Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River presented by STARK Cultural Venues.
Chris Lane knows things can change quickly on an unpredictable fishery like the Sabine River.
So he can’t say for sure if the pattern he’s fishing will hold up long enough for him to win the Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River presented by STARK Cultural Venues.
But for the moment, it certainly seems to be serving him well.
After a fog delay of more than two hours Friday — the second such delay in as many days — Lane caught five bass that weighed 12 pounds, 13 ounces and pushed his two-day total to 28-7. That mark put him in the lead for the second straight day, with Aaron Martens (25-14), Shaw Grigsby (24-6), Todd Faircloth (23-8) and Scott Rook (21-6) trailing behind him.
The field will be trimmed to the Top 53 anglers for Saturday’s round, and those in contention will be forced to chase fish that have experienced heavy pressure all week.
“I really think I’m going to need 13 to 15 pounds each day the next two days to win,” Lane said. “Aaron is catching them, Shaw is catching them — and they’re all coming from similar areas. Will that hold up to win? That’s going to be the question.”
Lane continued targeting spawning fish in water less than 2 feet deep — and once again, his best fish came during one brief period of the day. He said it started between noon and 1 p.m., and was influenced heavily by tidal flows.
“I pulled in to where I was yesterday, and there were five or six boats in the back,” Lane said. “So I stayed out, and I caught one as soon as I got there — my first flip. Then I caught another one, caught another one, caught another one and then I culled one. It happened just that fast.”
Martens, who crossed paths with Lane several times Thursday, caught five bass Friday that weighed 12-0 with Grigsby close enough to see his every move. The Alabama pro and two-time Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year is running a similar shallow pattern to Lane’s and watching closely for those moments when the tidal flow is just right.
“I stayed in one area all day because I’m not planning on going back, and I beat it up as best I could,” Martens said. “The fishing is getting a little tougher because the easy ones are getting caught. The ones that are left are hard to catch.
“Hopefully I can go to a different area tomorrow that nobody has been hammering, and it will pay off.”
Grigsby didn’t seem thrilled with the increased level of company he had in the spot that was so good to him on Day 1. But he still put together a solid five-fish limit that weighed 11-2.
Widely known as one of the top sight-fishing anglers in the world, Grigsby said he has been catching bedding fish this week. But with a heavy stain on the water in most places, he said “sight” has had little to do with the technique he’s using.
“They’re spawners,” Grigsby said. “So they’ll bite it and swim off with it — and when you set the hook, you miss 50 percent of them. As soon as you think ‘I got him,’ you ain’t got Jack.
“On clearer lakes like Harris Chain, I can watch them and know when the hook is in their mouths. You can’t do that here.”
Martens wasn’t the only contender who milked the same area as Grigsby on Friday.
Texas angler Todd Faircloth, who won the 2013 Bassmaster Elite Series event on the Sabine River, was without a keeper at noon. But he started on the outer edge of the inlet where Grigsby, Martens and several others were fishing and quickly put together a catch of 13-0.
“Things started off slow for me today just like they did yesterday,” Faircloth said. “But I was able to salvage the day. I think it has more to do with that area. I haven’t been able to get to that area until later in the day, and there’s a lot of fish being caught out of there.
“I don’t know if that area is going to hold up. I didn’t think it would today, but it did.”
After Saturday’s round, only the Top 12 anglers will advance to Sunday’s championship.
Lane will take home the Livingston Lures Leader Award of $500 for leading on Day 2.
Daily takeoffs are scheduled for 7:10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at the City of Orange Boat Ramp with weigh-ins at the same location at 4 p.m. The Outdoor Expo and Orange County River Festival open Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. All Bassmaster events are free.
The Bassmasters TV show on ESPN2 will feature the Sabine event on Sunday, April 5 at 8 a.m. ET.
2015 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, GoPro, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2015 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: A.R.E. Accessories, Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Huk Performance Fishing, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Power-Pole, Rigid Industries, Shimano
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines, website, television show, social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series presented by Allstate, Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
2015 Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River Presented By STARK Cultural Venues 3/19-3/22
Sabine River System, Orange, Texas
Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 10 28-07 100
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 12-13
2. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 10 25-14 99
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 12-00
3. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 10 24-06 98
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-02
4. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 10 23-08 97
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 13-00
5. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 10 21-06 96
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 10-13
6. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 21-05 95
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 08-12
7. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 9 20-15 94
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 4 09-08
8. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 10 19-15 93
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 10-06
9. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 8 19-12 92
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 3 07-09
10. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 10 19-10 91
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 09-12
11. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 9 19-02 90
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 4 08-03
12. Mike Kernan Wylie, TX 7 18-05 89
Day 1: 3 10-01 Day 2: 4 08-04
13. Chris Zaldain San Jose, CA 8 18-00 88
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 3 06-10
14. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 8 17-15 87
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 3 07-07
15. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 10 17-14 86
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 5 10-03
16. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 9 17-07 85
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 4 08-04
17. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 6 17-02 84
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 1 02-00
18. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 8 16-15 83
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 3 05-09
19. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 8 16-14 82
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 5 10-12
20. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, TN 7 16-06 81
Day 1: 2 06-11 Day 2: 5 09-11
21. Boyd Duckett Guntersville, AL 8 16-00 80
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 3 06-07
22. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 7 15-15 79
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 2 04-13
23. Hank Cherry Jr Maiden, NC 9 15-12 78
Day 1: 4 06-15 Day 2: 5 08-13
24. David Williams Maiden, NC 6 15-11 77
Day 1: 1 02-06 Day 2: 5 13-05
25. Randy Howell Springville, AL 10 15-09 76
Day 1: 5 08-01 Day 2: 5 07-08
26. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 8 15-08 75
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 3 05-05
27. Casey Scanlon Lanexa, KS 9 15-08 74
Day 1: 4 07-00 Day 2: 5 08-08
28. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 8 15-07 73
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 3 06-06
29. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 7 15-04 72
Day 1: 2 04-00 Day 2: 5 11-04
30. Ken Iyobe Tokoname Aichi JAPAN 5 15-04 71
Day 1: 4 10-03 Day 2: 1 05-01
31. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 8 15-04 70
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 3 06-08
32. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 9 15-01 69
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 4 06-13
33. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 8 14-14 68
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 3 04-15
34. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 7 14-13 67
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 4 08-08
35. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 8 14-10 66
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 3 05-11
36. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 6 14-10 65
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 3 08-06
37. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 7 14-04 64
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 5 10-14
38. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 6 14-03 63
Day 1: 4 10-00 Day 2: 2 04-03
39. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 6 14-00 62
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 1 03-12
40. Jordan Lee Vinemont, AL 6 13-15 61
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 5 12-10
41. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 6 13-13 60
Day 1: 4 09-10 Day 2: 2 04-03
42. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 7 13-11 59
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 5 09-13
43. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 6 13-09 58
Day 1: 4 09-12 Day 2: 2 03-13
44. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 7 13-08 57
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 2 03-09
45. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 6 13-05 56
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 1 02-03
46. David Smith Del City, OK 7 13-05 55
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 2 03-05
47. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 6 13-03 54
Day 1: 4 09-09 Day 2: 2 03-10
48. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 7 12-15 53
Day 1: 4 07-03 Day 2: 3 05-12
49. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 6 12-03 52
Day 1: 4 08-08 Day 2: 2 03-11
50. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 12-00 51
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
51. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 7 11-11 50
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 2 02-03
52. Kurt Dove Del Rio, TX 6 11-11 49
Day 1: 2 03-04 Day 2: 4 08-07
53. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 7 11-10 48
Day 1: 4 07-02 Day 2: 3 04-08
54. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 4 11-08 47
Day 1: 1 02-15 Day 2: 3 08-09
55. Koby Kreiger Bokeelia, FL 7 11-08 46
Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 4 06-07
56. Matt Lee Auburn , AL 6 11-06 45
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 1 01-13
57. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 7 11-06 44
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 2 03-03
58. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 11-05 43
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
59. Boo Woods Oneida, KY 6 11-00 42
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 1 01-06
60. Fletcher Shryock New Philadelphia, OH 6 11-00 41
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 1 01-15
61. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 6 10-12 40
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 1 01-07
62. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 6 10-11 39
Day 1: 4 07-10 Day 2: 2 03-01
63. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 6 10-11 38
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 4 07-03
64. Jacob Powroznik Port Haywood, VA 5 10-08 37
Day 1: 1 03-05 Day 2: 4 07-03
65. Nate Wellman Newaygo, MI 6 10-07 36
Day 1: 4 07-03 Day 2: 2 03-04
66. Morizo Shimizu Suita, Osaka JAPAN 6 10-07 35
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 3 05-08
67. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 4 10-05 34
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 3 08-10
68. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 5 10-02 33
Day 1: 4 07-06 Day 2: 1 02-12
69. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 09-10 32
Day 1: 4 08-02 Day 2: 1 01-08
70. James Elam Tulsa, OK 5 09-10 31
Day 1: 4 07-14 Day 2: 1 01-12
71. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 5 09-03 30
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 2 03-08
72. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 09-01 29
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
73. Seth Feider Bloomington, MN 5 08-15 28
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 08-15
74. Jared Miller Norman, OK 5 08-11 27
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 2 04-00
75. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 5 08-10 26
Day 1: 2 03-01 Day 2: 3 05-09
76. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 5 08-06 25
Day 1: 3 05-03 Day 2: 2 03-03
77. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 4 07-15 24
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 3 06-01
78. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 4 07-13 23
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 1 01-09
79. Kelly Jordon Flint, TX 5 07-12 22
Day 1: 4 06-06 Day 2: 1 01-06
80. Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, IL 4 07-09 21
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 1 01-13
81. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 4 07-02 20
Day 1: 3 05-03 Day 2: 1 01-15
82. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 4 07-02 19
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 2 03-12
83. Kevin Hawk Guntersville, AL 4 06-14 18
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 2 03-03
84. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 4 06-09 17
Day 1: 2 03-09 Day 2: 2 03-00
85. Josh Bertrand Gilbert, AZ 4 06-09 16
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 2 03-01
86. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 4 06-08 15
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 1 02-01
87. Brent Ehrler Newport Beach, CA 3 05-12 14
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 1 02-07
88. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 3 05-10 13
Day 1: 2 03-13 Day 2: 1 01-13
89. Randy Allen Shreveport, LA 3 05-02 12
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
90. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 2 05-01 11
Day 1: 2 05-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
91. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 3 04-15 10
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
92. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 3 04-15 9
Day 1: 2 03-00 Day 2: 1 01-15
93. Joseph Sancho New Windsor, NY 3 04-12 8
Day 1: 3 04-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
94. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 2 04-08 7
Day 1: 2 04-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
95. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 3 04-08 6
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 1 01-06
96. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 3 04-08 5
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 2 03-01
97. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 2 04-06 4
Day 1: 2 04-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 2 04-01 3
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 1 02-00
99. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 2 03-14 2
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
100. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 2 03-02 1
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
101. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 2 03-02 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 1 01-10
102. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 2 03-01 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-01
103. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 2 02-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 1 01-05
104. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 1 02-05 0
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
105. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TX AUSTRALIA 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-14
106. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
107. David Walker Sevierville, TN 1 01-11 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-11
108. Stephen Longobardi Northford, CT 1 01-04 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-04
109. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 1 01-01 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-01
110. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
110. Chad Pipkens Holt, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
110. Byron Velvick Boenre, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
113. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 0 -1-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 -01-00
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 39 359 729-13
2 20 263 529-06
———————————-
59 622 1259-03
By: Helen Northcutt
