Roumbanis’ Frog Flurry Fuels Top-5 Finish in REDCREST Shotgun Round
LA CROSSE, Wis. – When you hear the name Fred Roumbanis, one particular bait comes to mind: a frog.
Lucky for the man affectionately known as “Boom Boom,” REDCREST is the perfect place for him to throw the bait that bears his nickname. With acres of Pool 8 on the Upper Mississippi River covered in duckweed, milfoil and other frog-friendly vegetation, the alluring amphibian imitator seems like a no-brainer for the Arkansas pro. However, he started his Shotgun Round following a different strategy.
“I was just finesse fishing,” Roumbanis said. “I was daubing a little worm around trying to catch some easy fish, but they weren’t easy. I moved to some wing dams where I caught a bunch of smallmouths in practice and that didn’t work out either.”
Slow Start
The slow start caused Roumbanis to end the first period in 25th place with only three fish for 5 pounds, 15 ounces. But toward the end of that opening period, Boom Boom picked up his Boom Boom Frog and reeled in a 3-4 largemouth. That bite proved to be the difference-maker for the Mercury pro.
“I knew it was going to be a good day after the first period,” Roumbanis revealed. “I got bit by that 3-pounder at the end of the first period on a frog so I knew I was doing the right thing. As soon as the weather started warming up, it was on.”
Finally Frog Time
It wasn’t just the bait that helped Roumbanis mount his stellar comeback, it was the location. Roumbanis found an area off the beaten path that was teeming with action as well as vegetation.
“There was a duckweed, eel grass and milfoil mixture back there,” Roumbanis detailed. “It was a pocket outside of the current and there was just so much life back there. Whether it was bluegill, crappie, pike, or dragonflies, there was so much activity. If I can get activity like that, the more confident I get.”
His confidence allowed him to pick up four different colors of frog—Kelly, Fred, Dawg and Dirty Bird—and throw them with confidence in the isolated area. Roumbanis was able to catch, weigh and release 32 bass for 51-4 over the final two periods to finish his day in third place behind only Zack Birge and Stephen Browning. While he was able to get plenty of bites from bass, they weren’t the only hungry fish in the area.
“My biggest problem today was the pike,” Roumbanis explained. “I went through about 12 frogs today because the pike kept eating it and taking it. I caught probably a dozen pike today and was bit by even more. Luckily, I have some more frogs getting overnight shipped so I won’t run out. I can’t believe I didn’t bring more, honestly.”
Far From Finished
Roumbanis will begin tomorrow’s Elimination Round with a comfortable head start above the Elimination Line—almost 30 pounds—but that doesn’t mean he’s done fishing. Once he feels comfortable with his spot in the Top 20, Roumbanis doesn’t plan to take his foot, or his frog, off the gas.
“I’m going back to that same spot tomorrow and I’m going to wear it out,” Roumbanis said. “It’s the first-ever REDCREST so you have to try and set some records, right?”