March 27, 2020 • Josh Gassmann • Major League Lessons

It should come as no surprise that MLF pro Fred “Boom Boom” Roumbanis counts a swimbait as one of his favorite baits. The Mercury pro grew up fishing them in California and has brought them along as a key weapon in his tournament arsenal. MLF photog Garrick Dixon hitched a ride with “Boom Boom” for a morning of swimbaiting (and maybe a little frogging, too).

Photos by Garrick Dixon

  • Let’s see what Fred “Boom Boom” Roumbanis can do on a morning swimbait bite on a small lake.
  • Fred Roumbanis pulls up to a small lake for some off-time swimbait fishing.
  • Getting his Triton/Mercury ready.
  • Roumbanis first bait of choice: his signature Optimum Baits Boom Boom Swimbait.
  • Notice the chartreuse?
  • Roumbanis with a pair of his players for the day.
  • A plateful of swimbait goodness.
  • Boom Boom starts to work his way around the small lake.
  • The view from above.
  • Letting it rip.
  • Roumbanis making long casts.
  • First hookup! Didn’t take long.
  • That’s a start, now to find a little bigger.
  • Roumbanis works his way around to some overhanging wood.
  • Pinpoint casts get Roumbanis’ swimbait into the middle of the juice.
  • One more scoop.
  • Roumbanis considers some color options.
  • … and while we’re digging around, let’s look at Fred’s frog boxes.
  • These will come into play soon.
  • Another hookup.
  • Here’s a look at what the morning produced.
  • “You guys go ahead, I’ll catch up with you later.”