RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - Seeking his second victory of the 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series season, Fred Roumbanis of Broken Arrow, Okla., caught five bass totalling weighing 20 pounds, 5 ounces, Thursday to take a more than 1-pound lead over Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., in the first round of the Bassmaster Legends bass fishing tournament at Lake Dardanelle.
Roumbanis, who recently relocated to Oklahoma but grew up fishing the delta waters of California, said he has driven past Lake Dardanelle many times but has never fished it. With Dardanelle's abundance of grass and structure, the 28-year-old Roumbanis said it is very similar to his favorite waters back home, making it easy for him to construct a pattern.
His lone BASS victory came in the first Bassmaster Major of the season, the Bassmaster American out of Greensboro, N.C. With a victory this weekend, he would earn $250,000. Peter Thliveros of Jacksonville, Fla., is the only angler to post two Major victories.
That pattern, of which Roumbanis revealed little, produced a full limit of heavy fish, including one that weighed 6-12, which was good enough for Purolator Big Bass honors and the $1,000 premium.
"Today went perfect," said Roumbanis, who played it close to the vest on specifics of his pattern. "I figured out something pretty special. This is a lot like the places I fish in California, so I just went back to my roots.
"The area I found was pretty close to a creek channel and a distinct channel ledge, and it's got a lot of grass. I'm swinging for the fences now. There is no point in backing off."
Roubmanis' limit included a 6-12 lunker, which was good enough for Purolator Big Bass Honors and the $1,000 premium.
Trailing Roumbanis was the 33-year-old Hackney, a three-time BASS winner, who grew up in Star City, Ark. He caught five bass that totaled 18-10.
Hackney said he hasn't fished Lake Dardanelle since the 2005 Bassmaster 50 and the lake looks much different than it did then.
"It's changed so much since three years ago," Hackney said. "With all this grass, it looks like the lower part of the river where I grew up. What's amazing is how the fish have adjusted to it."
Hackney said he had an inconsistent practice and covered a lot of water, but Thursday he quickly found a productive pattern."I just dialed in and found a spot that had fish and caught them," the 2004 Toyota Rookie of the Year said. "I didn't know how I was going to fish coming in, but I knew some areas. I have a lot of places that are equal, so I started on one and caught them there."
Hackney said he fished in the upper section of Lake Dardanelle, where the water is darker and the current is more noticeable.Rounding out the top five were two-time BASS winner Ish Monroe of Hughson, Calif., in third with 18 pounds, 5 ounces, 2007 winner Timmy Horton of Muscle Shoals, Ala., in fourth with 16 pounds, 5 ounces, and Mike Wurm of Hot Springs, Ark., in fifth with 16 pounds, 3 ounces.
The full field of 50 anglers will fish Friday. Only the top 12 anglers will move on to Saturday's third round, when weights will be zeroed. Sunday, the final day of action, will feature only the top six anglers. On Saturday and Sunday, anglers will fish a six-hole course in a rotating and timed manner.
2007 Bassmaster Legends 8/23-8/26
Lake Dardanelle, Russellville AR.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Fred Roumbanis Auburn, CA 5 20-05 0 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-05
2. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 18-10 0
Day 1: 5 18-10
3. Ishama Monroe Hughson, CA 5 18-05 0
Day 1: 5 18-05
4. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 5 16-05 0
Day 1: 5 16-05
5. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, AR 5 16-03 0
Day 1: 5 16-03
6. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 16-00 0
Day 1: 5 16-00
7. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 15-15 0
Day 1: 5 15-15
8. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, MO 5 15-02 0
Day 1: 5 15-02
9. Dean Rojas Grand Saline, TX 5 14-08 0
Day 1: 5 14-08
10. Mark Tyler Vian, OK 5 13-10 0
Day 1: 5 13-10
11. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 5 13-08 0
Day 1: 5 13-08
12. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, SC 5 13-06 0
Day 1: 5 13-06
13. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira , KS 5 13-04 0
Day 1: 5 13-04
14. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, NJ 5 12-14 0
Day 1: 5 12-14
15. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 5 12-13 0
Day 1: 5 12-13
16. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 4 12-03 0
Day 1: 4 12-03
17. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 5 12-00 0
Day 1: 5 12-00
17. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 5 12-00 0
Day 1: 5 12-00
19. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 5 11-15 0
Day 1: 5 11-15
20. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 11-14 0
Day 1: 5 11-14
21. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 11-08 0
Day 1: 5 11-08
21. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 5 11-08 0
Day 1: 5 11-08
23. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr Gainesville, FL 5 11-07 0
Day 1: 5 11-07
24. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 4 11-02 0
Day 1: 4 11-02
25. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 11-00 0
Day 1: 5 11-00
26. Jeff Reynolds Idabel, OK 4 10-14 0
Day 1: 4 10-14
27. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 10-11 0
Day 1: 5 10-11
28. Dave Wolak Wake Forest, NC 4 10-08 0
Day 1: 4 10-08
29. Kelly Jordon Mineola, TX 5 10-04 0
Day 1: 5 10-04
30. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 4 10-02 0
Day 1: 4 10-02
31. Alton Jones Waco, TX 5 10-01 0
Day 1: 5 10-01
32. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 4 09-10 0
Day 1: 4 09-10
33. Randy Howell Springville, AL 5 09-08 0
Day 1: 5 09-08
34. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 4 08-11 0
Day 1: 4 08-11
35. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, KY 3 08-09 0
Day 1: 3 08-09
36. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 5 08-04 0
Day 1: 5 08-04
37. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 3 08-01 0
Day 1: 3 08-01
38. Peter E Thliveros St. Augustine, FL 4 07-15 0
Day 1: 4 07-15
39. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 4 07-11 0
Day 1: 4 07-11
40. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 3 06-15 0
Day 1: 3 06-15
41. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 2 06-01 0
Day 1: 2 06-01
42. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 3 05-13 0
Day 1: 3 05-13
43. Chris Lane Winter Haven, FL 2 05-04 0
Day 1: 2 05-04
44. Bill Lowen North Bend, OH 2 05-01 0
Day 1: 2 05-01
45. John Crews Salem, VA 2 03-05 0
Day 1: 2 03-05
45. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 2 03-05 0
Day 1: 2 03-05
47. Morizo Shimizu Murrieta, CA 2 02-13 0
Day 1: 2 02-13
48. Derek Remitz Madison, AL 1 02-03 0
Day 1: 1 02-03
49. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-12
50. Lee Bailey Boaz, AL 1 01-03 0
Day 1: 1 01-03
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Big Bass
Day
1 Fred Roumbanis Auburn, CA 06-12 $1,000.00
Day
1 Fred Roumbanis Auburn, CA 20-05 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 28 203 521-13
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28 203 521-13