Ish Monroe caught a 15-pound sack today to close out a wire-to-wire victory at the Oneida Bassmaster Northern Open with a 3-day total of 51-02
“I tell you what, this feels awesome," he said. "I’ve won on all the (B.A.S.S.) levels: an Elite Series event, Federation-level event and now that I’ve won an Open it feels really good.
“The thing that carried me through this week — and the whole season — has been the fact that I’ve had fun. That’s been my focus throughout the Elites and into these Opens, and it’s worked out really well. I’m having a blast!”
Monroe received a prize package worth more than $54,000. His win nullified the Bassmaster Classic berth that accompanied the victory – he'd already made the Classic through the Elites and did not fish all three events on the circuit. Including last week's announcement that Erie Northern Open winner Nate Wellman would be banned from B.A.S.S. competition until March, it means that four of the nine Classic slots that were allocated to the Opens under the new win-and-you're-in format will be unfilled.
His primary bait was a Snag Proof Ish's Phat Frog and he also caught weigh-in fish on a prototype flipping bait. Full details of his winning pattern will be published soon.
Here's a look at the final Top 12:
1. Ish Monroe -- Hughson, CA -- 15, 51-02 -- 315 -- $54,200
Day 1: 5, 19-14 -- Day 2: 5, 16-00 -- Day 3: 5, 15-04
2. Michael Simonton -- Fremont, OH -- 15, 48-12 -- 295 -- $13,800
Day 1: 5, 15-02 -- Day 2: 5, 17-01 -- Day 3: 5, 16-09
3. John Pelletier -- Nassau, NY -- 15, 45-07 -- 290 -- $11,500
Day 1: 5, 15-03 -- Day 2: 5, 16-07 -- Day 3: 5, 13-13
4. Pat Golden -- High Point, NC -- 15, 45-07 -- 285 -- $9,200
Day 1: 5, 16-04 -- Day 2: 5, 15-05 -- Day 3: 5, 13-14
5. Randy Howell -- Springville, AL -- 15, 44-05 -- 280 -- $8,280
Day 1: 5, 15-10 -- Day 2: 5, 14-15 -- Day 3: 5, 13-12
6. Michael Iaconelli -- Pittsgrove, NJ -- 15, 44-04 -- 276 -- $7,360
Day 1: 5, 15-00 -- Day 2: 5, 13-13 -- Day 3: 5, 15-07
7. Peter E Thliveros -- St Augustine, FL -- 15, 43-13 -- 272 -- $6,440
Day 1: 5, 15-00 -- Day 2: 5, 14-06 -- Day 3: 5, 14-07
8. Matthew Martin -- Chittenango, NY -- 15, 43-12 -- 268 -- $5,520
Day 1: 5, 15-05 -- Day 2: 5, 15-04 -- Day 3: 5, 13-03
9. Fletcher Shryock -- Newcomerstown, OH -- 15, 43-11 -- 264 -- $4,600
Day 1: 5, 17-02 -- Day 2: 5, 13-07 -- Day 3: 5, 13-02
10. Jason Dudek -- Excelsior, MN -- 15, 43-02 -- 260 -- $4,140
Day 1: 5, 13-02 -- Day 2: 5, 16-03 -- Day 3: 5, 13-13
11. Ron Bane -- Frackville, PA -- 15, 42-15 -- 257 -- $3,680
Day 1: 5, 14-14 -- Day 2: 5, 14-01 -- Day 3: 5, 14-00
12. Kurt Dove -- Del Rio, TX -- 15, 42-14 -- 254 -- $3,220
Day 1: 5, 17-09 -- Day 2: 5, 12-10 -- Day 3: 5, 12-11
