Martens Takes Over Lead After Two Days At Mississippi River Bassmaster Elite

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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.

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

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