In the boat with Aaron and Shaw

Hop in the boat with Elite anglers Aaron Martens and Shaw Grigsby as they try to remain in the Top 10 on Day 2 of the Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River Presented by STARK Cultural Venues.

Hop in the boat with Elite anglers Aaron Martens and Shaw Grigsby as they try to remain in the Top 10 on Day 2 of the Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River Presented by STARK Cultural Venues. Aaron's up first.
Hop in the boat with Elite anglers Aaron Martens and Shaw Grigsby as they try to remain in the Top 10 on Day 2 of the Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River Presented by STARK Cultural Venues. Aaron’s up first.
Fancy footwear.
Fancy footwear.
Aaron drops his Power-Poles periodically to fish for spawners.
Aaron drops his Power-Poles periodically to fish for spawners.
A new title sponsor of Aaron this year.
A new title sponsor of Aaron this year.
A look at Aaron's cockpit.
A look at Aaron’s cockpit.
Chunking and winding, Aaron covers water.
Chunking and winding, Aaron covers water.
A spinnierbait and vibrating jig have been two of Aaron's go to baits this week.
A spinnierbait and vibrating jig have been two of Aaron’s go to baits this week.
A fish breaks across the canal and catches Aaron's attention.
A fish breaks across the canal and catches Aaron’s attention.
Back to the task at hand.
Back to the task at hand.
Aaron goes on point as he tries to convince a reluctant spawner to bite.
Aaron goes on point as he tries to convince a reluctant spawner to bite.
When Aaron has a fish wake up on one of his moving baits, he stops and picks the area apart with a soft plastic.
When Aaron has a fish wake up on one of his moving baits, he stops and picks the area apart with a soft plastic.
Zoned in.
Zoned in.
Aaron uses every inch of his boat.
Aaron uses every inch of his boat.
Fish on.
Fish on.
Aaron gauges the weight of the fish.
Aaron gauges the weight of the fish.
Not a giant...
Not a giant…
but it might keep.
but it might keep.
...
Get in the boat.
Get in the boat.
...
...
On the board...
On the board…
then back in the water.
then back in the water.
Not long enough.
Not long enough.
...
Martens splits his attention between the two sides of the narrow canal.
Martens splits his attention between the two sides of the narrow canal.
A cast...
A cast…
goes out.
goes out.
A fish comes in.
A fish comes in.
...
Another small one for Aaron.
Another small one for Aaron.
This one puts a big bow in the rod.
This one puts a big bow in the rod.
Here we go.
Here we go.
...
...
Aaron is all smiles because this might be keeper number one.
Aaron is all smiles because this might be keeper number one.
On the board...
On the board…
then in the well.
then in the well.
Aaron fires another cast to the left...
Aaron fires another cast to the left…
and hooks up. Unfortunately this one comes unbuttoned.
and hooks up. Unfortunately this one comes unbuttoned.
Time to move over and hop in with Shaw Grigsby.
Time to move over and hop in with Shaw Grigsby.
Where Aaron is throwing the moving bait, Shaw is fishing slow and methodical with a light Texas rigged soft plastic.
Where Aaron is throwing the moving bait, Shaw is fishing slow and methodical with a light Texas rigged soft plastic.
Put a little of that stank on it.
Put a little of that stank on it.
Shaw pays close attention...
Shaw pays close attention…
to the competition as well as the fish.
to the competition as well as the fish.
Shaw doing what he does best, flip.
Shaw doing what he does best, flip.
“Time to move to the fun rod,” as Shaw reaches for his frog.
Shaw reacts to a fish that blew up on his frog but didn't get it.
Shaw reacts to a fish that blew up on his frog but didn’t get it.
Time to pitch to the missed fish.
Time to pitch to the missed fish.
Shaw's poison for the week.
Shaw’s poison for the week.
A small fish for Shaw.
A small fish for Shaw.
They're going to need to grow if Shaw is to remain in the top 10.
They’re going to need to grow if Shaw is to remain in the top 10.
Shaw unhooks the fish...
Shaw unhooks the fish…
and sends it on its way.
and sends it on its way.
...
...
'It's important to check your line for abrasions.'
‘It’s important to check your line for abrasions.’
Shaw rolls on through the pitching...
Shaw rolls on through the pitching…
and switching to a frog when he feels the urge.
and switching to a frog when he feels the urge.
Another blow up...
Another blow up…
and a hook set...
and a hook set…
but a miss.
but a miss.
Aaron Martens and Micah Frazier fish along in the distance.
Aaron Martens and Micah Frazier fish along in the distance.
Shaw continues to whip his frog around.
Shaw continues to whip his frog around.
Time to re-tie...
Time to re-tie…
...
and re-rig.
and re-rig.
Shaw sends a pitch out...
Shaw sends a pitch out…
and sets the hook hard.
and sets the hook hard.
This one might mean something.
This one might mean something.
Looks like there's a lot of grass...
Looks like there’s a lot of grass…
and not enough bass.
and not enough bass.
A tall one but a short one.
A tall one but a short one.
“That’s a bed fish hook set right there,” Shaw explains as he points out how the fish had swiped at the bait in frustration and had been hooked outside the mouth.
Back you go.
Back you go.
Aaron Martens fights a fish in the distance...
Aaron Martens fights a fish in the distance…
and it looks like a good one.
and it looks like a good one.
Not to be outdone, Shaw leans into one.
Not to be outdone, Shaw leans into one.
A bowfin comes flying out of the water.
A bowfin comes flying out of the water.
Knowing that he has a trash fish and not a bass...
Knowing that he has a trash fish and not a bass…
Shaw continues to pretend it is a bass...
Shaw continues to pretend it is a bass…
to throw Martens off.
to throw Martens off.
Shaw fights the fish and...
Shaw fights the fish and…
then swings it about.
then swings it about.
He makes a few joyful noises...
He makes a few joyful noises…
to draw the attention of the competition.
to draw the attention of the competition.
Then hides the fish from their view and gets a kick out of it.
Then hides the fish from their view and gets a kick out of it.
Committed to the bit, Shaw takes the fish to the livewell and then slips it out the back of the boat.
Committed to the bit, Shaw takes the fish to the livewell and then slips it out the back of the boat.
The GoPro captures all of Shaw's catches and antics.
The GoPro captures all of Shaw’s catches and antics.
A small fish comes aboard.
A small fish comes aboard.
A look from above, provided by GoPro.
A look from above, provided by GoPro.
Shaw Grigsby continues to work the area along with Micah Frazier and Aaron Martens.
Shaw Grigsby continues to work the area along with Micah Frazier and Aaron Martens.