Ish Monroe

Oakdale, CA

In his own words

I am an overall laid-back guy that loves to fish and loves the purity of the sport. I am looking forward to fishing APEX and competing with the best in the West. You can only be as good as the competition that you fish against; so, I have to be fishing against the highest level – whether it is APEX, MLF, Bassmaster – whatever. If I am not fishing against those guys, then I am not fishing against the best.

Highlights

First boat win at 26-years old, B.A.S.S. Top-150 qualifier, first-ever Bassmaster Elite Series event champion, 5-time Bassmaster Elite Series champion (Mississippi River, Okeechobee, Fla., Oneida, NY, Grapevine and Amistad – both in Texas), 10-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier, over $3 million in career tournament winnings, twice awarded entry into the Bassmaster Elite Series Century Club for breaking 100-pounds in a four-day event

Behind the Angler

Ish’s dad got him fishing when he was still in diapers. They started out with all species in Michigan. After moving to the West Coast, they targeted both fresh and saltwater. Ish’s first job, at 14-years-old, was at Hi’s Tackle Box in San Francisco and that was where his tournament life began with a club called The Bassholes. Nine years later, he qualified for the B.A.S.S. Top-150 (the B.A.S.S. circuit that preceded the Bassmaster Elite Series). In 2006, Ish won the first-ever Bassmaster Elite Series event ever held. It was the first-event to award the winner $100,000.

In the Boat

A look into Ish’s rod locker will show Daiwa rods and reels – mostly flippin’ sticks. His tackle storage will reveal River2Sea Mat Daddy frogs, Bling Spinnerbaits and Biggie Square Bills. There is an occasion, one may find a spinning rod as well; but that is rare.

Sponsors:

  • Daiwa
  • River2Sea
  • Skeeter Boats
  • Yamaha Outboards
  • Lowrance
  • Fisherman’s Warehouse Mega Store
  • Go RVing
  • Simms Fishing
  • Missile Baits
  • Cocoons Sunwear
  • Bobs Machine Shop
  • Mystery Tackle Box
  • Power-Pole
  • BigFishTools.com
  • LetAmericaFish.com
  • Next Gen Lithium Battery