Slowing Down

Elite Series pros put the brakes on run and gun style.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bassmaster.com Exclusive

 

 

 

 

Paul Elias did something on Lake Falcon that nobody, including himself, thought possible. He averaged nearly 7 pound bass over four days to capture the all-time heavyweight record.See, for the first time, every bass he pulls into the boat (and some he missed), including an interview with Elias that walks you through the emotions of the final day.

 

 

 

Did he think he had enough to win? What did Aaron Martens tell him before the weigh-in? Find out in the full-length, Bassmaster.com exclusive show that debuts Tuesday at Noon ET on the Bassmaster.com home page.

 It’s something we’d never seen before and might never see again: Paul Elias, 132 pounds, 8 ounces. Don’t miss it.

EVANS, Ga. — Elite Series pro Dean Rojas, one of the first anglers at the dock on Day Three of the Pride of Georgia presented by Evan Williams Bourbon, spent his precious pre-launch minutes catching up with a BASS official about the latest NASCAR race .Their conversation provided a perfect transition for asking questions about a fishing tournament where competitors have burned hundreds of dollars in fuel, raced from point-to-point and fished lightning-fast.

 “This lake is different because it is a lot bigger and the pattern is so spot-specific,” Rojas said about Clarks Hill Lake. “The fish here are roamers, so you don’t spend so much time on a spot.”When an angler cuts his engine and glides into a spot where bait exists, the boat’s wake will often stir the small fish. The movement helps to trigger feeding activity and with luck, a nice strike by a big bass. An Elite Series pro knows in less than 10 minutes if the trip was worth it.

“But even if you catch one fish, you might as well leave,” pro Fred Roumbanis said. Each spot only has a small window when the bite stays on.”I don’t think herring have a clock,” Cliff Pace said about finding the independent-minded baitfish so popular for bass. “You really can’t wait them out.”Getting the right timing has led the majority of the field to stick-and-move all day, creating long days and sore bodies.”I’m running 42 miles one way, fishing all day and then going to hit all the points,” Elite Series angler Chris Lane said. “My legs hurt.”But with cloud cover already in place and a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms during the afternoon on Day Three, the days of running and gunning may have come to an end.”I got a basic area now and I’m going to spend a lot more time fishing there,” pro Gerald Swindle said. “And if they’re there, I’ll stay there.”South Carolina’s own Marty Robinson also fears more weekend anglers fishing could set up camp on many of the same points targeted by Elite Series pros.They are having a lot of local tournaments on the lake today,” Robinson said. “I was fishing fast — until today.”But always the contrarian, pro Mike Iaconelli revealed his plans of running the most yet.”I did the reverse (on Days One and Two), slowed down and found the schools,” the New Jersey angler said. “But since today is a total bonus for me, I’m going to cover a lot of water.”The harder the wind blows on Clark Hills Lake, the more Iaconelli aims to move.

Visit Bassmaster.com for full coverage of the Elite Series’ Pride of Georgia., May 1–4, 2008. Daily weigh-ins with live streaming video and real-time leaderboards start at 3:00 p.m. ET, and watch for Hooked Up, a live Internet pre-game show, at Noon and 2:15 p.m. ET on Sunday.