Published: February 18. 2011 9:56PM
Aaron Martens of Alabama leads Bassmaster Classic
The Associated Press Share
Aaron Martens of Alabama took a lead of just more than 1 pound Friday on the first day of the Bassmaster Classic, the world championship of bass fishing being held on the Louisiana Delta.
Martens pulled in 20 pounds, 7 ounces, keeping him in front of Scott Rook of Little Rock, Ark., with 19-6. Rook edged ahead of defending champion Kevin VanDam, who had 19-3 for third place.
Ending the day in fourth with 18-0 was Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kan. Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Fla., was fifth with 16-12.
Dense fog delayed the start of Friday's competition by 70 minutes. The shorter day increased the risk of using competition time to travel to far-flung hot spots.
The event concludes Sunday.
Martens said he wasn't making a long run, but he still would have preferred not to have lost the hour of highly productive morning fishing.
"The fog hurt a little bit," said the Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Leeds, Ala. "I got three fish the first 10 minutes, and they shut off for a while."
He hinted that he used reaction baits, "but I won't say what yet." He said he didn't boat as many bass as he did during his practice time in the same area. His biggest bass was 5-9, also the tournament's best catch of the day.
"I got nice fish, just not nearly as many bites as I thought I would," Martens said. "It's probably the weather, and the stage the fish are in."
Rook, who finished second in the 2001 Classic on the Louisiana Delta, said he is sharing water with VanDam and Martens, but the area is large enough for sharing.
"It's a huge spawning flats, 2 1/2 to 3 feet deep," Rook said. "It's got thousands of cypress stumps. I know there's fish in there spawning."
Rook said his fish came slowly. He had two by noon, but then the bite turned on.
"Normally, with a full moon, they start biting again at noon, and they did," he said.
He had a 3 1/2-pounder at noon, then two more, each about 10 minutes apart. His day's total was 19 pounds, 6 ounces.
VanDam, the angler who beat Rook in 2001, described his day as "decent."
"I was really hoping to have an outstanding day today and get a big bite or two," he said. "The fish were a little bit fickle. They're thinking about spawning and not eating real well, so the bite was a little funny. It was definitely a struggle, but there's quality in the pattern I'm fishing."
VanDam said he will trust his Day 1 success and return to his spots on Saturday.
Chapman said he hopes to duplicate his 18 pounds of Friday by returning to his southerly spot in the Venice area.
"I don't think it showed itself," Chapman said. "It's got a lot of fish. I think I can do even better."
Martens grimaced when told of Saturday's forecast for early morning dense fog. He's determined to stick with his spot.
"I'd like to get there early in the morning. They bite better then," Martens said. "As much as I caught today, and the quality I'm seeing, hopefully I'll get enough to maybe win this thing."
Competing in his 12th Classic, Martens has been runner-up three times.
Unlike Martens and VanDam, Lane is making a long run to the Venice area. He said he got to his area by 10:30 a.m., fished until 12:30 p.m., then headed in and arrived 45 minutes early. He said another fog delay wouldn't hurt him too much, and just 3 hours of fishing time on Saturday will suit him.
"That's plenty of time - if you're around them," he said.
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Topic: Day1 of the Bassmaster Classic, (Read 2929 times)
