Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., takes the lead on the second day of the Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River presented by Go RVing, with a two-day total weight of 34 pounds, 3 ounces.
June 22, 2018
Martens Takes Over Lead After Two Days At Mississippi River Bassmaster Elite
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LA CROSSE, Wis. — With this tournament being his fourth visit to the legendary Upper Mississippi River, Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., is now eyeballing the $100,000 payday as he took the lead at the 2018 Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River presented by Go RVing.
The water is rising at La Crosse, but it’s not stopped the big largemouth and smallmouth bass from eating with regularity. River levels are expected to remain within the forecasted range: 12 feet high by Sunday, and cresting sometime Monday.
Twelve feet is considered flood stage, which will certainly impact the fishing from day to day.
Regardless of challenging river conditions, Martens posted a fine five-bass limit that weighed 17 pounds, 14 ounces to push him to the top of the official leaderboard with a two-day total of 34-3.
The three-time Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year finished in fifth place in 2012 when the Elite Series visited La Crosse, second in 2013 and 30th in 2016.
To say he wants to win here is an understatement.
“I know the winning limit of fish is swimming where I’m fishing,” he said. “I want to prove it this time. But a number of factors are going to have to go my way for that to happen.”
Over the years, he’s spent a lot of time across this vast fishery, and he said it’s an amazing place to come and catch a lot of bass. But his location continues to produce quality fish year after year.
“I keep coming back to the same location when we compete here. I’ve done well fishing in that area every single time, and I see no reason to change my approach,” he said. “It might bite me this time, but right now I’m confident the fish I need to win are there to be caught.”
Martens is sharing water with California angler Chris Zaldain.
Zaldain put together an impressive limit that weighed 17-11 pushing his two-day total to 32-7, which was good enough for the fourth-place spot on the leaderboard.
“Chris and I are both fishing for the same fish, but we’re being respectful of each other, and that’s important,” Martens said. “We both want to win, and fishing so closely together will make things interesting for sure.”
The impending floodwaters do not seem to be affecting Martens or Zaldain, but for Randall Tharp of Port St. Joe, Fla., that might be a different story.
Tharp caught 17-12 the second round for a two-day total of 34-2, and will be starting the semifinals on Saturday in second place.
“During practice, and even today, I thought the rising water would hurt my pattern,” Tharp said. “But surprisingly, the fishing was better today. I caught what I weighed in early enough to sit down and eat lunch, a luxury that I don’t often take advantage of during a tournament. I hope my luck continues tomorrow.”
Rounding out the Top 5 are Gerald Spohrer with 32-13, Zaldain with 32-7 and Jacob Powroznik with 32-6.
Takeoff will occur at Veterans Freedom Park in La Crosse, Wis., at 6 a.m. CT, and weigh-in will move to Valley View Mall on Clinton Street for Saturday and Sunday and begin at 3 p.m.
The Bassmaster Elite Series Outdoors Expo will be held in conjunction with the tournament. It will take place at Valley View Mall on Saturday and Sunday beginning at noon. The event will feature boat demo rides, an aquarium, free prizes and the latest fishing products on the market. The Rock-N-Ribs Festival will also be happening at Valley View Mall along with concerts, food and the bbq competition. All activities are free and open to the public. For more information, visit Bassmaster.com.
2018 Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River presented by Go RVing 6/21-6/24
Mississippi River, La Crosse WI.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 10 34-03 110
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 17-14
2. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 10 34-02 109
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 17-12
3. Gerald Spohrer Gonzales, LA 10 32-13 108
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 16-06
4. Chris Zaldain Laughlin, NV 10 32-07 107
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 17-11
5. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 10 32-06 106
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 15-08
6. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 10 32-01 105
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 16-11
7. Wesley Strader Spring City, TN 10 30-15 104
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 14-11
8. Dave Lefebre Erie, PA 10 30-14 103
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 14-05
9. Gary Klein Mingus, TX 10 30-13 102
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 15-00
10. Jacob Wheeler Harrison, TN 10 30-09 101
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 14-10
11. Chad Pipkens Lansing, MI 10 30-05 100
Day 1: 5 17-15 Day 2: 5 12-06
12. Hunter Shryock Newcomerstown, OH 10 30-05 99
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 14-08
13. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 10 30-04 98
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 15-02
14. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 10 30-03 97
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 15-10
15. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 10 30-01 96
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 15-14
16. Alton Jones Jr. Waco, TX 10 30-00 95
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 15-08
17. Josh Bertrand San Tan Valley, AZ 10 30-00 94
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 15-01
18. Ott DeFoe Blaine, TN 10 29-13 93
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 18-02
19. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 10 29-13 92
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 12-15
20. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 10 29-13 91
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 13-06
21. Matt Lee Guntersville, AL 10 29-13 90
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 15-02
22. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 10 29-12 89
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 15-12
23. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 10 29-10 88
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 14-10
24. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 29-06 87
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 13-08
25. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 10 29-01 86
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 12-12
26. Chris Groh Spring Grove, IL 10 29-01 85
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 14-01
27. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 10 29-00 84
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 13-12
28. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 10 28-12 83
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 14-02
29. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 10 28-12 82
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 14-09
30. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 10 28-11 81
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 13-12
31. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 10 28-10 80
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 15-11
32. James Elam Tulsa, OK 10 28-10 79
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 15-01
33. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 10 28-09 78
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 13-06
34. John Murray Spring City, TN 10 28-07 77
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 14-07
35. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 28-06 76
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 12-09
36. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 10 28-06 75
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 13-00
37. Jonathon VanDam Gobles, MI 10 28-06 74
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 13-02
38. Morizo Shimizu Suita, Osaka JAPAN 10 28-05 73
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 16-03
39. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 10 28-05 72
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 13-02
40. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 28-05 71
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 15-02
41. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 10 28-02 70
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 13-00
42. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 10 28-01 69
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 13-04
43. Brent Ehrler Redlands, CA 10 28-00 68
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 14-07
44. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 10 28-00 67
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 13-10
45. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 10 27-14 66
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 14-03
46. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 10 27-13 65
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 14-15
47. Fletcher Shryock Dennison, OH 10 27-10 64
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 12-12
48. Jake Whitaker Fairview, NC 10 27-09 63
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 14-01
49. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 10 27-07 62
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 11-11
50. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 10 27-07 61
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 14-03
51. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 10 27-05 60
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 12-03
52. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 10 27-05 59
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 14-12
53. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 27-05 58
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 13-13
54. Bill Weidler Helena, AL 10 26-14 57
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 15-06
55. Brandon Palaniuk Hayden, ID 10 26-11 56
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 13-03
56. Seth Feider Bloomington, MN 10 26-05 55
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 13-14
57. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 10 26-05 54
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 13-04
58. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 10 26-04 53
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 11-13
59. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 10 26-04 52
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 12-10
60. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 10 26-03 51
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 14-02
61. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 10 26-00 50
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 10-12
62. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 10 26-00 49
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 14-13
63. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 10 26-00 48
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 14-01
64. Dustin Connell Clanton, AL 10 25-15 47
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 11-07
65. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 10 25-13 46
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 13-04
66. Darrell Ocamica New Plymouth, ID 10 25-10 45
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 09-08
67. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 10 25-09 44
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 12-07
68. Jordan Lee Grant, AL 10 25-06 43
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 12-12
69. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 10 25-04 42
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 15-05
70. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 10 25-03 41
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 13-14
71. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 10 25-03 40
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 11-10
72. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 8 25-00 39
Day 1: 3 09-09 Day 2: 5 15-07
73. Shin Fukae Palestine TX JAPAN 10 24-13 38
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 11-04
74. Roy Hawk Lk Havasu Cty, AZ 10 24-11 37
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 12-08
75. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 10 24-08 36
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 12-02
76. Jesse Wiggins Cullman, AL 10 24-07 35
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 13-03
77. Tyler Carriere Youngsville, LA 10 24-07 34
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 11-15
78. Mike McClelland Bentonville, AR 10 24-02 33
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 10-03
79. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 10 23-12 32
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 11-05
80. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 10 23-10 31
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 11-04
81. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 10 23-09 30
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 10-04
82. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 10 23-09 29
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 11-14
83. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 9 23-07 28
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 4 10-00
84. Brandon Card Knoxville, TN 10 23-07 27
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 11-00
85. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 10 23-04 26
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 09-06
86. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 10 22-15 25
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 12-10
87. Fred Roumbanis Russellville, AR 10 22-10 24
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 11-02
88. Mark Daniels Jr. Tuskegee, AL 8 22-05 23
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 3 06-12
89. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, TN 10 22-02 22
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 11-11
90. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 10 21-01 21
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 10-03
91. David Fritts Lexington, NC 8 20-10 20
Day 1: 3 08-10 Day 2: 5 12-00
92. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 10 19-11 19
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 11-07
93. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 9 19-09 18
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 4 10-04
94. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 8 19-08 17
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 3 07-11
95. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 19-08 16
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 09-11
96. David Walker Sevierville, TN 6 19-04 15
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 5 17-02
97. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 10 18-15 14
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 09-08
98. Boyd Duckett Guntersville, AL 6 18-10 13
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 1 03-02
99. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 7 18-05 12
Day 1: 4 11-03 Day 2: 3 07-02
100. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 7 17-10 11
Day 1: 4 08-04 Day 2: 3 09-06
101. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 8 17-05 10
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 3 04-11
102. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 8 17-03 9
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 5 10-14
103. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 6 16-10 8
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 1 02-07
104. Adrian Avena Vineland, NJ 7 13-09 7
Day 1: 2 04-02 Day 2: 5 09-07
105. Randy Sullivan Breckenridge, TX 7 13-08 6
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 2 04-10
106. Kelly Jordon Flint, TX 3 07-06 5
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 07-06
107. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 2 05-07 4
Day 1: 2 05-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
——————————
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 98 512 1400-08
2 95 505 1354-07
——————————
193 1017 2754-15