Jan. 28, 2025
Charity Muehlenweg • Major League Fishing

Fred Roumbanis of Russellville, Arkansas, is about to enter his 20th season of professional fishing, a milestone that marks two decades of triumphs, struggles and resilience. The offseason leading into 2025, however, was particularly tough for the veteran angler. Personal loss, professional uncertainty and unexpected setbacks tested his mental and emotional strength like never before.

Yet, Roumbanis is approaching the upcoming Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour season with renewed determination – powered by his family, his passion for the sport and the legacy he’s building for the future.

The California native’s journey in professional bass fishing has never been easy but has been defined by resilience. Starting at just 18 – and sinking a boat during a tournament on his 19^th birthday – Roumbanis quickly learned that success required perseverance.

“I’ve had so many rock-bottom moments,” Roumbanis reflected. “But every time I found myself scraping the bottom, I’ve found a way to dig deep and not give up. If you keep pushing, even when things feel impossible, you’ll find a way.”

One such moment came in 2005 after he missed qualifying for the FLW Tour (now the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals) by a single point.

“I was one point away from making the cut and had a fish jump out of my livewell during a tournament on Lake Champlain,” he recalled. “That’s the kind of stuff that stays with you.”

But instead of giving up, Roumbanis forged ahead and joined the EverStart Series (now the Toyota Series) that fall.

“This was long before GPS or navigation systems. I bought a paper map and drove to La Crosse, Wisconsin, for a tournament. I didn’t really have the money to make it home, let alone fuel the boat every day for the tournament,” Roumbanis laughed. “Before the event began, MLF emcee Chris Jones gave me a pep talk. He told me to stop thinking about what I couldn’t do and focus on what I could do.

“I told him I could probably bring in 12 to 14 pounds per day and he said, ‘If you can do 14 pounds per day, I’ll see you on Championship Day’,” Roumbanis continued. “That was the first time I saw light at the end of the tunnel.”

That talk gave Roumbanis a renewed mindset. He went on to win the tournament, a turning point that marked the beginning of a successful career. Roumbanis continued to rack up victories and earned an invite to the Bassmaster Elite Series in 2006, fishing that tour for more than a decade before transitioning to the MLF Bass Pro Tour in 2019.

That unwavering determination has shaped his career, and Roumbanis relied on it again during the challenging 2024 season. With a reduction in the number of anglers on the Bass Pro Tour from 80 to 66 for 2025, Roumbanis fought to secure his spot and was one of the last to qualify.

As if the requalification wasn’t stressful enough, more obstacles were headed his way. While driving to a Bass Pro Tour event at the Chowan River in North Carolina last May, a drunk driver totaled his boat. Yet, Roumbanis didn’t let this setback derail his performance. Phoenix Boats delivered a boat the next day, which Roumbanis later purchased to complete the season, and he went on to achieve one of his best finishes of the year.

“You can’t control everything around you, but you can control how you react to it. It was a huge mental hurdle all season, knowing so many guys wouldn’t make it to the 2025 Bass Pro Tour,” he admitted. “I had the fear of not performing, but I kept pushing forward and thankfully secured that spot.”

While Roumbanis was navigating these professional challenges, the most personal blow came during the holiday season. On Christmas Day, his mother passed away, a devastating loss that left him emotionally shaken.

“She was just so strong,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion. “We lost my dad years ago and had moved my mom to be closer to us the last few years. I really thought I had more time with her and that she would pull through this.

“She was such an amazing person. I didn’t plan on losing her this soon, but she held on until Christmas. I think she knew that would be the time our family could all be together and knew we needed that.”

Losing his mother just weeks before the season’s start has made it difficult to focus, but Roumbanis credits his wife, Julie, as his greatest support.

“Julie has been my rock through all of this. I couldn’t have gotten through it without her keeping me moving.”

Despite the turbulent offseason, Roumbanis found bright spots over the past year. One of the greatest joys of his career has been watching his 17-year-old son, Jackson, carve his own path in the sport. Jackson began fishing tournaments at 11 and has already earned two Angler of the Year titles and numerous wins with the Arkansas Youth Bass Hogs. At 15, he won a Hobie kayak tournament and, at 17, earned a spot as team captain on the USA BASS youth team, representing the USA in Zimbabwe last fall.

“He’s already better than I was at 25,” Roumbanis said proudly. “Jackson is finishing high school virtually, taking college courses and starting his first season as a boater on the Toyota Series. He already has a clear vision of what he wants and is excelling in every aspect of it.”

Roumbanis said he admires Jackson’s drive to create his own identity.

“He doesn’t want to be in my shadow. He’s made it clear he wants to be his own man, and I respect that. We’re excited for him and will always support him. It’s a big step, but I know he’s ready.”

With the 2025 season looming and new MLF forward-facing sonar rule changes in place, Roumbanis is excited to return to his roots and focus more on shallow-water power fishing, a style that helped launch his career.

“I enjoy LiveScoping, and it’s a fun way to fish,” Roumbanis said. “I’ve worked on it a lot during the offseason and have all the best gear for when it’s time to use it. But I’m excited to have some limits in place and focus on what works best for me. With the field only able to use forward-facing sonar for one period, I think you’ll see the true talent rise to the top. It’s about the skills that got us here and utilizing various methods of fishing.”

As Roumbanis embarks on his 20th professional season at B&W Trailer Hitches Stage 1 Presented by Power-Pole, there’s no doubt it will be a testament to his resilience and love for the sport. No matter what comes his way, he’s ready to tackle the challenges, armed with the strength of family, a clear vision and an unyielding belief in himself.

“Life’s a book, right?” Roumbanis said with a wide grin. “You just go through these chapters of learning, and I’m really looking forward to digging into this next chapter.”

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.