KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Second-year Bassmaster Elite Series pro Fred Roumbanis of Auburn, Calif., bounced back from his rookie season in 2006 to earn the Moving Forward Award, recognizing the angler who posts the greatest improvement from season to season based on the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings. He received $10,000.
Roumbanis had a solid 2007 season, placing in the Elite 12 in three of 11 Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments to outpace his nearest competitor, Floridian Chris Lane.
"At the end of last year, my goal was to achieve this award," said Roumbanis. "This season I learned to trust my instincts and go with what I know. I focused on catching a limit every day and one good kicker fish."
Roumbanis highlighted his 2007 season with seven top-50 cuts in Elite events. And, while the Bassmaster Majors did not influence the Toyota Moving Forward Award, Roumbanis scored an impressive victory in the Bassmaster American in Greensboro, N.C. His first career BASS win was worth $250,000.
Runner-up Chris Lane also improved dramatically from the 2006 Angler of the Year standings. Standings will be finalized after the last day of this weekend's Bassmaster Elite Series tournament in Kissimmee, Fla.
v"Last season I had an experience I would never forget, but this year was either catch them or not fish anymore," said Lane. "Last year I watched all of these legends in the sport compete and do well, and this year I wanted to beat those guys and I convinced myself that I could."
Roumbanis joins past Toyota Moving Forward Award winners including Bassmaster Classic champion Denny Brauer (2006), Gary Yamamoto (2005) and Bassmaster Classic champions Davy Hite (2004) and Takahiro Omori (2003).