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Oroville, Calif. – Don’t let it be said that the world’s best bass anglers have turned their back on the grass roots of bass fishing. Recently Ish Monroe, a Northern California native, and Bassmaster Elite Series pro took the time to speak to a group of more than a hundred amateur anglers who had qualified for their year championship event. |
The 33-year-old pro traveled to Oroville, Calif. on November 9th to speak at the awards banquet for the Future Pro Tour Classic Qualifiers. Future Pro Tour is an amateur only team circuit that has two divisions from Northern and Central California; the Classic qualifiers compete in seven regular season events to qualify for the championship for a Ranger prize boat.
Monroe, a two-time BASS winner who’s career earnings totals more than $630,000 said that a circuit like Future Pro Tour would have sped up his learning curve. “I have certainly seen a good measure of success over my career,” Monroe said. “But a circuit like Future Pro Tour would have helped me progress faster.”
Future Pro Tour’s President and founder, Vince Harris, of Sacramento, Calif. said that having professional anglers that are willing to share their experiences with the anglers that fish his events is invaluable. “Ish and Gary Dobyns spoke at this year’s Classic Banquet, and they help these up and coming pro’s learn how to compete in big fields, for big prizes.” Harris said. “Having a nationally known pro and the leading money winner in the west give them pointers is a tremendous blessing.” |
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Harris said that their involvement in what he calls the Future Pro Tour’s Pro Support Staff gives his anglers encouragement. “Ish is a representation of what some of these anglers dream of becoming,” Harris said. “I’m glad that he chooses our tour to show that he hasn’t forgotten where he came from.”
Monroe said that investing in the careers of these anglers is an investment in the future of the sport. “This sport is a big circle,” he said. “The grass roots anglers are the pros of tomorrow, and Future Pro Tour helps these guys learn the ropes.”
“I’ve known Vince since he started Future Pro Tour five years ago,” Monroe said. “His tournaments outdraw the pro team circuits in Northern California; he really gives these guys a taste of what life is like on the big tours; I wish he’d have been around when I started.”
For more on Ish Monroe, his accomplishments and sponsors visit his website at:
www.ishmonroe.com
To learn about Future Pro Tour visit: www.futureprotour.net
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