Bassmaster Elite Series pro Fred Roumbanis started and ended the 2010 season on sour notes, but 2011 has been a much different story thus far. The California native who now resides in Oklahoma finished in the 20s in both Elite events in Florida and also notched a 7th at the Okeechobee FLW Tour Open in January.
That's quite a contrast to last year, when he opened with 85th- and 70th-place finishes in California and closed with an 82nd at Clarks Hill, a 77th at Kentucky Lake and an 87th at Fort Gibson.
"Last year was brutal and I could only go up from there," the two-time Elite Series winner and two-time Classic qualifier said. "I think I might've finally learned to slow down – in all of those tournaments I keyed in on one or two areas and I just put the trolling motor down and fished.
"In all three of them I was really consistent over the first 2 days. I just wasn't able to make any big moves on day 3."
He fished differently in each event – he sight-fished at Okeechobee, flipped at the Harris Chain and threw a frog at the St. Johns River.
"It's good for my confidence because now this year doesn't have to be such an uphill battle, and I'm really looking forward to the rest of the season."
> He also announced that he's signed a new sponsorship deal with Noco Genius, which manufactures battery chargers.
