ORANGE, Texas — With many areas flooded and the tide playing havoc with others, Alabama angler Chris Lane figured he would have a one-hour window to make a big score during Thursday’s opening round of the Bassmaster Elite tournament at Sabine River. He was right — and he made the most of it, bringing in five bass that weighed 15 pounds, 10 ounces to claim the opening-round lead on a day that was delayed nearly two hours by fog. Terry “Big Show” Scroggins is a close second with 15-2, followed by Aaron Martens (13-14), Shaw Grigsby (13-4) and 2014 Bassmaster Angler of the Year Greg Hackney (12-9). Lane, who caught all of his fish from 2 feet of water or less, said that one magic hour when the tide was just right proved to be his best ever on the Sabine.
“With tidal water, there are times to really capitalize,” said Lane, who finished 22nd in the 2013 Elite Series event on the Sabine. “Those windows are very short. But when you find what really works on a certain fishery during that hour window that you have, you can really put some good fish in the boat.”
Lane already had a limit before his magic hour began, but he culled his three smallest fish for his three biggest of the day during that window of opportunity.
“I culled three times within that hour, and that made all the difference between bringing in 10 and 15 pounds,” Lane said. “Those were the three biggest fish I think I’ve ever caught in the Sabine River — two pushing 4 pounds and one almost 3.”
Considering the fishery’s proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, the tide plays a big role in any event held on the Sabine River. But with three days left to fish, Lane wouldn’t go into specifics about the tide or how he identified the perfect hour for fishing. It was understandable, considering he’s sharing at least some of his areas with the third-place angler, Martens. The two met head-on around lunchtime as Martens was leaving a narrow, grass-lined canal and Lane was attempting to enter, but exchanged only friendly gestures.
Whatever secrets Lane has unlocked seem to have been figured out by Martens as well. The California native, who now lives in Leeds, Ala., had a five-fish limit well before lunch and steadily culled fish from super-shallow water throughout the day to manage his total of 13-14.
“I think a lot of the big ones are a little bit smarter,” Martens said. “If you catch them on the right tide, they’ll bite. But if you catch them on the wrong tide, they won’t. It’s just a matter of timing.”
Again, because he’s sharing water with Lane, Martens wouldn’t explain what makes the “right tide.” Sharing water was also an issue for Scroggins, who caught 15-2 from an area he described as “100 yards long and 50 yards across,” while fishing alongside Kansas angler Brent Chapman.
“Brent was in there going down the other side, and I watched him catch a 3-pounder,” Scroggins said. “But then a little bit later, I caught my biggest fish of the day. That made me feel a little better.”
Scroggins’ best fish weighed 6-10 and took big bass honors for the day. Chapman brought only four bass to the scales that weighed 10-0 and is in 23rd place.
“It’s hard to say what will happen the rest of the way,” Scroggins said. “The fish aren’t really replenishing once you catch them out of an area. So who knows what tomorrow might look like?”
The most secretive angler from the Top 5 was veteran Florida pro Shaw Grigsby. After bringing in five bass that weighed 13-4, Grigsby said only that he was using “Strike King lures tied onto Seaguar line.”
After Friday’s round, the field will be reduced to the Top 53 anglers in the standings. Then after Saturday’s round, only the Top 12 will advance to Sunday’s championship. Daily takeoffs are scheduled for 7:10 a.m. CT at City of Orange Boat Ramp with weigh-ins scheduled at the same location at 4 p.m. CT. The Outdoor Expo and Orange County River Festival open daily at 11 a.m. All Bassmaster events are free.
2015 Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River Presented By STARK Cultural Venues 3/19-3/22
Sabine River System, Orange TX.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 5 15-10 100
Day 1: 5 15-10
2. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 5 15-02 99
Day 1: 5 15-02
3. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 13-14 98
Day 1: 5 13-14
4. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 5 13-04 97
Day 1: 5 13-04
5. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 12-09 96
Day 1: 5 12-09
6. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 12-03 95
Day 1: 5 12-03
7. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 12-00 94
Day 1: 5 12-00
8. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 5 11-07 93
Day 1: 5 11-07
9. Chris Zaldain San Jose, CA 5 11-06 92
Day 1: 5 11-06
10. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 5 11-06 91
Day 1: 5 11-06
11. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 11-05 90
Day 1: 5 11-05
12. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 11-02 89
Day 1: 5 11-02
12. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 5 11-02 89
Day 1: 5 11-02
14. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 5 10-15 87
Day 1: 5 10-15
15. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 5 10-09 86
Day 1: 5 10-09
16. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 10-08 85
Day 1: 5 10-08
16. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 5 10-08 85
Day 1: 5 10-08
18. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 5 10-04 83
Day 1: 5 10-04
19. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 10-03 82
Day 1: 5 10-03
20. Ken Iyobe Tokoname Aichi JAPAN 4 10-03 81
Day 1: 4 10-03
21. Mike Kernan Wylie, TX 3 10-01 80
Day 1: 3 10-01
22. David Smith Del City, OK 5 10-00 79
Day 1: 5 10-00
23. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 4 10-00 78
Day 1: 4 10-00
24. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 5 09-15 77
Day 1: 5 09-15
24. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 09-15 77
Day 1: 5 09-15
26. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 5 09-14 75
Day 1: 5 09-14
27. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 4 09-12 74
Day 1: 4 09-12
28. Boo Woods Oneida, KY 5 09-10 73
Day 1: 5 09-10
29. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 4 09-10 72
Day 1: 4 09-10
30. Boyd Duckett Guntersville, AL 5 09-09 71
Day 1: 5 09-09
30. Matt Lee Auburn , AL 5 09-09 71
Day 1: 5 09-09
30. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 5 09-09 71
Day 1: 5 09-09
33. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 4 09-09 68
Day 1: 4 09-09
34. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 09-08 67
Day 1: 5 09-08
35. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 5 09-05 66
Day 1: 5 09-05
36. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 5 09-03 65
Day 1: 5 09-03
37. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 09-01 64
Day 1: 5 09-01
37. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 09-01 64
Day 1: 5 09-01
37. Fletcher Shryock New Philadelphia, OH 5 09-01 64
Day 1: 5 09-01
40. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 5 08-15 61
Day 1: 5 08-15
41. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 5 08-12 60
Day 1: 5 08-12
42. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 4 08-08 59
Day 1: 4 08-08
43. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 5 08-04 58
Day 1: 5 08-04
44. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 5 08-03 57
Day 1: 5 08-03
45. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 4 08-02 56
Day 1: 4 08-02
46. Randy Howell Springville, AL 5 08-01 55
Day 1: 5 08-01
47. James Elam Tulsa, OK 4 07-14 54
Day 1: 4 07-14
48. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 07-11 53
Day 1: 5 07-11
49. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 4 07-10 52
Day 1: 4 07-10
50. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 4 07-06 51
Day 1: 4 07-06
51. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 4 07-03 50
Day 1: 4 07-03
51. Nate Wellman Newaygo, MI 4 07-03 50
Day 1: 4 07-03
53. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 4 07-02 48
Day 1: 4 07-02
54. Casey Scanlon Lanexa, KS 4 07-00 47
Day 1: 4 07-00
55. Hank Cherry Jr Maiden, NC 4 06-15 46
Day 1: 4 06-15
56. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, TN 2 06-11 45
Day 1: 2 06-11
57. Kelly Jordon Flint, TX 4 06-06 44
Day 1: 4 06-06
58. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 3 06-05 43
Day 1: 3 06-05
59. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 3 06-04 42
Day 1: 3 06-04
59. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 3 06-04 42
Day 1: 3 06-04
61. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 3 06-02 40
Day 1: 3 06-02
62. Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, IL 3 05-12 39
Day 1: 3 05-12
63. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 3 05-11 38
Day 1: 3 05-11
64. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 3 05-03 37
Day 1: 3 05-03
65. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 3 05-03 36
Day 1: 3 05-03
66. Randy Allen Shreveport, LA 3 05-02 35
Day 1: 3 05-02
67. Koby Kreiger Bokeelia, FL 3 05-01 34
Day 1: 3 05-01
68. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 2 05-01 33
Day 1: 2 05-01
69. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 3 04-15 32
Day 1: 3 04-15
69. Morizo Shimizu Suita, Osaka JAPAN 3 04-15 32
Day 1: 3 04-15
71. Joseph Sancho New Windsor, NY 3 04-12 30
Day 1: 3 04-12
72. Jared Miller Norman, OK 3 04-11 29
Day 1: 3 04-11
73. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 2 04-08 28
Day 1: 2 04-08
74. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 3 04-07 27
Day 1: 3 04-07
75. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 2 04-06 26
Day 1: 2 04-06
76. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 2 04-00 25
Day 1: 2 04-00
77. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 2 03-14 24
Day 1: 2 03-14
77. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 2 03-14 24
Day 1: 2 03-14
79. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 2 03-13 22
Day 1: 2 03-13
80. Kevin Hawk Guntersville, AL 2 03-11 21
Day 1: 2 03-11
81. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 2 03-09 20
Day 1: 2 03-09
82. Josh Bertrand Gilbert, AZ 2 03-08 19
Day 1: 2 03-08
82. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 2 03-08 19
Day 1: 2 03-08
84. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 2 03-06 17
Day 1: 2 03-06
85. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 2 03-06 16
Day 1: 2 03-06
86. Brent Ehrler Newport Beach, CA 2 03-05 15
Day 1: 2 03-05
87. Jacob Powroznik Port Haywood, VA 1 03-05 14
Day 1: 1 03-05
88. Kurt Dove Del Rio, TX 2 03-04 13
Day 1: 2 03-04
89. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 2 03-02 12
Day 1: 2 03-02
89. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 2 03-02 12
Day 1: 2 03-02
91. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 2 03-01 10
Day 1: 2 03-01
92. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 2 03-00 9
Day 1: 2 03-00
93. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 1 02-15 8
Day 1: 1 02-15
94. David Williams Maiden, NC 1 02-06 7
Day 1: 1 02-06
95. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 1 02-05 6
Day 1: 1 02-05
96. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 1 02-01 5
Day 1: 1 02-01
97. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 1 01-14 4
Day 1: 1 01-14
98. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 1 01-12 3
Day 1: 1 01-12
99. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 1 01-11 2
Day 1: 1 01-11
100. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 1 01-09 1
Day 1: 1 01-09
101. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 1 01-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-08
102. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 1 01-07 0
Day 1: 1 01-07
103. Jordan Lee Vinemont, AL 1 01-05 0
Day 1: 1 01-05
104. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
104. Seth Feider Bloomington, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
104. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TX AUSTRALIA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
104. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
104. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
104. Stephen Longobardi Northford, CT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
104. Chad Pipkens Holt, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
104. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
104. Byron Velvick Boenre, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
104. David Walker Sevierville, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 39 359 729-13
----------------------------------
39 359 729-13