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Fred "Boom Boom" Roumbanis isn't your typical success story. He didn't grow up fishing. He didn't have ions. What he had was a Zebco 33 Classic, a BMX bike, and a dream that started at age 8 on a California reservoir.
Twenty years later, Fred has won 4 national tournaments, earned 8 gold medals, and built multiple fishing-focused businesses. But the path there? Far from smooth.
- The 45-minute swim that almost ended his career — His boat sank mid-tournament with a teenager aboard. What happened next shows the power of preparation meeting crisis.
- Driving to Wisconsin completely broke — Fred was so financially strapped he couldn't afford the next tournament entry fee. One conversation changed everything.
- From comfort zone to strength zone — Why Fred says the key isn't getting comfortable, it's knowing what you're great at and leaning into it.
- Building Frog Factory and Galilee Fishing — How Fred turned his signature technique into product lines and business partnerships.
- 00:00 — Introduction
- 05:12 — How Fred got into fishing (spoiler: no fishing background)
- 08:00 — The tackle box that started it all
- 15:22 — The boat sinking story
- 33:46 — Driving to Wisconsin broke: "Everything was dark"
- 34:50 — The one sentence that gave him hope
- 67:34 — Galilee Fishing: the new venture
- 68:07 — The Frog Factory story
- 84:30 — Comfort zone vs. strength zone
About Fred Roumbanis:
- 20-year professional bass fisherman
- 4 national tournament wins
- 8 gold medals in international competition
- Founder: Frog Factory, Galilee Fishing
- Known as one of the top power-fishing specialists in the sport
with Fred:
- Website: fredroumbanis.com
- Instagram: @fredroumbanis
- Frog Factory: gsmoutdoors.com/brands/boom-boom-frogs
- Galilee Fishing: gillfishing.com
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction: The Principled Entrepreneur
00:22 - Meet Fred "Boom Boom" Roumbanis
01:46 - How the Moores first met Fred and Julie
03:14 - Why Fred chose Arkansas (could live anywhere)
05:12 - The origin story: no fishing background
06:15 - Dad was a cable car conductor in San Francisco
07:30 - The tackle box that changed everything (age 8)
08:31 - First bass catch: adults applauded on the dock
09:22 - Career day: "I'm going to be a pro fisherman"
15:22 - THE BOAT SINKING: "We're going to have to swim"
16:08 - Swimming 45 minutes to save his co-angler
19:30 - Breaking into the pros
27:00 - First big wins and building momentum
33:46 - ROCK BOTTOM: Driving to Wisconsin completely broke
34:50 - The conversation that changed everything
38:00 - How he came back and won
45:00 - The power of muscle memory and playing to strengths
55:00 - Julie: the partner behind the scenes
01:07:34 - Galilee Fishing: the new venture (faith-based brand)
01:08:07 - Frog Factory: from signature technique to business
01:12:00 - What's next: the "Iron Man of bass fishing" goal
01:24:30 - Comfort zone vs. strength zone
01:25:15 - Closing thoughts
The Principled Entrepreneur is where real entrepreneurs share the principles, values, and grit that carried them through the toughest seasons to their greatest successes. Hosted by husband-and-wife team Caleb and Jodi Moore, we uncover authentic, relatable stories that prove you’re not stuck and you’re not alone. Whether you’re in a body shop, behind a desk, or chasing a dream, each episode will fuel your hope, strengthen your grit, and remind you to keep going — no matter what.