ZAPATA, Texas Inching closer to his fifth BASS win, Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., distanced himself from his nearest competitor, Mark Davis of Mt. Ida, Ark., by more than 7 pounds at the Bassmaster Elite Series bass fishing tournament on big-bass factory Falcon Lake.
The competition will end Sunday with only the top 12 anglers competing and the champion earning $100,000. Martens has led wire to wire and has totaled 109 pounds, 8 ounces, over three days of competition. Breaking the BASS four-day heavyweight record of 122 pounds, 14 ounces, is a mere formality now for Martens.
"I really want to win this one," said Martens, the 2005 Bassmaster Angler of the Year. "I'm frustrated because I think I left some weight out there and I would like a more comfortable cushion, but thats fishing."
Martens has primarily worked a Carolina rig in deeper water to entice the biggest bass and will continue to do so Sunday. While he has mostly focused on a shared main area with Byron Velvick, who is in third, he had the foresight during practice to seek out other productive areas.
Martens, 35, feels that the shared area hasnt maintained its productivity and will start on one of his secondary areas first thing Sunday morning. He has other areas that he feels could be productive but noted that other anglers have found those as well.
The versatile Martens estimates he will need to catch 35 pounds on the final day to take the victory. That would put his four-day total north of 140 pounds, demolishing the existing record.
"The record is nice but I'm really focused on this win," said Martens, a West Coast product originally from California. "I hope I can hold on but I have fished great this week and I absolutely love this lake."
Davis has maintained consistency while other anglers have faltered. His Saturday catch of 33 pounds, 4 ounces, was his third consecutive limit weighing more than 33 pounds. The three-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year gained ground on Martens and is one big bite away from catching him for his sixth BASS victory.
"I'm doing all I can do but I guess its not quite enough," said Davis, who has 102 pounds, 1 ounces. "Overall, I'm happy with my performance though. There is not an angler on this Earth who would say they are disappointed with more than 100 pounds over three days."
Davis has 15 to 20 spots and is executing a milk run on the areas. He said that the bite heats up in the afternoon and he was able to upgrade his weight significantly at the end of the day. He feels that his area could yield 50 pounds Sunday and hoped that the decreased boat pressure on his areas could help him significantly.
Slipping from second to third was Byron Velvick of Del Rio, Texas, with 101 pounds, 12 ounces. Velvick qualified for his second Elite 12 cut of the season. Moving up from eighth to fourth was Scott Rook of Little Rock, Ark., with 95-9. In fifth was Paul Elias of Laurel, Miss., with 94-13.
Also qualifying for the Elite 12 cut was 2006 Bassmaster Angler of the Year Mike Iaconelli (sixth) and Texan Ben Matsubu (10th).
In the co-angler division, Randall Jackson of Broken Arrow, Okla., set the co-angler BASS heavyweight record with 83 pounds, 3 ounces, winning the $25,000 top prize. Jackson outlasted Californian Alexander Meza (76-07) and Louisianas Russell Lohman (74-14).
The Lone Star Shootout marks the first time BASS has visited Falcon Lake in Zapata, Texas. The mainstream reservoir on the Rio Grande River has a surface area of 83,654 acres.
2008 Lone Star Shootout 4/3-4/6
Falcon Lake, Zapata TX.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 15 109-08 315 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 42-00 Day 2: 5 37-13 Day 3: 5 29-11
2. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 15 102-01 295 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 35-04 Day 2: 5 33-09 Day 3: 5 33-04
3. Byron Velvick Del Rio, TX 15 101-12 290 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 34-14 Day 2: 5 41-11 Day 3: 5 25-03
4. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 15 95-09 285
Day 1: 5 35-12 Day 2: 5 24-09 Day 3: 5 35-04
5. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 15 94-13 280
Day 1: 5 28-05 Day 2: 5 39-01 Day 3: 5 27-07
6. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, NJ 15 92-01 276
Day 1: 5 34-11 Day 2: 5 31-10 Day 3: 5 25-12
7. Rick Morris Virginia Beach, VA 15 91-02 272 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 25-07 Day 2: 5 29-10 Day 3: 5 36-01
8. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 15 90-07 268 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 28-02 Day 2: 5 28-04 Day 3: 5 34-01
9. Scott Campbell Springfield, MO 15 89-04 264 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 33-15 Day 2: 5 25-06 Day 3: 5 29-15
10. Ben Matsubu Hemphill, TX 15 89-01 260
Day 1: 5 24-14 Day 2: 5 30-03 Day 3: 5 34-00
11. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 15 88-05 257
Day 1: 5 33-04 Day 2: 5 27-09 Day 3: 5 27-08
12. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 15 88-00 254
Day 1: 5 33-01 Day 2: 5 25-01 Day 3: 5 29-14
13. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 15 87-08 251 $10,800.00
Day 1: 5 30-01 Day 2: 5 27-14 Day 3: 5 29-09
14. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 15 86-07 248 $10,700.00
Day 1: 5 30-06 Day 2: 5 23-13 Day 3: 5 32-04
15. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 15 85-08 244 $10,550.00
Day 1: 5 32-09 Day 2: 5 29-06 Day 3: 5 23-09
15. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 15 85-08 244 $10,550.00
Day 1: 5 33-11 Day 2: 5 25-12 Day 3: 5 26-01
17. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, NC 15 82-11 239 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 24-05 Day 2: 5 25-09 Day 3: 5 32-13
17. Shaw E Grigsby Gainesville, FL 15 82-11 239 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 26-11 Day 2: 5 27-01 Day 3: 5 28-15
17. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 15 82-11 239 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 30-06 Day 2: 5 23-08 Day 3: 5 28-13
20. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 15 82-06 235 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 27-01 Day 2: 5 27-07 Day 3: 5 27-14
21. Kevin Langill Terrell, NC 15 82-04 233 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 5 34-07 Day 3: 5 28-06
22. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 15 82-03 231 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 23-13 Day 2: 5 33-01 Day 3: 5 25-05
23. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 15 82-02 229 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 33-02 Day 2: 5 22-14 Day 3: 5 26-02
24. Kelly Jordon Mineola, TX 15 82-01 227 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 24-00 Day 2: 5 33-13 Day 3: 5 24-04
25. Jason Quinn York, SC 15 81-15 225 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 31-14 Day 2: 5 24-08 Day 3: 5 25-09
26. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 15 81-07 223 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-12 Day 2: 5 27-14 Day 3: 5 30-13
27. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 15 81-00 221 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 26-00 Day 2: 5 25-08 Day 3: 5 29-08
28. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 15 80-14 219 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 35-06 Day 2: 5 20-08 Day 3: 5 25-00
29. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, AR 15 80-07 217 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 26-12 Day 2: 5 29-02 Day 3: 5 24-09
30. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 15 79-14 215 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 25-14 Day 2: 5 29-04 Day 3: 5 24-12
31. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira , KS 15 79-11 212 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 31-15 Day 2: 5 19-01 Day 3: 5 28-11
31. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 15 79-11 212 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 26-00 Day 2: 5 26-07 Day 3: 5 27-04
33. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 15 79-10 209 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 28-12 Day 2: 5 26-13 Day 3: 5 24-01
34. Bryan Hudgins Orange Park, FL 15 79-02 207 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 24-00 Day 2: 5 29-00 Day 3: 5 26-02
35. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 15 78-14 205 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 5 34-00 Day 3: 5 27-15
36. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 15 78-04 203 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 28-07 Day 2: 5 21-01 Day 3: 5 28-12
37. Ray Sedgwick Cross, SC 15 77-09 201 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 27-09 Day 2: 5 27-07 Day 3: 5 22-09
38. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, KY 15 76-14 199 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 29-03 Day 2: 5 23-15 Day 3: 5 23-12
39. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, AR 15 75-15 197 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 25-09 Day 2: 5 30-08 Day 3: 5 19-14
40. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 15 75-11 195 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 29-15 Day 2: 5 24-01 Day 3: 5 21-11
41. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 15 75-06 193 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 25-08 Day 2: 5 23-15 Day 3: 5 25-15
42. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 15 72-14 191 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 28-03 Day 2: 5 22-00 Day 3: 5 22-11
43. Corey Waldrop Fort Worth, TX 15 72-06 189 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 24-09 Day 2: 5 26-03 Day 3: 5 21-10
44. Alton Jones Waco, TX 15 72-05 187 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 28-14 Day 2: 5 20-15 Day 3: 5 22-08
45. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 15 72-04 184 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 27-01 Day 2: 5 22-08 Day 3: 5 22-11
45. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 15 72-04 184 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 25-09 Day 2: 5 26-12 Day 3: 5 19-15
47. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 15 71-08 181 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 26-11 Day 2: 5 25-01 Day 3: 5 19-12
48. Marty Stone Fayetteville , NC 15 71-03 179 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 29-10 Day 2: 5 20-10 Day 3: 5 20-15
49. Wade Grooms Bonneau, SC 15 71-02 177 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 31-08 Day 2: 5 20-08 Day 3: 5 19-02
50. Jim Murray Arabi, GA 15 71-00 175 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 26-12 Day 2: 5 22-14 Day 3: 5 21-06
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Purolator Big Bass
Day
1 Scott Campbell Springfield, MO 13-02 $1,000.00
2 Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 11-00 $1,000.00
3 Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 10-05 $1,000.00
Day
1 Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 42-00 $1,000.00
2 Byron Velvick Del Rio, TX 41-11 $1,000.00
3 Rick Morris Virginia Beach, VA 36-01 $1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 107 539 2617-02
2 105 537 2528-14
3 50 250 1329-06
----------------------------------
262 1326 6475-06
2008 Lone Star Shootout 4/3-4/6
Falcon Lake, Zapata TX.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Randall Jackson Broken Arrow, OK 15 83-03 0 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 32-10 Day 2: 5 25-04 Day 3: 5 25-05
2. Alexander Meza San Jose, CA 15 76-07 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 24-12 Day 2: 5 19-07 Day 3: 5 32-04
3. Russell Lohman Pineville, LA 15 74-14 0 $5,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-09 Day 2: 5 25-13 Day 3: 5 29-08
4. David Doty Cottage Grove, MN 15 71-15 0 $3,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 17-00 Day 3: 5 39-03
5. Chad Kallina Nada, TX 15 70-03 0 $3,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 28-04 Day 3: 5 24-15
6. Joseph Lancaster Victoria, TX 14 63-14 0 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 29-00 Day 3: 4 19-15
7. Ronnie Tyson Marietta, GA 15 62-11 0 $2,250.00
Day 1: 5 21-14 Day 2: 5 20-03 Day 3: 5 20-10
8. Chance Hundley San Angelo, TX 14 61-11 0 $2,000.00
Day 1: 4 11-12 Day 2: 5 18-01 Day 3: 5 31-14
9. Larry Triplett Parker, CO 15 61-09 0 $1,750.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 27-04 Day 3: 5 18-14
10. Steve Moore Shawnee, OK 15 60-07 0 $1,500.00
Day 1: 5 25-04 Day 2: 5 11-14 Day 3: 5 23-05
11. John White Armuchee, GA 15 57-15 0 $1,125.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 18-14 Day 3: 5 28-04
11. Shawn Maynor Talala, OK 15 57-15 0 $1,125.00
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 23-15 Day 3: 5 16-05
13. John Struthers Mcallen, TX 15 57-11 0 $1,250.00
Day 1: 5 21-14 Day 2: 5 13-14 Day 3: 5 21-15
14. James Lynn Georgetown, TX 13 56-15 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 25-05 Day 2: 5 19-14 Day 3: 3 11-12
15. Mary Delgado Tampa, FL 14 56-14 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 26-11 Day 2: 4 11-13 Day 3: 5 18-06
16. Mannie Lackey Kerrville, TX 15 56-11 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 22-08 Day 3: 5 17-13
17. Cody Hundley Rio Medina, TX 15 55-06 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 5 14-09 Day 3: 5 21-15
18. Jim McDevitt Eldon, MO 15 54-10 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 21-14 Day 3: 5 19-11
19. Benjamin Jackson Broken Arrow, OK 15 54-05 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 18-05 Day 3: 5 24-15
20. Thomas Frink Simi Valley, CA 15 54-04 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 21-10 Day 2: 5 13-01 Day 3: 5 19-09
21. Pete Robbins Vienna, NV 15 54-00 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 5 22-01
22. Richard Kennedy Angie, LA 14 53-14 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 4 13-08 Day 3: 5 23-07
23. Derek Phillips Castle Rock, CO 14 53-12 0 $750.00
Day 1: 4 11-13 Day 2: 5 23-03 Day 3: 5 18-12
24. Daren Scott Fort Worth, NY 13 53-10 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 3 13-10 Day 3: 5 21-08
25. Jimmy Klick Saint Paul, MN 15 53-01 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 20-00 Day 3: 5 17-06
26. Preston Frazell Kincaid, KS 15 52-14 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 14-06 Day 3: 5 21-05
27. William Roberts Fairfax, VA 14 51-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 15-07 Day 2: 5 17-14 Day 3: 5 18-10
28. Marcos Malucelli Fort Mill, SC 15 51-10 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 5 21-01
29. Joel Etheredge Springville, AL 15 51-02 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 19-04 Day 2: 5 14-10 Day 3: 5 17-04
30. Randall Coyle Mauriceville , TX 15 49-12 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 18-14 Day 3: 5 15-02
31. Thomas Ferro Willis, TX 14 49-04 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 4 12-14 Day 3: 5 19-07
32. John Northam Adkins, TX 15 49-01 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 18-00 Day 3: 5 17-10
33. Ivan C Morris Virginia Beach, VA 15 48-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 16-08 Day 3: 5 16-14
34. Matthew Leavell Tuscaloosa, AL 14 48-14 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 4 16-00 Day 3: 5 17-13
35. Ron Chapman Lake Quivira , KS 12 48-11 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 30-01 Day 2: 2 03-04 Day 3: 5 15-06
36. Richard Drake San Antonio, TX 14 47-14 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 15-05 Day 2: 5 18-04 Day 3: 5 14-05
37. James Harden Porter, TX 15 46-02 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 17-02 Day 3: 5 15-04
38. Wes Hood Annandale, VA 15 45-14 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 19-05 Day 3: 5 14-11
39. William Wood San Angelo, TX 14 44-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 22-11 Day 2: 4 08-08 Day 3: 5 13-12
40. Larry Watkins Tecumseh, OK 15 44-12 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 17-01 Day 3: 5 12-15
41. Ted Martin Dallas, TX 15 44-03 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 20-02 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 5 10-13
42. Dennis Whitaker Branson, MO 15 43-13 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 16-06 Day 3: 5 13-02
43. Kenny Williamson Peoria, AZ 14 43-06 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 5 14-09 Day 3: 4 11-12
44. Jason Cordiale Orinda, CA 12 43-00 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 19-02 Day 2: 5 17-08 Day 3: 2 06-06
45. David Cosner Austin, TX 15 42-04 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 17-08 Day 3: 5 11-15
46. Rick Romane Pipe Creek, TX 8 40-09 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 27-00 Day 2: 1 04-10 Day 3: 2 08-15
47. Tim Windham Jackson, AL 13 39-03 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 18-02 Day 3: 3 09-06
48. Fritz Callier Boerne, TX 10 39-02 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 18-02 Day 2: 4 17-00 Day 3: 1 04-00
49. Mike Williams Delhi, LA 10 38-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 17-15 Day 2: 5 21-00 Day 3: 0 00-00
50. James Crump Flower Mound, TX 11 32-05 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 19-05 Day 3: 1 01-14
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Big Bass
Day
1 Troy Sprague Lincoln, NE 12-03 $500.00
2 Mike Glover Ozona, TX 10-06 $500.00
3 John Struthers Mcallen, TX 10-13 $500.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 67 418 1407-02
2 60 424 1473-04
3 41 225 899-02
----------------------------------
168 1067 3779-08