Syracuse.com - Californian easily wins Bassmaster Northern Open on Oneida Lake (updated with 2 videos)

[HuntingNY-News]

Ish Monroe said he focused exclusively on largemouth bass. He used two types of lures to get the job done. (See video on Ish's Phat Frog). Watch video

Jim Commentucci / The Post-StandardIsh Monroe holds two of his largemouth bass at the final weigh-in Saturday at Bass Pro Shops in Aurelius.Elite Series Pro Ish Monroe, of Hughson, Calif., started off strong Thursday and finished strong today, easily winning the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open on Oneida Lake.The awards ceremony was held Saturday afternoon on the parking lot in front of the Bass Pro Shops store at the Fingerlakes Mall.

With the win, Monroe, who during three day tournament caught 51 pounds, 2 ounces of fish (all largemouths), received nearly $10,000 in prize money, plus a new Triton bass boat and a 200 horsepower Mercury motor -- a rig valued at $40,000.

He said the key to winning was focusing on catching just largemouths. Monroe relied on two baits and several areas. He threw a Snag Proof Ish’s Phat Frog (three different models: white, black and clear) across the top of matted grass along the bank, and when the wind blew, he punched through the grass with a heavy weight and a black and blue, "creature bait I'm working on." The key with the flipping bait was the 1 1/2 ounce, River2Sea specialty flipping weight. It sports a matte black finish. Monroe reasons that lighter-colored weights give off too much flash under the dark mats and spook fish.

Monroe was followed by Michael Simonton, of Fremont, Ohio, who posted a final total of 48 pounds, 12 ounces.

There was a tie for third place between John Pelletier, of Nassau, N.Y. and Pat Golden, of High Point, N.C., both finishing out at 45 pounds, 7 ounces.

The top finishing local pro-angler was Matt Martin, of Chittenango, who went into the final day tied for fifth place and ended up dropping to eighth place. His total weight was 43 pounds, 12 ounces.

The top-finishing co-angler was Kevin Haley, of Syracuse, who finished out with a catch total of 26 pounds; 8 ounces. The pro anglers can weigh up to five fish each day; the co-anglers, three. Haley fished Saturday on Martin's boat.

For his effort, Haley won a "tournament-ready," Skeeter bass boat, with a 150 horsepower Yamaha engine.

Another local, Brad Kelly, of Oswego, finished 6, with his three-day total of 24 pounds, 7 ounces.

The pro anglers and the co-anglers split a total of $250,000 in prize money and merchandise. The tournment began Thursday with 138 anglers in each division, with only 12 from each making it into today's finals.

Anglers in the first 40 places in each division received checks.

Bassmaster Northern Open results (finals):

Pro angler division

1) Ish Monroe, of Hughson, Calif.; 51 lbs, 2 oz.

2) Mike Simonton, of Fremont, Ohio; 48 lbs., 12 oz.

3) John Pelletier, of Nassau, N.Y.; 45 lbs., 7 oz.

4) Pat Golden, of High Point, N.C.; 45 lbs., 7 oz.

5) Randy Howell, of Springville, Ala.; 44 lbs., 5 oz.

6) Mike Iaconelli, of Pittsgrove, N.J.; 44 lbs., 4 oz.

7) Peter Thliveros, of St. Augustine, Fla.; 43 lbs., 13 oz.

Matt Martin, of Chittenango, N.Y.; 43 lbs.; 12 oz.

9) Fletcher Shryock, of Newcomersville, Ohio; 43 lbs.; 11 oz.

10 Jason Dudek, of Excelsior, Minn.; 43 lbs., 2 oz.

11). Ron Bane, of Frackville, Pa.; 42 lbs., 15 oz.

12). Kurt Dove, of Del Rio, Texas; 42 lbs., 14 oz.

Co-angler division

1) Kevin Haley, of Syracuse, N.Y.; 26 lbs., 8 oz.

2) Kevin Phelps, Allentown, Pa.; 25 lbs., 12 oz.

3) Anthony Savino, Marlboro, N.Y.; 24 lbs., 13 oz.

4) Michael Rinaldi, North Haledon, N.J.; 24 lbs., 11 oz.

5) Aaron Anders, Boston, Canada; 24 lbs., 7 oz.

6) Brad Kelly, of Oswego, N.Y.; 24 lbs, 7 oz.

7) Thomas Rizzo, of Rochester, Pa.; 23 lbs., 10 oz.

PJ Mcmanamon, of Ruby, N.Y.; 23 lbs. 6 oz.

9). Keith Diluzio, of North East, Pa.; 23 lbs., 4 oz.

10) Shawn Nolan, of Ballston Lake, N.Y.; 23 lbs., 1 oz.

11) Richard Falcon, of Evans Mills, N.Y..; 22 lbs., 2 oz.

12). Ronald Flamisch, of Northampton, Pa.; 20 lbs. 12 oz.

To view the tournament's complete results, see the Bassmaster Web site.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog