Photo BASS - Garrick Dixon > Day 4: 5, 13-05 (20, 72-09) Despite losing the fish he thinks would’ve probably won him the tournament, Monroe heads to Arizona happy with his effort and finish, his best since taking 4th at the Sabine River in 2013.

“I’m in the top 15 in FLW points and in the top 10 for the Elites,” he said. “I’ve cashed a check in every major event I’ve fished and I’ve mixed in several Top 20s which is something you always want to do. I’m feeling good about the next couple events.”

Late in the day today, he had about 8 1/2 pounds and was set to go fish for 2-pounders to get over the 10-pound mark, but he talked himself out of it.

“I thought, ‘I’m here to win,’” he said. “I went back through my big fish area and caught a 3 1/2 and another 3 and then I saw the big one. I flipped up to her and she ate it and just came off. It was around 7 or 8 pounds. I saw her good. She came up and shook her head and just came off.

“The two fish I lost the first day cost me the tournament,” he said. “Throw this on top and it hurts. I put myself in position to win and I can’t ask for anything more than that. If I’d executed flawlessly, I would’ve won. Instead, I did pretty good and got 4th.” Read more