STOCKTON, Calif. - Castaic native Aaron Martens now of Leeds, Ala., capped off a week to remember Sunday winning the Bassmaster Elite Series bass fishing tournament with 85 pounds, 12 ounces over Elite rookie Derek Remitz of Madison, Ala., who finished in second with 78 pounds, 6 ounces. On Tuesday, Martens' wife Lesley had the couple's second child, a boy named Spencer.
The 34-year-old bested Remitz in addition to hard-charging Stephen Browning of Hot Springs, Ark., who finished in third with 75 pounds, 8 ounces.
"If there was one place on the entire Earth that I could pick to win, it would be the California Delta," Martens said. "Finally winning here is an amazing feeling. Heading into the tournament, I just wanted to finish in the top 50."
With the Elite Series win, his fourth BASS win, Martens has amassed more than $1 million in BASS career earnings. He is the 18th member of that club.
Martens primarily concentrated on a short stretch of cover located in the Frank's Tract area. He worked a four-inch and three-inch worm in his trademark color of Aaron's magic on drop-shot rigs to sparse tulles.
Remitz fished in the same Frank's Tract area as Martens for much of the tournament. The 24-year-old continued an unprecedented rookie run after taking victory in the season-opening Elite event on Texas' Lake Amistad.
"I am really pleased with my finish here," said Remitz. "I didn't have a good practice, so I am absolutely satisfied with second-place."
Remitz was working a red Rat-L-Trap around grass flats near spawning areas and caught the majority of his bigger keeper fish on small underwater structure changes with a jig.
Heading into the final day of action, it looked to be a two-angler race between Remitz and Martens. But the 40-year-old Browning posted the heaviest limit of the day at 24 pounds, 4 ounces, and put some pressure on the leaders.
Rounding out the top five were Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., with 74 pounds, 6 ounces, and Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kansas, with 73 pounds, 12 ounces. Chapman scored the Purolator Big Bass of the Day, a 9-9 lunker, and earned the $1,000 premium.
Heading into the third Elite event of the season, Remitz leads the Bassmaster Angler of the Year points in addition to the Toyota Rookie of the Year race. Full standings can be found below.
The "Golden State Shootout" on Clear Lake will be hosted by Lakeport, Calif., and daily weigh-ins will be held at Library Park starting at 3:00 p.m. PT.
2007 Duel in the Delta Pro 03/22-03/25
California Delta, Stockton Calif.
(PRO Division) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 20 85-12 310 $103,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 30-10 Day 3: 5 19-02 Day 4: 5 15-15
2. Derek Remitz Hemphill, Texas 20 78-06 300 $30,000.00
Day 1: 5 23-05 Day 2: 5 27-09 Day 3: 5 15-13 Day 4: 5 11-11
3. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, Ark. 20 75-08 290 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-13 Day 2: 5 16-08 Day 3: 5 13-15 Day 4: 5 24-04
4. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 20 74-06 285 $18,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 14-12 Day 3: 5 20-15 Day 4: 5 23-04
5. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, Kan. 20 73-12 280 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-12 Day 2: 5 15-13 Day 3: 5 14-05 Day 4: 5 20-14
6. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 20 72-05 276 $15,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 22-04 Day 3: 5 13-14 Day 4: 5 20-07
7. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, Calif. 20 69-15 272 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-00 Day 2: 5 21-00 Day 3: 5 9-13 Day 4: 5 18-02
8. Jeff Reynolds Idabel, Okla. 20 68-14 268 $14,500.00
Day 1: 5 22-11 Day 2: 5 13-10 Day 3: 5 18-11 Day 4: 5 13-14
9. Chris Lane Winter Haven, Fla. 20 67-12 264 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-04 Day 2: 5 12-01 Day 3: 5 18-10 Day 4: 5 16-13
10. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 20 65-15 260 $14,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 11-13 Day 3: 5 22-04 Day 4: 5 13-10
11. James Niggemeyer Van, Texas 20 65-14 257 $12,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 25-14 Day 3: 5 17-10 Day 4: 5 9-12
12. James Charlesworth Saint Cloud, Fla. 20 62-14 254 $12,300.00
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 21-15 Day 3: 5 13-15 Day 4: 5 10-05
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Purolator Big Bass
Day
1 Mark Tyler Vian, Okla. 10-06 $1,000.00
2 Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 11-02 $1,000.00
3 Chris Lane Winter Haven, Fla. 8-13 $1,000.00
Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 11-02 $1,000.00Berkely Heavyweight
Day
1 Mark Tyler Vian, Okla. 23-15 $1,000.00
2 Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 30-10 $1,000.00
3 Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 22-04 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 96 512 1430-11
2 96 520 1432-00
3 48 247 648-05
4 12 60 198-15
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252 1339 3709-15
2007 Duel in the Delta
Pro Points After California Delta, Stockton, Calif.
Ending 03-25-2007, Day 4
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Place Name St Pts
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1 Derek Remitz Texas 610
2 Kevin VanDam Mich. 556
3 Skeet Reese Calif. 549
4 Jared Lintner Calif. 522
5 Stephen Browning Ark. 513
6 BRENT CHAPMAN Kan. 509
7 Jeff Kriet Okla. 498
8 Mark Tyler Okla. 489
9 Tommy Biffle Okla. 476
10 FRED ROUMBANIS Calif. 470
11 John Crews Va. 468
12 Aaron Martens Ala. 465
13 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 462
14 Steve Kennedy Ala. 453
15 Greg Hackney La. 451
16 Ishama Monroe Calif. 449
17 Alton Jones Texas 445
18 Chris Lane Fla. 435
19 Todd Faircloth Texas 430
20 Ben Matsubu Texas 424
21 Bill Lowen Ohio 420
22 Denny Brauer Mo. 416
23 Davy Hite S.C. 413
23 Matthew Sphar N.Y. 413
25 Cliff Pace Miss. 410
26 Dean Rojas Texas 409
27 Scott Rook Ark. 406
27 Scott Campbell Mo. 406
29 Bradley Hallman Okla. 402
30 Ken Brodeur Conn. 395
31 James Charlesworth Fla. 385
32 BRYAN HUDGINS Fla. 380
33 Greg Gutierrez Calif. 375
33 Morizo Shimizu Calif. 375
35 Mike McClelland Ark. 370
36 Brian Snowden Mo. 368
37 Mark Menendez Ky. 365
38 Terry Scroggins Fla. 364
38 Takahiro Omori Texas 364
40 Jeff Connella La. 358
40 CHARLIE HARTLEY Ohio 358
42 Russ Lane Ala. 357
43 Britt Myers S.C. 356
43 Dave Wolak N.C. 356
45 John Murray Ariz. 347
46 Kevin Short Ark. 346
47 Gary Klein Texas 344
47 Bernie Schultz Fla. 344
49 Edwin Evers Okla. 342
50 Kenyon Hill Okla. 341
51 Kevin Wirth Ky. 339
52 Jeff Reynolds Okla. 338
53 Matt Reed Texas 337
54 Marty Stone N.C. 335
55 Ken Cook Okla. 334
56 Kevin Langill N.C. 330
57 MARTY ROBINSON S.C. 329
58 CASEY ASHLEY S.C. 326
59 James Niggemeyer Texas 325
60 Jimmy Mize Ark. 320
61 Rick Morris Va. 312
62 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas 310
63 Jami Fralick S.D. 307
64 Gerald Swindle Ala. 306
64 Mark Tucker Mo. 306
66 Grant Goldbeck Md. 303
67 Paul Hirosky Pa. 300
68 Rick Clunn Mo. 299
69 Mike Wurm Ark. 298
70 Lee Bailey Ala. 294
71 Darrin Schwenkbeck Md. 292
72 Zell Rowland Texas 288
73 MATT AMEDEO Ohio 287
74 Jason Quinn S.C. 286
75 Timmy Horton Ala. 285
76 Shaw Grigsby, Jr Fla. 284
77 Steve DANIEL Fla. 283
78 RAY SEDGWICK S.C. 281
79 Kurt Dove Va. 279
80 Preston Clark Fla. 276
81 JEREMY STARKS W.Va. 274
81 GLENN DELONG Ohio 274
83 Kelly Jordon Texas 270
84 Paul Elias Miss. 267
85 RICK ASH Pa. 264
86 Randy Howell Ala. 262
87 James Kennedy La. 255
88 Guy Eaker N.C. 250
89 Mark Rogers Fla. 249
89 Pete Ponds Miss. 249
91 JASON WILLIAMSON S.C. 245
92 KOTARO KIRIYAMA Ala. 232
93 DAVE SMITH Okla. 228
94 BILL SMITH Ky. 221
95 Peter Thliveros Fla. 217
96 Elton Luce Jr Texas 216
97 Byron VELVICK Texas 212
98 Boyd Duckett Ala. 208
98 Doc Merkin Ill. 208
100 Keith Phillips Ala. 199
101 Frank Scalish Ohio 190
102 Jim Murray Ga. 188
103 Charlie Youngers Fla. 184
104 Bradley Stringer Texas 180
105 ERIC NETHERY Ga. 163
106 Jon Bondy Canada 162
107 Terry Butcher Okla. 149
108 JIMMY MASON Ala. 143 2007 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
After California Delta, Stockton, CA
ending 03-25-2007, Day 4
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Place Name St Pts
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1 Derek Remitz Texas 610
2 Matthew Sphar N.Y. 413
3 Scott Campbell Mo. 406
4 James Charlesworth Fla. 385
5 BRYAN HUDGINS Fla. 380
6 MARTY ROBINSON S.C. 329
7 CASEY ASHLEY S.C. 326
8 James Niggemeyer Texas 325
9 MATT AMEDEO Ohio 287
10 GLENN DELONG Ohio 274
11 James Kennedy La. 255
12 JASON WILLIAMSON S.C. 245