DEL RIO, Texas - The Bassmaster Elite Series' "Battle on the Border" bass fishing tournament began with 106 of the world's best anglers and ended on Sunday on Lake Amistad when Hughson, Calif., angler Ishama Monroe celebrated his first win in his 10-year BASS career, earning the top prize of $100,000.
Monroe brought in a five-fish stringer of 23 pounds, 8 ounces on Day 4 for a tournament total of 104-8. The angler came close - but didn't break - the BASS record for heaviest four-day tournament weight of 108-12, still held by Arizona angler Dean Rojas.
Included in Monroe's sack was a 9-pound Purolator Big Bass of the Day, earning him an additional $1,000 bonus. The 31-year-old pro, who was previously ranked 32nd on the Bassmaster Elite Series Power Index, also gained ground by moving to 13th place, increasing his average weight caught to 24-11 per tournament.
"I've been waiting for this moment my whole career," Monroe said. "I want to thank BASS for making my dreams come true. Getting a win was the first item on my checklist and now I'm focused on the Angler of the Year. This has definitely been the best week of my career."
Monroe said his secret to catching the key 9-pounders throughout the tournament was a snag proof frog. Additionally, he threw a Reaction Innovations Vixen. He searched for bedding fish the final day, working slowly in shallow water 1 to 8 feet deep.
Monroe's friend and roommate, Fred Roumbanis of Auburn Calif., finished second overall. The 26-year-old brought in the largest sack of Day 4 with 28-1, earning the $1,000 Bag of the Day bonus. If it remains one of the 10 heaviest in Elite Series season, Roumbainis will qualify for the BUSCH Shootout later in the year.
"I am just stoked for him," said Roumbanis, referring to Monroe. "If someone beats me, I want it to be one of my friends. I am just so happy to say that I finished in second place."
Roumbanis fished water 8 to 20 feet deep, throwing swim baits to isolated islands.
In third place and rounding out the California anglers of the Elite 12 was Mike Reynolds of Modesto. The one-time BASS winner brought five fish to the scales for a total weight of 99-4. Reynolds fished beds and threw both topwaters and tubes into trees. He fished water no deeper than 10 feet.
The rest of the field was Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., in fourth with 98-5; Steve Kennedy of Auburn, Ala., in fifth (97-3); Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., in sixth (97-0); Alton Jones of Waco, Texas, in seventh (95-6); Gary Klein of Weatherford, Texas in eighth (94-3); Ken Cook of Meers, Okla., in ninth (93-7); Matt Reed of Madisonville, Texas in 10th (91-3); Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., in 11th (87-13); and Dean Rojas of Havasu, Ariz., rounding out the Elite 12 with 82-6.
"Thank goodness these guys slipped a little," Monroe said. "Kevin VanDam is one of the best anglers out there and you never want him behind you."
Overall, the top 50 Elite Series anglers cashed in on a total prize purse of $673,150 and all 106 earned points towards qualifying for the Bassmaster Majors and the Bassmaster Angler of the Year Award.
"The Battle on the Border" is the first of 11 Elite Series events in 2006. The next stop, "The Lone Star Shootout," is scheduled for Sam Rayburn Reservoir on March 16-19 in Jasper, Texas. Elite Series anglers compete for a total of $7.4 million cash in these events.
2006 Battle on the Border Pro 03/09-03/12
Lake Amistad, Del Rio Texas
(PRO Division) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 20 104-08 310 $103,000.00
Day 1: 5 25-11 Day 2: 5 21-04 Day 3: 5 34-01 Day 4: 5 23-08
2. Fred Roumbanis Auburn, Calif. 20 101-13 295 $31,000.00
Day 1: 5 24-04 Day 2: 5 28-13 Day 3: 5 20-11 Day 4: 5 28-01
3. Mike Reynolds Modesto, Calif. 20 99-04 290 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-06 Day 2: 5 26-00 Day 3: 5 28-00 Day 4: 5 24-14
4. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 20 98-05 285 $18,000.00
Day 1: 5 25-09 Day 2: 5 28-15 Day 3: 5 22-01 Day 4: 5 21-12
5. Steve Kennedy Auburn, Ala. 20 97-03 280 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 27-14 Day 2: 5 22-00 Day 3: 5 25-06 Day 4: 5 21-15
6. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 20 97-00 276 $15,500.00
Day 1: 5 27-03 Day 2: 5 22-09 Day 3: 5 27-06 Day 4: 5 19-14
7. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 20 95-06 272 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 23-13 Day 2: 5 29-10 Day 3: 5 23-02 Day 4: 5 18-13
8. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 20 94-03 268 $16,000.00
Day 1: 5 25-15 Day 2: 5 26-03 Day 3: 5 19-13 Day 4: 5 22-04
9. Ken Cook Lawton, Okla. 20 93-07 269 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 31-10 Day 2: 5 17-01 Day 3: 5 22-15 Day 4: 5 21-13
10. Matt Reed Madisonville, Texas 20 91-03 260 $13,500.00
Day 1: 5 31-08 Day 2: 5 20-14 Day 3: 5 24-06 Day 4: 5 14-07
11. Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 20 87-13 262 $12,500.00
Day 1: 5 25-04 Day 2: 5 29-14 Day 3: 5 19-00 Day 4: 5 13-11
12. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu, Ariz. 20 82-06 254 $12,300.00
Day 1: 5 27-05 Day 2: 5 25-15 Day 3: 5 18-02 Day 4: 5 11-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Purolator 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
4 Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 9-00 $1,000.00
Purolator Big Bass of Tournament
Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 10-05 $500.00
Pete Ponds Madison, Miss. 10-05 $500.00
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
4 Fred Roumbanis Auburn, Calif. 28-01 $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
4 12 60 242-00
----------------------------------
264 1347 5061-05
2006 Elite Series - Battle on the Border Pro Points
After Lake Amistad, Del Rio, Texas Ending 03-12-2006, Day 4
-------------------------------------------
Place Name St Pts
-------------------------------------------
1 Ishama Monroe Calif. 310
2 Fred Roumbanis Calif. 295
3 Mike Reynolds Calif. 290
4 Greg Hackney La. 285
5 Steve Kennedy Ala. 280
6 Kevin VanDam Mich. 276
7 Alton Jones Texas 272
8 Ken Cook Okla. 269
9 Gary Klein Texas 268
10 Edwin Evers Okla. 262
11 Matt Reed Texas 260
12 Dean Rojas Ariz. 254
13 Gerald Swindle Ala. 251
14 Pete Ponds Miss. 248
15 Terry Scroggins Fla. 245
16 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 243
17 Mike McClelland Ark. 241
18 Jason Quinn S.C. 239
19 Jeff Kriet Okla. 237
20 Ray Sedgwick S.C. 235
21 Jarrett Edwards Ariz. 233
22 Terry Segraves Fla. 231
23 Zell Rowland Texas 229
24 Russ Lane Ala. 227
25 Mike O'Shea Calif. 225
26 Terry Butcher Okla. 223
27 Mark Menendez Ky. 221
28 Brooks Rogers Texas 219
29 Randy Howell Ala. 217
30 Takahiro Omori Texas 215
31 Jared Lintner Calif. 213
32 Mike Wurm Ark. 211
33 John Crews Va. 209
34 Jimmy Mize Ark. 207
35 Robert Hamilton Jr Tenn. 205
36 Paul Hirosky Pa. 203
37 Denny Brauer Mo. 201
38 Rick Clunn Mo. 199
39 Bill Lowen Ohio 197
40 Stephen Browning Ark. 195
41 Jeff Reynolds Okla. 193
42 Dave Wolak Pa. 191
43 Bernie Schultz Fla. 189
44 Darrin Schwenkbeck Md. 187
45 Morizo Shimizu Calif. 185
46 Lee Bailey Ala. 183
47 Tommy Biffle Okla. 181
48 Charlie Hartley Ohio 178
48 Todd Faircloth Texas 178
50 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas 175
51 Dave Smith Okla. 173
52 Mark Tucker Mo. 171
53 Steve Daniel Fla. 169
54 Shaw E Grigsby, Jr Fla. 166
54 Preston Clark Fla. 166
56 Kelly Jordon Texas 163
57 Skeet Reese Calif. 161
58 Chad Brauer Mo. 159
59 Bradley Stringer Texas 157
60 Aaron Martens Ala. 155
61 Brent Chapman Kan. 153
62 Dustin Wilks N.C. 151
63 Kevin Wirth Ky. 149
64 William Smith, Jr Ky. 147
65 Tim Horton Ala. 144
65 Chris Lane Fla. 144
67 Britt Myers N.C. 141
68 Davy Hite S.C. 139
69 Kevin Short Ark. 137
70 Kotaro Kiriyama Ala. 135
71 Guy Eaker N.C. 133
72 Vince Hurtado Calif. 131
73 Jon Bondy Canada 129
74 Greg Gutierrez Calif. 127
75 Charlie Youngers Fla. 125
76 Jami Fralick S.D. 123
77 David Gliebe Ky. 121
78 Charlie Weyer Calif. 119
79 Paul Elias Miss. 117
80 Scott Rook Ark. 115
81 Peter E Thliveros Fla. 113
82 Mark Tyler Ariz. 111
83 Jeff Connella La. 109
84 Frank Scalish Ohio 107
85 Brian Snowden Mo. 105
86 Marty Stone N.C. 103
87 Jeremy Starks W.Va. 101
88 John Murray Ariz. 99
89 Joe Thomas Ohio 97
90 Kenyon Hill Okla. 95
91 Doc Merkin Ill. 93
92 Rick Morris Va. 91
93 Jimmy Houston Okla. 89
94 Keith Phillips Ala. 87
95 Bradley Hallman Okla. 85
96 Elton Luce Jr Texas 83
97 Kevin Langill N.C. 81
98 Mark Rogers Fla. 79
99 Kurt Dove Va. 77
100 Randy Yarnall Pa. 76
101 Grant Goldbeck Md. 75
102 Bink Desaro Idaho 74
103 Ken Brodeur Conn. 73
104 Rick Ash Pa. 72
105 Conrad Picou La. 71
106 Byron Velvick Nev. 70
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
2006 Tournament Year
After Del Rio, TX ending 03-12-2006, Day 4
Place Angler Name City State Total Points
1 Stephen Kennedy Auburn Ala. 280
2 Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande Calif. 213
3 Paul Hirosky Guys Mills Pa. 203
4 Bill Lowen Cincinnati Ohio 197
5 Darrin Schwenkbeck Silver Spring Md. 187
6 William Smith, Jr Somerset Ky. 147
7 Chris Lane Winter Haven Fla. 144
8 Britt Myers Mt. Holly N.C. 141
9 Vince Hurtado Waterford Calif. 131
10 Jon Bondy Windsor CAN 129
11 Jami Fralick Martin S.D. 123
12 JEFF CONNELLA Bentley La. 109
13 Jeremy Starks Charleston W.Va. 101
14 Doc Merkin Downers Grove Ill. 93
15 Keith Phillips Calera Ala. 87
16 Bradley Hallman Norman Okla. 85
17 Kevin Langill Terrell N.C. 81
18 Kurt Dove Warrenton Va. 77
19 Ken Brodeur Niantic Conn. 73
20 Rick Ash Pottstown Pa. 72
21 Conrad Picou Scott La. 71
2006 Horizon Award
2006 After Del Rio, TX ending 03-12-2006, Day 4
---------------------------------------------------------
Place Name 2005 Finish 2006 Standings
---------------------------------------------------------
1 Fred Roumbanis 133 2
2 Brooks Rogers 139 28
3 Ray Sedgwick 123 20
4 Ken Cook 110 8
4 Mike O'Shea 127 25
6 Pete Ponds 112 14
7 Stephen Daniel 147 53
8 Bradley Stringer 151 59
9 Alton Jones 98 7
10 Matt Reed 96 11
11 Denny Brauer 113 37
11 Gary Klein 85 9
13 Yusuke Miyazaki 118 50
14 Dean Rojas 67 12
15 Grant Goldbeck 152 101
15 Mike McClelland 68 17
17 Bink Desaro 149 102
18 Randy Howell 74 29
19 Charlie Weyer 122 78
20 Randy Yarnall 141 100
20 Shaw E Grigsby, Jr 95 54
22 Zell Rowland 63 23
22 Robert Hamilton Jr 75 35
22 Gerald Swindle 53 13
25 Elton Luce Jr 135 96
26 Terry Butcher 60 26
27 Chad Brauer 90 58
28 Morizo Shimizu 73 45
29 Jason Quinn 43 18
30 Jimmy Houston 117 93
31 Mike Reynolds 25 3
32 Dustin Wilks 83 62
32 Ishama Monroe 22 1
34 Joe Thomas 109 89
35 Byron Velvick 124 106
36 Stephen Browning 57 40
36 Russell Lane 41 24
38 Charlie Hartley 60 48
39 Kelly Jordon 66 56
39 David Gliebe 87 77
41 John Murray 92 88
42 Takahiro Omori 33 30
43 Mark Rogers 100 98
44 Kevin VanDam 7 6
44 Greg Hackney 5 4
44 Lee Bailey 47 46
44 Edwin Evers 11 10
Busch Heavyweight
2006 Tournament Year
After Del Rio, TX ending 03-12-2006
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place Name Body Of Water Day lbs-Ozs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Ishama Monroe Lake Amistad, Texas 3 34-01
2 Jimmy Mize Lake Amistad, Texas 2 31-14
3 Ken Cook Lake Amistad, Texas 1 31-10
4 Fred Roumbanis Lake Amistad, Texas 4 28-01
BASSMASTER ELITE SERIES POWER INDEX
After Del Rio, TX ending 03-12-2006, Day 4
Rank Name Total Weight Average Weight Power Index
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 VanDam, Kevin 453 lbs 9 ozs 37 lbs 13 ozs 100.00 %
2 Evers, Edwin 379 lbs 6 ozs 31 lbs 10 ozs 83.64 %
3 Iaconelli, Michael 376 lbs 6 ozs 31 lbs 6 ozs 82.98 %
4 Hackney, Greg 375 lbs 15 ozs 31 lbs 5 ozs 82.81 %
5 Martens, Aaron 359 lbs 13 ozs 30 lbs 0 ozs 79.34 %
6 Rowland, Zell 329 lbs 1 ozs 27 lbs 7 ozs 72.56 %
7 Clunn, Rick 317 lbs 13 ozs 26 lbs 8 ozs 70.08 %
8 Scroggins, Terry 316 lbs 5 ozs 26 lbs 6 ozs 69.75 %
9 Hite, Davy 314 lbs 10 ozs 26 lbs 4 ozs 69.42 %
10 Quinn, Jason 305 lbs 6 ozs 25 lbs 7 ozs 67.27 %
11 McClelland, Mike 299 lbs 3 ozs 24 lbs 15 ozs 65.95 %
12 Reynolds, Mike 298 lbs 8 ozs 24 lbs 14 ozs 65.79 %
13 Monroe, Ishama 296 lbs 3 ozs 24 lbs 11 ozs 65.29 %
14 Reed, Matt 295 lbs 13 ozs 24 lbs 10 ozs 65.12 %
15 Kriet, Jeff 290 lbs 1 ozs 24 lbs 3 ozs 63.97 %
16 Klein, Gary 287 lbs 13 ozs 24 lbs 0 ozs 63.47 %
17 Faircloth, Todd 286 lbs 13 ozs 23 lbs 14 ozs 63.14 %
18 Swindle, Gerald 282 lbs 13 ozs 23 lbs 9 ozs 62.31 %
19 Rojas, Dean 274 lbs 8 ozs 22 lbs 14 ozs 60.50 %
20 Menendez, Mark 272 lbs 15 ozs 22 lbs 12 ozs 60.17 %
21 Biffle, Tommy 270 lbs 2 ozs 22 lbs 8 ozs 59.50 %
22 Wirth, Kevin 269 lbs 8 ozs 22 lbs 7 ozs 59.34 %
23 Reese, Skeet 267 lbs 8 ozs 22 lbs 5 ozs 59.01 %
24 Omori, Takahiro 265 lbs 6 ozs 22 lbs 2 ozs 58.51 %
25 Shimizu, Morizo 261 lbs 2 ozs 21 lbs 12 ozs 57.52 %
26 Reynolds, Jeff 257 lbs 8 ozs 21 lbs 7 ozs 56.69 %
27 Jones, Alton 255 lbs 14 ozs 21 lbs 5 ozs 56.36 %
28 Chapman, Brent 255 lbs 11 ozs 21 lbs 5 ozs 56.36 %
29 Tucker, Mark 253 lbs 6 ozs 21 lbs 2 ozs 55.87 %
30 Bailey, Lee 251 lbs 11 ozs 21 lbs 0 ozs 55.54 %
31 Wurm, Mike 251 lbs 9 ozs 20 lbs 15 ozs 55.37 %
32 Howell, Randy 250 lbs 8 ozs 20 lbs 14 ozs 55.21 %
33 Mize, Jimmy 248 lbs 12 ozs 20 lbs 12 ozs 54.88 %
34 Eaker, Guy 246 lbs 6 ozs 20 lbs 9 ozs 54.38 %
35 Crews, John 245 lbs 2 ozs 20 lbs 7 ozs 54.05 %
36 Jordon, Kelly 243 lbs 5 ozs 20 lbs 4 ozs 53.55 %
37 Wolak, David 239 lbs 2 ozs 19 lbs 15 ozs 52.73 %
38 Rook, Scott 238 lbs 15 ozs 19 lbs 15 ozs 52.73 %
39 Hartley, Charlie 234 lbs 1 ozs 19 lbs 8 ozs 51.57 %
40 Stone, Marty 233 lbs 7 ozs 19 lbs 7 ozs 51.40 %
41 Wilks, Dustin 231 lbs 3 ozs 19 lbs 4 ozs 50.91 %
42 Ponds, Pete 230 lbs 14 ozs 19 lbs 4 ozs 50.91 %
43 Murray, John 230 lbs 5 ozs 19 lbs 3 ozs 50.74 %
44 Thliveros, Peter 229 lbs 9 ozs 19 lbs 2 ozs 50.58 %
45 Cook, Ken 224 lbs 1 ozs 18 lbs 11 ozs 49.42 %
46 Snowden, Brian 223 lbs 8 ozs 18 lbs 10 ozs 49.26 %
47 Browning, Stephen 219 lbs 12 ozs 18 lbs 5 ozs 48.43 %
48 Sedgwick, Ray 216 lbs 12 ozs 18 lbs 1 ozs 47.77 %
49 Schultz, Bernie 215 lbs 0 ozs 17 lbs 15 ozs 47.44 %
50 Horton, Tim 214 lbs 12 ozs 17 lbs 14 ozs 47.27 %
51 Brauer, Chad 212 lbs 14 ozs 17 lbs 12 ozs 46.94 %
52 Brauer, Denny 211 lbs 5 ozs 17 lbs 10 ozs 46.61 %
53 Rogers, Brooks 211 lbs 1 ozs 17 lbs 9 ozs 46.45 %
54 Edwards, Jarrett 210 lbs 11 ozs 17 lbs 9 ozs 46.45 %
55 Short, Kevin 207 lbs 4 ozs 17 lbs 4 ozs 45.62 %
56 Miyazaki, Yusuke 206 lbs 12 ozs 17 lbs 4 ozs 45.62 %
57 Hamilton Jr, Robert 203 lbs 10 ozs 17 lbs 0 ozs 44.96 %
58 O'Shea, Mike 202 lbs 5 ozs 16 lbs 14 ozs 44.63 %
59 Morris, Rick 201 lbs 14 ozs 16 lbs 13 ozs 44.46 %
60 Rogers, Mark 200 lbs 9 ozs 16 lbs 11 ozs 44.13 %
61 Elias, Paul 195 lbs 11 ozs 16 lbs 5 ozs 43.14 %
62 Tyler, Mark 190 lbs 5 ozs 15 lbs 14 ozs 41.98 %
63 Hill, Kenyon 186 lbs 15 ozs 15 lbs 9 ozs 41.16 %
64 Thomas, Joe 185 lbs 14 ozs 15 lbs 8 ozs 40.99 %
65 Weyer, Charlie 183 lbs 10 ozs 15 lbs 5 ozs 40.50 %
66 Grigsby, Jr, Shaw 178 lbs 11 ozs 14 lbs 14 ozs 39.34 %
67 Houston, Jimmy 178 lbs 4 ozs 14 lbs 14 ozs 39.34 %
68 Kiriyama, Kotaro 172 lbs 0 ozs 14 lbs 5 ozs 37.85 %
69 Desaro, Bink 170 lbs 2 ozs 14 lbs 3 ozs 37.52 %
70 Daniel, Stephen 168 lbs 2 ozs 14 lbs 0 ozs 37.02 %
71 Scalish, Frank 160 lbs 10 ozs 13 lbs 6 ozs 35.37 %
72 Kendrick, Jay 155 lbs 10 ozs 13 lbs 0 ozs 34.38 %
73 Yarnall, Randy 149 lbs 8 ozs 12 lbs 7 ozs 32.89 %
74 Luce Jr, Elton 149 lbs 7 ozs 12 lbs 7 ozs 32.89 %
75 Velvick, Byron 126 lbs 9 ozs 10 lbs 9 ozs 27.93 %
*** Clark, Preston
*** Butcher, Terry
*** Lane, Russell
*** Gutierrez, Greg
*** Roumbanis, Fred
*** Nethery, Eric
*** Gliebe, David
*** Segraves, Terry
*** Kennedy, Stephen
*** Stringer, Bradley
*** Lintner, Jared
*** Hirosky, Paul
*** Lowen, Bill
*** Youngers, Charlie
*** Schwenkbeck, Darrin
*** Goldbeck, Grant
*** Smith, Dave
*** Smith, Jr, William
*** Lane, Chris
*** Myers, Britt
*** Hurtado, Vince
*** Fralick, Jami
*** Bondy, Jon
*** Connella, Jeff
*** Starks, Jeremy
*** Merkin, Doc
*** Phillips, Keith
*** Hallman, Bradley
*** Langill, Kevin
*** Dove, Kurt
*** Brodeur, Ken
*** Ash, Rick
*** Picou, Conrad
*** Johnson, Michael
*** Johnson, Kurt