Shasta Western Open
Hughes' 10-08 Enough To Win

Photo: Bassmaster.com Howard Hughes caught his biggest fish on his third cast of day 3.

Hughes' total eclipsed tour pro Fred Roumbanis, who led the first 2 days, by 15 ounces. Roumbanis had 30-07. Jared Lintner was 3rd with 30-01, followed by Chad Martin (29-10) and Cameron Smith (29-02).

Here are final totals for the bottom half of the Top 10:

6. Mark Schroder: 26-15
7. Ish Monroe: 26-03
8. David Russell: 24-10
9. Ron Colby: 24-09
10. Vince Hurtado: 25-08

For those who enjoy mild fall weather, it was another banner day in the Redding, Calif. area. But for anglers who sought bigger fish with reaction baits, Mother Nature did them no favors. The high temperature again hit the mid-70s and there was hardly any wind to break up the water's surface.

1st: Hughes Used Finesse

Hughes employed finesse tactics to catch all 15 of his fish in the tournament, so he was unaffected by the chamber-of-commerce weather. He's competed in tournaments since the early 1980s and said this was his biggest victory to date.

"It'll probably take me a week to come off this high," he said. "I'm a 60-year-old guy who's been doing this since he was 37, so it doesn't get any bigger than this. This one was for the old guys who didn't give up."

His first – and best – fish of the day weighed 2-13. He said he had a limit by 8:30 and culled up four times over the remainder of the day.

He knew he'd exceeded his target weight of 8 to 10 pounds as he returned to the launch, but he wasn't confident that it'd be enough to win. "I was off in an area all by myself today and I didn't have any communication with anybody," he said. "I didn't know if the bite had improved or not, or if somebody had been killing them on a swimbait or whatever."

And how did he feel when he knew the victory was his? "It was a rush like you can't believe. It was an explosion in my head. My fist went straight in the air and I hollered."

The weigh-in was extra-special for him because his wife, Karen, and many of his friends were on hand. He was also thrilled to beat an angler the caliber of Roumbanis. "He's got a heck of a career in front of him, but I'm starting to age out," he said. "I needed this one."

Details of his winning pattern will be posted soon.

2nd: Roumbanis Couldn't Connect

Roumbanis used a swimbait to catch all of his above-average fish, including two over 5 pounds on day 1. They chased it today, but wouldn't commit.

"They kept bumping, bumping, bumping it, but they wouldn't eat it," he said. "I'd feel the handle of the rod shake, and then nothing."

His final move of the day was his best, but he made it a little too late. "I have a spot up the (McCloud River arm) where I did well last year," he said. "I ended up going there and culling everything I had in the last 30 minutes."

He used an Osprey swimbait (rainbow trout) to catch his best fish. "I only had three of them and I lost one in practice," he said. "The two I have are pretty mangled up, but they kept running true. They're thrashed now."

He rigged one of the baits on 10-pound line with two nail weights in the nose and the other on 12-pound with no weight. He fished the former in the 8- to 10-foot range and the latter just under the surface.

He also caught fish on a dropshot rig (1/4-ounce weight, Gamakatsu dropshot hook, 6-inch Roboworm in oxblood light color) and a wacky-rigged 5-inch Yamamoto Senko.

3rd: Martin Met Goal

Martin had hoped to catch 9 pounds today, and he exceeded that by 3 ounces. Like Roumbanis, he was unable to get solid strikes on a swimbait. "I lost one that was 3 or 4 pounds on it," he said. "I had five more bites, but I just never could get hooked up on them."

His daily strategy differed from some of the other contenders: He went for limits first, then for bigger reaction-bait bites later in the day. "I'd start trying for the bigger fish at about 11:00," he said.

He used swimbaits made by Huddleston Deluxe and MegaBait. The color of both was white/rainbow trout. He caught fish on channels in the main body on a dropshot rig with a leech.

"I'm real happy with the way the tournament went," he said. "I only lost one fish that I had hooked up, but everything else was great."

Notable

> Day 3 stats: 35 anglers, 35 limits.

> Both Roumbanis and Martin made big moves in the Western points to qualify for the Bassmaster Open Championship on the Alabama River in Prattville, Ala. (Dec. 1-4). Roumbanis went from 42nd to 13th and Martin climbed from 34th to 12th.

> Lintner wrapped up the Western point title and pocketed an extra $2,000 for catching the big bass on day 1 and day 3.

Final Standings

1. Howard Hughes -- Redding, Calif. -- 15, 31-06 -- 305 -- $45,816
Day 1: 5, 8-00 -- Day 2: 5, 12-14 -- Day 3: 5, 10-08

2. Fred Roumbanis -- Auburn, Calif. -- 15, 30-07 -- 305 -- $27,537
Day 1: 5, 13-13 -- Day 2: 5, 8-11 -- Day 3: 5, 7-15

3. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, Calif. -- 15, 30-01 -- 290 -- $21,192
Day 1: 5, 11-04 -- Day 2: 5, 7-12 -- Day 3: 5, 11-01

4. Chad Martin -- Sacramento, Calif. -- 15, 29-10 -- 285 -- $9,000
Day 1: 5, 7-13 -- Day 2: 5, 12-10 -- Day 3: 5, 9-03

5. Cameron Smith -- Dana Point, Calif. -- 15, 29-02 -- 280 -- $5,000
Day 1: 5, 11-08 -- Day 2: 5, 9-03 -- Day 3: 5, 8-07

6. Mark Schroeder -- Red Bluff, Calif. -- 15, 26-15 -- 276 -- $4,250
Day 1: 5, 9-10 -- Day 2: 5, 9-08 -- Day 3: 5, 7-13

7. Ishama Monroe -- Hughson, Calif. -- 15, 26-03 -- 272 -- $3,900
Day 1: 5, 10-03 -- Day 2: 5, 7-04 -- Day 3: 5, 8-12

8. David Russell -- Cottonwood, Calif. -- 15, 24-10 -- 268 -- $3,600
Day 1: 5, 10-13 -- Day 2: 5, 7-09 -- Day 3: 5, 6-04

9. Ron Colby -- Page, Ariz. -- 15, 24-09 -- 264 -- $3,000
Day 1: 5, 7-00 -- Day 2: 5, 8-00 -- Day 3: 5, 9-09

10. Vince Hurtado -- Waterford, Calif. -- 15, 24-08 -- 260 -- $2,450
Day 1: 5, 8-11 -- Day 2: 5, 7-04 -- Day 3: 5, 8-09

10. Jim Riley -- Shasta Lake, Calif. -- 15, 24-08 -- 260 -- $2,450
Day 1: 5, 8-01 -- Day 2: 5, 8-10 -- Day 3: 5, 7-13

12. Kazuki Kodama -- Tokyo 192-0911, Calif. 15 -- 24-03 -- 254 -- $1,850
Day 1: 5, 6-08 -- Day 2: 5, 9-07 -- Day 3: 5, 8-04

12. Brent Shores -- Boise, Idaho -- 15, 24-03 -- 254 -- $1,850
Day 1: 5, 8-05 -- Day 2: 5, 8-11 -- Day 3: 5, 7-03

14. Chuck English -- Las Vegas, Nev. -- 15, 24-01 -- 248 -- $1,525
Day 1: 5, 10-03 -- Day 2: 5, 6-04 -- Day 3: 5, 7-10

14. Robert Lee -- Angels Camp, Calif. -- 15, 24-01 -- 248 -- $1,525
Day 1: 5, 7-15 -- Day 2: 5, 9-05 -- Day 3: 5, 6-13

16. Jeff Michels -- Lakehead, Calif. -- 15, 23-13 -- 243 -- $1,450
Day 1: 5, 9-13 -- Day 2: 5, 7-05 -- Day 3: 5, 6-11

17. Greg Gutierrez -- Red Bluff, Calif. -- 15, 23-12 -- 241 -- $1,450
Day 1: 5, 8-03 -- Day 2: 5, 7-01 -- Day 3: 5, 8-08

18. Scott Head -- Knightsen, Calif. -- 15, 23-09 -- 239 -- $1,450
Day 1: 5, 8-11 -- Day 2: 5, 7-03 -- Day 3: 5, 7-11

19. George Galletti -- Martinez, Calif. -- 15, 23-07 -- 237 -- $1,433.33
Day 1: 5, 10-03 -- Day 2: 5, 7-10 -- Day 3: 5, 5-10

19. Mike O'Shea -- Westlake Village, Cali 15 -- 23-07 -- 237 -- $1,433.33
Day 1: 5, 9-12 -- Day 2: 5, 7-12 -- Day 3: 5, 5-15

19. Dave Palmer -- Roseburg, Ore. -- 15, 23-07 -- 237 -- $1,433.33
Day 1: 5, 7-08 -- Day 2: 5, 8-00 -- Day 3: 5, 7-15

22. Richard Forhan -- Oroville, Calif. -- 15, 23-06 -- 231 -- $1,400
Day 1: 5, 8-04 -- Day 2: 5, 7-06 -- Day 3: 5, 7-12

23. Mick Karshner -- Fresno, Calif. -- 15, 23-05 -- 229 -- $1,400
Day 1: 5, 7-13 -- Day 2: 5, 7-07 -- Day 3: 5, 8-01

24. Mike Gray -- Redding, Calif. -- 15, 23-03 -- 227 -- $1,400
Day 1: 5, 8-04 -- Day 2: 5, 8-00 -- Day 3: 5, 6-15

25. Andre Moore -- Scottsdale, Ariz. -- 15, 22-13 -- 225 -- $1,400
Day 1: 5, 7-09 -- Day 2: 5, 7-10 -- Day 3: 5, 7-10

26. Jim Davis -- San Jose, Calif. -- 15, 22-10 -- 223 -- $1,350
Day 1: 5, 9-04 -- Day 2: 5, 7-09 -- Day 3: 5, 5-13

27. Sean Minderman -- Spokane, Wash. -- 15, 22-09 -- 221 -- $1,350
Day 1: 5, 8-00 -- Day 2: 5, 7-09 -- Day 3: 5, 7-00

28. Charles Keller -- Redding, Calif. -- 15, 22-06 -- 219 -- $1,350
Day 1: 5, 6-13 -- Day 2: 5, 8-07 -- Day 3: 5, 7-02

29. Jami Fralick -- Martin, S.D. -- 15, 21-14 -- 217 -- $1,350
Day 1: 5, 9-01 -- Day 2: 5, 6-02 -- Day 3: 5, 6-11

29. Jesse Slaton -- Klamath Falls, Ore. -- 15, 21-14 -- 217 -- $1,350
Day 1: 5, 8-03 -- Day 2: 5, 7-00 -- Day 3: 5, 6-11

31. Bill Townsend -- Redding, Calif. -- 15, 21-13 -- 213 -- $1,300
Day 1: 5, 7-04 -- Day 2: 5, 7-15 -- Day 3: 5, 6-10

32. Pat Clement -- Anderson, Calif. -- 15, 21-09 -- 211 -- $1,300
Day 1: 5, 8-05 -- Day 2: 5, 7-09 -- Day 3: 5, 5-11

33. Ricky Shabazz -- Fontana, Calif. -- 15, 21-08 -- 209 -- $1,300
Day 1: 5, 8-02 -- Day 2: 5, 6-11 -- Day 3: 5, 6-11

34. Don Iovino -- Burbank, Calif. -- 15, 21-07 -- 207 -- $1,300
Day 1: 5, 6-04 -- Day 2: 5, 8-13 -- Day 3: 5, 6-06

35. Ken Mercurio -- Sparks, Nev. -- 15, 21-03 -- 205 -- $1,300
Day 1: 5, 7-14 -- Day 2: 5, 6-15 -- Day 3: 5, 6-06

Big Bass

Day 3: Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, Calif. -- 4-09 -- $1,000
Day 2: Chad Martin -- Sacramento, Calif. -- 4-14 -- $1,000
Day 1: Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, Calif. -- 5-11 -- $1,000

Final Western Points

1 Jared Lintner -- Calif. -- 867
2 Jim Davis -- Calif. -- 798
3 Vince Hurtado -- Calif. -- 752
4 Mick Karshner -- Calif. -- 720
5 Ricky Shabazz -- Calif. -- 712
6 Zachary Thompson -- Calif. -- 702
7 John Murray -- Ariz. -- 683
8 Jimmy Reese -- Calif. -- 663
9 Ron Colby -- Ariz. -- 632
10 Gary Howell -- Calif. -- 619
11 Sean Minderman -- Wash. -- 617
12 Chad Martin -- Calif. -- 609
13 Fred Roumbanis -- Calif. -- 608
14 Ken Cassettari -- Calif. -- 603
14 Brett Hite -- Ariz. -- 603
16 Leroy Bertolero -- Calif. -- 596
17 Russ Meyer -- Calif. -- 595
18 Justin Kerr -- Calif. -- 589
19 Ishama Monroe -- Calif. -- 586
20 Howard Hughes -- Calif. -- 583
21 Brent Shores -- Idaho -- 582
22 Robert Lee -- Calif. -- 580
23 Greg Gutierrez -- Calif. -- 579
24 Ed Cummings -- Ariz. -- 575
25 Mark Tyler -- Ariz. -- 573
26 Mike O'Shea -- Calif. -- 567
27 Mark Naillon -- Calif. -- 563
28 Brett Leber -- Calif. -- 557
29 Ken Mercurio -- Nev. -- 555
29 Scott Mascadri -- Calif. -- 555
31 Leo Carrillo -- Ariz. -- 537
32 Jami Fralick -- S.D. -- 517
33 Andre Moore -- Ariz. -- 505
34 Steve Geffs -- Calif. -- 501
35 James Taylor -- Calif. -- 498
36 Mike Knight -- Calif. -- 497
37 Kazuki Kodama -- Calif. -- 480
38 Ken Eddy -- Calif. -- 477
39 Scott Head -- Calif. -- 471
40 James Broberg -- Wash. -- 467
41 Bernie Gaunt -- Calif. -- 459
41 Steve Klein -- Calif. -- 459
43 Dave Palmer -- Ore. -- 458
44 Bret Gouvea -- Calif. -- 432
45 John Semken -- Wash. -- 424
46 Mike Campbell -- Calif. -- 419
47 Rus Snyders -- Calif. -- 415
48 Tim Higbee -- Calif. -- 408
49 Steve Larussa -- Calif. -- 406
50 Rob Wenning -- Nev. -- 403
51 Michael Kirk -- Calif. -- 400
52 Larry Brower -- Calif. -- 394
53 Sean Stafford -- Calif. -- 391
54 Cameron Smith -- Calif. -- 383
55 Frank Morton -- Ore. -- 382
56 James Opalecky -- Calif. -- 379
57 Neil Campbell -- Calif. -- 377
58 Rick Kendrick -- Calif. -- 361
59 David Pereira -- Calif. -- 348
60 Jumpei Kato -- Ky. -- 346
61 George Galletti -- Calif. -- 345
62 Chuck English -- Nev. -- 343
63 Kelly Kellogg -- Wash. -- 342
64 Gary Boyd -- Calif. -- 341
65 Clifford Pirch -- Ariz. -- 326
66 Kent Brown -- Calif. -- 324
66 Neil Russell -- Idaho -- 324
68 Jiggs Benn -- Ore. -- 315
69 Michael Tuck -- Calif. -- 300
70 Russ Barger -- Idaho -- 298
70 Don Iovino -- Calif. -- 298
72 Dan Castelhano -- Calif. -- 291
73 Monty Fralick -- S.D. -- 288
74 Dick Watson -- Calif. -- 287
75 Donnie Cox -- Colo. -- 286
76 Steve Sapp -- Calif. -- 285
77 Randy Potter -- Wash. -- 281
77 Jay Pennington -- Nev. -- 281
77 Rodney Reed -- Calif. -- 281
80 John Varanai -- Calif. -- 280
81 Shawn Lewis -- Calif. -- 276
81 Mark Schroeder -- Calif. -- 276
83 Greg Hall -- Fla. -- 272
84 Stephen Garcia -- Wash. -- 270
85 Dewayne Bonham -- Calif. -- 268
85 David Russell -- Calif. -- 268
87 Jerry Fischer -- Calif. -- 262
88 Jim Riley -- Calif. -- 260
89 Albert Berends -- Calif. -- 255
90 Skeet Reese -- Calif. -- 254
91 Charlie Davidson -- Calif. -- 250
92 Izz Byrd -- Calif. -- 248
92 Lawrence Grzelak -- Calif. -- 248
94 Lorenzo Rossetti -- Calif. -- 245
95 Steve Tosh -- Calif. -- 243
95 Jeff Michels -- Calif. -- 243
97 Gary Dobyns -- Calif. -- 239
97 Robert Cagle -- Calif. -- 239
99 Fred Todd -- Calif. -- 237
100 Anthony Marsh -- Ariz. -- 236
101 Charlie Weyer -- Calif. -- 234
102 Bill Mc Aninch -- Calif. -- 233
103 Wayne Hinrichs -- Calif. -- 232
104 Richard Forhan -- Calif. -- 231
105 Wayne Breazeale -- Calif. -- 229
106 David Kromm -- Wash. -- 228
107 R J Bennett -- Calif. -- 227
107 Mike Gray -- Calif. -- 227
109 Roy Brooks -- Ariz. -- 220
110 Lonnie Woodlief -- Calif. -- 219
110 Charles Keller -- Calif. -- 219
112 Bobby Barrack -- Calif. -- 217
112 Jesse Slaton -- Ore. -- 217
114 Bill Townsend -- Calif. -- 213
115 Pat Clement -- Calif. -- 211
116 Clyde Evans -- Nev. -- 209
117 Tim Edington -- Calif. -- 208
118 Donald Davis -- Calif. -- 206
119 John Alimpic -- Calif. -- 205
120 William Hines Jr. -- Calif. -- 203
121 Armando Perez -- Calif. -- 202
122 Michael Bennett -- Calif. -- 199
123 Alton Forthe -- Calif. -- 197
123 Kelly Vineyard -- Ore. -- 197
125 Brent Lyon -- Nev. -- 194
126 Bryan Roland -- Calif. -- 189
127 Darron Hage -- Calif. -- 187
128 Tim Rath -- Ariz. -- 185
128 Tom Wardrope -- Calif. -- 185
130 Mark Hinson -- Calif. -- 181
131 Sieg Taylor -- Calif. -- 173
131 Craig Kraft -- Calif. -- 173
133 Melinda Mize -- Ark. -- 171
133 Tom Mc Art -- Ore. -- 171
135 Roy Hawk -- Utah -- 168
136 Cooch A Cuccia -- Calif. -- 163
137 Frank Boothe -- N.M. -- 161
138 Lajos Draviczki -- Calif. -- 159
138 John Parks -- N.M. -- 159
140 Keith Clow -- Wash. -- 155
141 Ray Brazier -- Tenn. -- 154
142 Michael Delnero -- Calif. -- 151
143 Art Roland -- Calif. -- 149
144 Jerred Jennings -- Calif. -- 145
145 Shinya Uesasa -- Japan -- 144
146 David Rush -- Calif. -- 143
146 Gary Thomas -- Calif. -- 143
148 Eric McFarland -- Idaho -- 141
149 Nicolas Sakata -- Calif. -- 139
150 Bob Myskey -- Calif. -- 137
151 Robert Adkinson -- Wash. -- 136
152 Alvin Borba -- Calif. -- 135
153 Mike Gutierrez -- Calif. -- 133
154 Anthony Klonowski -- Idaho -- 126
155 Michael Augusto -- Calif. -- 125
155 Hal Zimmerman -- Idaho -- 125
155 Chris Carpenter -- Ore. -- 125
158 Don Finwall -- Calif. -- 121
159 Tom Perkins -- Alaska -- 119
160 Brad Lewis -- Calif. -- 117
161 Lucy Mize -- Ark. -- 115
162 Daryl Dempsey -- Nev. -- 113
163 Shaun Bailey -- Calif. -- 111
164 Raul Morineau -- Mexico -- 109
164 Nick Guadagnolo -- Calif. -- 109
166 Larry Hutchens -- Ore. -- 108
167 Darrin Bishop -- Calif. -- 105
168 Bob Moad -- Calif. -- 103
169 Aaron Coleman -- Calif. -- 101
169 Jake Arbuckle -- Calif. -- 101
171 Matt Lowery -- Calif. -- 99
172 Joe Spraggins -- Calif. -- 98
173 Randy Yeager -- Calif. -- 97
174 Scott Nielsen -- Utah -- 95
175 Brian Nixon -- Colo. -- 91
176 Troy Collier -- Calif. -- 89
176 Ted Kimball -- Calif. -- 89
178 Keith Bryan -- Calif. -- 87
178 Ed Stevenson -- Calif. -- 87
180 Bill Pryor -- Idaho -- 83
181 Rod Lee -- Calif. -- 79
181 Clint Johanson -- Wash. -- 79
181 Ed Arledge -- Calif. -- 79
181 Debbie Blanchard -- Ariz. -- 79
185 Robert Stephens -- Calif. -- 76
185 Steve Merlo -- Calif. -- 76
185 Robert Garrigan -- Calif. -- 76
188 Keith Allen -- N.Y. -- 73
189 Mike Bird -- Nev. -- 71
190 Scott McClaskey -- Calif. -- 68
190 Fred Ward -- Ariz. -- 68
192 Wally Smith -- Calif. -- 66
193 Byron Velvick -- Nev. -- 62
194 Jerry Fournier -- Calif. -- 61
195 Tom Hill -- Ore. -- 59
196 William Huntington -- Alaska -- 58
197 Phil Mitsueda -- Calif. -- 56
198 Bink Desaro -- Idaho -- 51
198 Robert Mansor -- Calif. -- 51
200 Garrett Charter -- Calif. -- 50
201 Rich Tauber -- Calif. -- 48
201 Gino Campiotti -- Calif. -- 48
201 Nick Rook -- Idaho -- 48
204 Chad Dwyer -- Calif. -- 44
205 Stephen Pike -- Nev. -- 42
206 Robert Simard -- Calif. -- 41
207 Harry Jioras -- Calif. -- 40
207 Allen Posella -- Calif. -- 40
209 Gene Buchholz -- Calif. -- 39
210 Matt Miley -- Calif. -- 38
210 Walter Kondracki -- Calif. -- 38
212 Mike Moffitt -- Calif. -- 37
213 Shawn Porter -- Calif. -- 35
213 Steve Bell -- N.M. -- 35
215 Nick Grebb -- Calif. -- 34
216 John Neudorfer -- Wash. -- 33
217 Jose Juarez -- Calif. -- 31
218 Lyndelle Mccullough -- Calif. -- 30
219 Larry Rook -- Idaho -- 29
220 John Wiggin -- Nev. -- 28