How Chris Lane conquered the Sabine

Chris Lane led wire-to-wire at the Sabine River. Here's how he did it.

Chris Lane would pull off a rare feat in the Elite Series by leading the event every day.
Chris Lane would pull off a rare feat in the Elite Series by leading the event every day.
Lane started his winning ways by focusing his efforts on the clearer water of the canals in the Taylor Bayou area, including a small canal he had to himself.
Lane started his winning ways by focusing his efforts on the clearer water of the canals in the Taylor Bayou area, including a small canal he had to himself.
The small was full of fish.
The small was full of fish.
And so remote that the only way more than a single boat could follow him was to walk through the marshy area and tall reeds.
And so remote that the only way more than a single boat could follow him was to walk through the marshy area and tall reeds.
It was a perfect place to build a stringer.
It was a perfect place to build a stringer.
Not needing to worry about pressure from others, he could work the area thoroughly.
Not needing to worry about pressure from others, he could work the area thoroughly.
And it produced above average fish.
And it produced above average fish.
Lane used a Luck-E-Strike “Live Motion Drop Dead Craw” to catch his fish.
Lane used a Luck-E-Strike “Live Motion Drop Dead Craw” to catch his fish.
And on Day 2 he quickly caught a limit.
And on Day 2 he quickly caught a limit.
And then some.
And then some.
The problem wasn’t catching fish.
The problem wasn’t catching fish.
But getting hooked into keepers.
But getting hooked into keepers.
The small fish were everywhere.
The small fish were everywhere.
He would go through a dozen small fish before getting a keeper.
He would go through a dozen small fish before getting a keeper.
Late in the morning, he would move to a bigger canal, where Shaw Grigsby, Todd Faircloth, Aaron Martens and Micah Frazier were fishing.
Late in the morning, he would move to a bigger canal, where Shaw Grigsby, Todd Faircloth, Aaron Martens and Micah Frazier were fishing.
While those anglers were in the back, Lane would fish closer to the mouth.
While those anglers were in the back, Lane would fish closer to the mouth.
And catch a kicker.
And catch a kicker.
The above-average keeper, would give him the lead for the second day.
The above-average keeper, would give him the lead for the second day.
Producing his trademark “POW” once it was in the boat.
Producing his trademark “POW” once it was in the boat.
Lane would finish the day with an almost 3-pound lead going into Day 3.
Lane would finish the day with an almost 3-pound lead going into Day 3.
Day 3 would find Lane back in his canal.
Day 3 would find Lane back in his canal.
And as soon as he headed into the small ditch, he hooked up.
And as soon as he headed into the small ditch, he hooked up.
It was a good way to start the morning.
It was a good way to start the morning.
But the fish would be too short to keep.
But the fish would be too short to keep.
Lane would work the small ditch thoroughly, switching in a buzzbait and spinnerbait.
Lane would work the small ditch thoroughly, switching in a buzzbait and spinnerbait.
As he moved deeper into the ditch, the fish started biting as the rain started to fall.
As he moved deeper into the ditch, the fish started biting as the rain started to fall.
And it didn’t take long for the rain to come with a vengeance.
And it didn’t take long for the rain to come with a vengeance.
By the time he got to the back of the ditch, the rain was falling so hard it was hard to see him.
By the time he got to the back of the ditch, the rain was falling so hard it was hard to see him.
By the end of the day, somewhere between 6 and 8 inches of rain would fall on the area.
By the end of the day, somewhere between 6 and 8 inches of rain would fall on the area.
He would catch his first keeper in the downpour.
He would catch his first keeper in the downpour.
The fish would be a start.
The fish would be a start.
He would add a second.
He would add a second.
And keep working hard, knowing that a limit was critical.
And keep working hard, knowing that a limit was critical.
He would eventually catch those in the downpour, but his cushion would fall to 2 pounds.
He would eventually catch those in the downpour, but his cushion would fall to 2 pounds.
On Day 4, by the time Lane got to his area the heavy rain had pushed a big mat of hyacinths into the mouth of his canal.
On Day 4, by the time Lane got to his area the heavy rain had pushed a big mat of hyacinths into the mouth of his canal.
It took a little work for him to push through and over the barrier.
It took a little work for him to push through and over the barrier.
Like the days before, he hit a couple of key areas before getting to his ditch.
Like the days before, he hit a couple of key areas before getting to his ditch.
Once in his ditch, he found the hyacinths clogging parts of it, forcing him to start his big motor in the sensitive area.
Once in his ditch, he found the hyacinths clogging parts of it, forcing him to start his big motor in the sensitive area.
The area would only produce no keepers forcing him to leave.
The area would only produce no keepers forcing him to leave.
A short run to the larger canal and he quickly adds his first keeper before the cameras could catch up to him.
A short run to the larger canal and he quickly adds his first keeper before the cameras could catch up to him.
And the bites that had escaped him in his small area were more numerous.
And the bites that had escaped him in his small area were more numerous.
This one would be his second keeper.
This one would be his second keeper.
And provide a needed boost in his confidence.
And provide a needed boost in his confidence.
But he would still have to deal with boat traffic. The waves from moving boats would muddy up the already dingy water and cause him a little obvious stress.
But he would still have to deal with boat traffic. The waves from moving boats would muddy up the already dingy water and cause him a little obvious stress.
But it also forced him to buckle down.
But it also forced him to buckle down.
And work harder.
And work harder.
He would catch several small keepers.
He would catch several small keepers.
But eventually decide to head back to the Sabine River in hopes of finishing out his limit.
But eventually decide to head back to the Sabine River in hopes of finishing out his limit.
It was a good move.
It was a good move.
He not only finished his limit.
He not only finished his limit.
But caught this kicker fish.
But caught this kicker fish.
The fish would allow him to cull.
The fish would allow him to cull.
And give him the edge he needed.
And give him the edge he needed.
A quick “POW” later and he was headed to the weigh-in.
A quick “POW” later and he was headed to the weigh-in.
Because the storm left everything muddy, Lane’s drive through weigh-in was completed in a Yamaha ATV.
Because the storm left everything muddy, Lane’s drive through weigh-in was completed in a Yamaha ATV.
There was no question that Lane had pulled it off. He shared the moment with his family next to him.
There was no question that Lane had pulled it off. He shared the moment with his family next to him.
And in front of a huge crowd in Orange, Texas.
And in front of a huge crowd in Orange, Texas.
The win would be his seventh Bassmaster Championship and the second year in a row on the Elite Series where he won an early event in the season.
The win would be his seventh Bassmaster Championship and the second year in a row on the Elite Series where he won an early event in the season.