By John Johnson
BassFan Senior Editor

Ish Monroe didn't have a lot of fun during the abbreviated 2020 Bass Pro Tour season, finishing 62nd or lower in the 80-angler field three times in five tournaments. He performed well in the finale, however, posting a 10th-place finish at the Mississippi River, and has carried that momentum into regional events in his home state of California.

He completely dominated the recent Western FLW Series at the California Delta, topping 21 pounds in each of the three rounds en route to a 65-13 total. He caught exactly half of the 20-plus-pound stringers weighed during the event and finished 16 1/2 pounds ahead of runner-up Beau Joudrey.

"I feel great," he said. "I've made some changes in my personal life (which he declined to specify) and my attitude is way different.

"I've enjoyed coming back home. It was a rough season all the way around for everybody, dealing with all of the COVID crap, but by the end I was really relaxed."

Stuck with Power Tactics

Monroe has long been a hammer on the Delta, which is just a short drive from his home in Hughson. He ranks it among his Top 4 fisheries in the country along with neighboring Clear Lake, Falcon Lake in Texas and the Kissimmee Chain in Florida.

He said the bite August was tougher than normal, which he at least partially blames on the grass-spraying and fish-shocking practices of entities involved with the ongoing attempt to get more of the Delta's water allocated to agricultural interests farther south. He explored most of the sprawling fishery during the 2 weeks prior to the Series event and determined that the middle portion had better-looking grass and less boat traffic than most other areas.

"I knew the tides were going to play a big role and I can look on my (Lowrance HDS Live electronics) and see what the tides are going to do every day until a year from now," he said. "Scrolling to those tides for the days of the tournament, I was able to match them up in practice."

His approach was primarily punching mats, supplemented by throwing a frog. He caught a 7 1/4-pounder on the flipping stick and a 7 on the frog, which were the heaviest fish he's landed in competition this year.

His extended practice period led him to estimate that winning would require an average of 17 to 18 pounds a day. He far exceeded that with his power-fishing tactics.

"I had the confidence to stick with punching (along with the frog) because I know that's how big fish are caught on the Delta," he said. "Other guys who did well were throwing ChatterBaits and dropshots and in the history of the Delta I don't think anybody's ever won with a dropshot. I had one in my boat for the first time ever, but I didn't use it."

His 21-04 haul on day 1 left him in 3rd place behind Joudrey and eventual 4th-place finisher Michael Caruso. He established firm control of the event the following day, however, when he weighed his largest bag of the derby (23-09) to take a lead of more than 6 pounds as the field was cut to the Top 10.

He started the final day in a place that was a bit north of his primary area and quickly compiled a limit that consisted of a 5-pounder and four "rats." After arriving at his best stretch, he added the 7 and a 4.

"I was over 20 pounds again and at that point, I knew it was over."

Winning Gear Notes

> Punching gear: 8' extra-heavy Daiwa Tatula Elite Ish Monroe Punching rod, Daiwa Tatula Elite Flipping/Pitching reel (7:1 ratio), 70-pound Daiwa Samurai braided line, 1 1/4-, 1 1/2- or 1 3/4-ounce River2Sea Trash Bomb weight, 5/0 or 6/0 River2Sea New Jack Flippin' hook, Missile Baits D Bomb (PB&J or El Diablo).

> He said the El Diablo color was a good match for the crawdads that were present and PB&J mimicked the bluegill.

> Frog gear: 7'4" heavy-action Daiwa Tatula Elite Ish Monroe Frog rod, Daiwa Tatula Elite Long Cast reel (7:1 ratio), 55-pound Daiwa Samurai braid, River2Sea Ish Monroe Phat Mat Daddy (yellow head).

> "Yellow head is one of my favorite colors for that frog," he said. "I tied it on the Sunday before during practice and they ate it good, so I stuck with it."



Final Standings

1. Ishama Monroe -- Oakdale, Ca -- 21-4 (5) -- 23-9 (5) -- 21-0 (5) -- 65-13 (15) -- $23,420

2. Beau Joudrey -- Oakley, Ca -- 24-9 (5) -- 13-15 (5) -- 10-14 (5) -- 49-6 (15) -- $9,075

3. Mark Lassagne -- Dixon, Ca -- 19-11 (5) -- 14-11 (5) -- 12-8 (5) -- 46-14 (15) -- $7,026

4. Michael Caruso -- Peoria, Az -- 21-14 (5) -- 15-4 (5) -- 8-0 (5) -- 45-2 (15) -- $5,855

5. Bryant Smith -- Roseville, Ca -- 18-10 (5) -- 12-14 (5) -- 13-6 (5) -- 44-14 (15) -- $5,269

6. Ken Mah -- Elk Grove, Ca -- 12-1 (5) -- 24-2 (5) -- 8-4 (4) -- 44-7 (14) -- $4,747

7. Jon Strelic -- El Cajon, Ca -- 16-2 (5) -- 16-2 (5) -- 10-14 (5) -- 43-2 (15) -- $4,298

8. Logan Huntze -- Discovery Bay, Ca -- 17-7 (5) -- 13-10 (5) -- 10-15 (5) -- 42-0 (15) -- $3,513

9. Joe Uribe Jr. -- Surprise, Az -- 18-1 (5) -- 12-6 (5) -- 11-7 (5) -- 41-14 (15) -- $2,927

10. Tai Au -- Glendale, Az -- 13-9 (5) -- 17-8 (5) -- 8-14 (5) -- 39-15 (15) -- $2,342

The following anglers did not make the cut and did not fish on day 3.

11. Mike Birch -- Oakley, Ca -- 16-4 (5) -- 14-1 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 30-5 (10) -- $2,196

12. Ryan Diatte -- Gilroy, Ca -- 19-5 (5) -- 9-13 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 29-2 (10) -- $3,049

13. Wade Curtiss -- Eagle, Id -- 12-11 (5) -- 16-0 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 28-11 (10) -- $1,756

14. Kent Simpson -- Galt, Ca -- 14-14 (5) -- 13-11 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 28-9 (10) -- $1,756

15. Jason Cornell -- Brentwood, Ca -- 15-6 (5) -- 12-14 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 28-4 (10) -- $1,756

16. Justin Kerr -- Simi Valley, Ca -- 18-10 (5) -- 9-5 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 27-15 (10) -- $1,756

17. Alex Sanchez -- Ripon, Ca -- 17-1 (5) -- 10-5 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 27-6 (10) -- $1,756

18. Gregg Leonard -- Wilton, Ca -- 15-6 (5) -- 11-10 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 27-0 (10)

19. Kyle Grover -- Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca -- 14-2 (5) -- 12-13 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 26-15 (10)

20. Todd Kline -- San Clemente, Ca -- 15-1 (5) -- 11-2 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 26-3 (10)

21. Gary Souza -- Oroville, Ca -- 11-13 (5) -- 14-6 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 26-3 (10)

22. Obedie Williams -- Discovery Bay, Ca -- 8-4 (4) -- 17-10 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 25-14 (9)

23. Benjamin Green -- Pasadena, Ca -- 17-5 (5) -- 8-7 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 25-12 (10)

24. Blake Dyer -- Walnut Creek, Ca -- 12-9 (5) -- 13-3 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 25-12 (10)

25. Robert Lee -- Angels Camp, Ca -- 14-10 (5) -- 10-11 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 25-5 (10)

26. Tanner Austin -- Shingle Springs, Ca -- 16-5 (5) -- 8-8 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 24-13 (10) -- $63

27. William Hume -- Vacaville, Ca -- 13-14 (5) -- 10-9 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 24-7 (10)

28. Gregory Troughton -- Discovery Bay, Ca -- 12-0 (5) -- 12-5 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 24-5 (10)

29. Brett Leber -- Dixon, Ca -- 14-4 (5) -- 9-15 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 24-3 (10)

30. Robert Cloutier -- Oakley, Ca -- 16-8 (5) -- 7-8 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 24-0 (8) -- $200

31. Russ Barger -- Boise, Id -- 13-10 (5) -- 9-15 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 23-9 (10)

32. Justin Patti -- Peoria, Az -- 13-8 (5) -- 9-15 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 23-7 (10)

33. Andrew Loberg -- Rocklin, Ca -- 11-15 (5) -- 11-7 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 23-6 (10)

34. Adam Gragg -- Acton, Ca -- 14-6 (5) -- 8-11 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 23-1 (10)

35. Nicholas Cloutier -- Oakley, Ca -- 6-15 (5) -- 15-12 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 22-11 (10)

36. David Valdivia -- Norwalk, Ca -- 8-9 (5) -- 14-2 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 22-11 (10)

37. Ed Arledge -- Valley Center, Ca -- 13-0 (5) -- 9-9 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 22-9 (10)

38. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, Ca -- 11-0 (5) -- 11-6 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 22-6 (10)

39. Louis Fernandes -- Santa Maria, Ca -- 10-6 (5) -- 11-15 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 22-5 (10)

40. Scott MacKenzie -- Hercules, Ca -- 11-3 (5) -- 11-0 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 22-3 (10)

41. Shannon Abbott -- Oceanside, Ca -- 13-11 (5) -- 8-6 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 22-1 (9)

42. Kevin Caruso -- Glendale, Az -- 9-4 (5) -- 12-10 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 21-14 (10)

43. Kevin Desjardins -- Freedom, Ca -- 15-6 (4) -- 6-6 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 21-12 (7)

44. Phillip Dutra -- Concord, Ca -- 9-8 (5) -- 11-11 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 21-3 (10)

45. Stephen Tosh Jr -- Modesto, Ca -- 9-5 (5) -- 11-13 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 21-2 (10)

46. Eric Urstad -- Snohomish, Wa -- 11-6 (5) -- 9-12 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 21-2 (10)

47. Jordan Collom -- Canyon Lake, Ca -- 12-3 (5) -- 8-6 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 20-9 (10)

48. Ron Lorenzo -- Princeton, Ca -- 10-0 (5) -- 8-15 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 18-15 (10)

49. Lane Olson -- Sherwood, Or -- 9-5 (5) -- 9-10 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 18-15 (10)

50. Michael Moreno -- Salida, Ca -- 7-5 (4) -- 11-9 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 18-14 (9)

51. Jim Moulton -- Merced, Ca -- 9-9 (5) -- 9-5 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 18-14 (10)

52. Clayton Eslick -- Gilroy, Ca -- 9-8 (5) -- 8-5 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 17-13 (10)

53. Kevin Hugo -- Canyon Lake, Ca -- 8-7 (5) -- 8-12 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 17-3 (10)

54. Josh Needleman -- Napa, Ca -- 9-15 (5) -- 6-12 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 16-11 (10)

55. Robert Nakatomi -- Sacramento, Ca -- 7-8 (5) -- 9-3 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 16-11 (9)

56. Todd Woods -- Los Angeles, Ca -- 8-15 (5) -- 7-8 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 16-7 (9)

57. Carl Limbrick Jr -- Bonita, Ca -- 7-1 (5) -- 8-13 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 15-14 (10)

58. Matt Luna -- Santee, Ca -- 9-4 (5) -- 6-5 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 15-9 (10)

59. Mark Peters -- Rancho Cordova, Ca -- 9-11 (5) -- 5-9 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 15-4 (7)

60. Eslam Moursi -- Torrance, Ca -- 8-14 (4) -- 5-9 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 14-7 (7)

61. Justin Raleigh -- Discovery Bay, Ca -- 5-6 (3) -- 7-11 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 13-1 (8)

62. Patrick Touey -- Santa Maria, Ca -- 7-3 (5) -- 5-14 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 13-1 (8)

63. Chad Hulbert -- Gilroy, Ca -- 4-8 (3) -- 5-10 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 10-2 (7)

64. Andy Doudna -- Oakley, Ca -- 8-8 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 8-8 (5)

65. Delaney Dwyer -- Scottsdale, Az -- 7-2 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 7-2 (4)

66. Melvin Williams -- Chula Vista, Ca -- 0-0 (0) -- 6-15 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 6-15 (3)

67. Pedro McDougall -- Manteca, Ca -- 6-10 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 6-10 (5)