3 11-01 Day 2: 3 11-06 Day 3: 3 10-09
11. David Hernandez Birmingham, Ala. 9 32-07 257 $1,400.00
Day 1: 3 11-01 Day 2: 3 13-10 Day 3: 3 7-12
12. Frank Mealer Irondale, Ala. 9 32-06 254 $1,300.00
Day 1: 3 7-06 Day 2: 3 16-13 Day 3: 3 8-03
13. Andy Whitehead Round Rock, Texas 9 30-15 251 $1,200.00
Day 1: 3 11-03 Day 2: 3 8-12 Day 3: 3 11-00
14. Ron Chapman Lake Quivira, Kan. 9 30-14 248 $1,100.00
Day 1: 3 8-14 Day 2: 3 12-14 Day 3: 3 9-02
15. Pat Golden High Point, N.C. 9 28-10 245 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 9-03 Day 2: 3 8-05 Day 3: 3 11-02
16. Brian Brandon Elgin, Texas 9 28-04 242 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 5-15 Day 2: 3 13-01 Day 3: 3 9-04
16. Darrell Shadwick Del Rio, Texas 8 28-04 242 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 13-01 Day 2: 3 10-10 Day 3: 2 4-09
18. Charlie Raia Gardendale, Ala. 7 28-01 239 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 11-06 Day 2: 1 2-11 Day 3: 3 14-00
19. Jarod Ballardo Manteca, Calif. 9 28-00 237 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 12-06 Day 2: 3 8-06 Day 3: 3 7-04
20. Larry Triplett Parker, Colo. 9 27-15 234 $950.00
Day 1: 3 7-09 Day 2: 3 8-13 Day 3: 3 11-09
20. Howard Stephens Columbia, S.C. 9 27-15 234 $950.00
Day 1: 3 7-02 Day 2: 3 10-15 Day 3: 3 9-14
22. Michael Vintges Tyler, Texas 7 26-05 231 $900.00
Day 1: 1 4-14 Day 2: 3 13-01 Day 3: 3 8-06
23. John Basinger Slaton, Texas 9 25-13 229 $900.00
Day 1: 3 9-13 Day 2: 3 8-11 Day 3: 3 7-05
24. Jimmy Harrison Boyd, Texas 9 25-09 227 $900.00
Day 1: 3 9-10 Day 2: 3 8-05 Day 3: 3 7-10
25. Sam Mize Muscle Shoals, Ala. 9 25-05 225 $900.00
Day 1: 3 12-15 Day 2: 3 6-02 Day 3: 3 6-04
26. William Adams Exeter, Calif. 8 25-03 223 $500.00
Day 1: 3 7-13 Day 2: 3 14-05 Day 3: 2 3-01
27. Albert Hudson Austin, Texas 8 24-11 221 $500.00
Day 1: 3 13-06 Day 2: 2 4-08 Day 3: 3 6-13
28. James Hill Ozark, Ala. 9 24-10 219
Day 1: 3 11-02 Day 2: 3 9-09 Day 3: 3 3-15
29. Harry Parten Columbiana, Ala. 9 24-07 217
Day 1: 3 7-06 Day 2: 3 7-07 Day 3: 3 9-10
30. Allan Chandler Cat Spring, Texas 7 23-13 220
Day 1: 3 14-02 Day 2: 3 7-06 Day 3: 1 2-05
31. Mike Barron Midland, Texas 9 23-04 213
Day 1: 3 5-07 Day 2: 3 8-07 Day 3: 3 9-06
32. Tracy Tolbert Boerne, Texas 9 23-02 211
Day 1: 3 8-08 Day 2: 3 8-15 Day 3: 3 5-11
33. Gene Eisenmann Little Elm, Texas 9 22-06 209
Day 1: 3 6-14 Day 2: 3 10-13 Day 3: 3 4-11
34. Kirk Lizama Oakdale, Calif. 9 22-03 206
Day 1: 3 10-15 Day 2: 3 5-07 Day 3: 3 5-13
34. Danny Bickom Canastota, N.Y. 8 22-03 206
Day 1: 3 7-06 Day 2: 2 7-05 Day 3: 3 7-08
36. Robert Lane Lakeland, Fla. 9 22-02 203
Day 1: 3 7-01 Day 2: 3 8-06 Day 3: 3 6-11
37. Bret Myers Keller, Texas 9 21-15 201
Day 1: 3 7-02 Day 2: 3 9-01 Day 3: 3 5-12
38. Gabe Pray Amite, La. 7 21-14 199
Day 1: 1 4-02 Day 2: 3 13-01 Day 3: 3 4-11
39. Alexander Meza San Jose, Calif. 8 21-02 197
Day 1: 3 8-00 Day 2: 3 10-00 Day 3: 2 3-02
40. Jerry Brooks Odessa, Texas 6 20-13 195
Day 1: 3 10-08 Day 2: 3 10-05 Day 3: 0 0-00
41. Chris Reining West Dundee, Ill. 8 20-10 193
Day 1: 3 8-13 Day 2: 3 6-06 Day 3: 2 5-07
42. Mark Wright Houston, Texas 6 20-08 191
Day 1: 3 13-15 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 3 6-09
43. Harry Potts Ozark, Ala. 7 20-07 189
Day 1: 1 5-11 Day 2: 3 10-13 Day 3: 3 3-15
44. Brian Penso Houston, Texas 9 20-04 186
Day 1: 3 7-00 Day 2: 3 6-11 Day 3: 3 6-09
44. Charles Bonner Williamsburg, N.M. 8 20-04 186
Day 1: 3 5-01 Day 2: 3 9-14 Day 3: 2 5-05
46. Freddy Giron Del Rio, Texas 8 19-09 183
Day 1: 3 5-06 Day 2: 3 9-05 Day 3: 2 4-14
47. Lawrence Hiller Eagle Pass, Texas 6 19-08 181
Day 1: 3 9-06 Day 2: 2 8-09 Day 3: 1 1-09
48. Steve Hernandez Del Rio, Texas 7 19-07 179
Day 1: 3 8-10 Day 2: 2 5-11 Day 3: 2 5-02
49. Billy Breiten Pecos, Texas 8 19-05 177
Day 1: 3 9-08 Day 2: 3 6-08 Day 3: 2 3-05
50. Timothy Lybrand Wilson, N.C. 7 16-10 175
Day 1: 3 9-02 Day 2: 3 5-03 Day 3: 1 2-05
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Big Bass
Day
1 Albert Hudson Austin, Texas 7-14 $500.00
2 William Adams Exeter, Calif. 7-02 $500.00
3 Dalton Arnold Kermit, Texas 7-10 $500.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 65 231 639-07
2 70 242 707-06
3 38 133 382-02
----------------------------------
173 606 1728-15