Lucas and Martens: How it feels to win

Justin Lucas and Aaron Martens visited the B.A.S.S. headquarters on May 28 and chatted with fans on Bassmaster.com and on Twitter.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A young Justin Lucas watched as the pro he looked up to most, Aaron Martens, made the big move East to Alabama from California. Lucas later did the same.

Then, the two pros took the Western Swing by storm, with Lucas winning on the Sacramento River and Martens taking the trophy the following week at Lake Havasu.

“I told him when he won at Sacramento that it was OK,” said Martens. “He could win that one and I would finish second. Then I would win at Havasu and he could take second. I did my part. I called him later and asked him what happened?”

Lucas finished eighth on Havasu.

Lucas and Martens had a great rapport anyway, but the back-to-back wins have them in very high spirits.

Both of them visited the B.A.S.S. headquarters for a live video chat and a Twitter chat. Below is a full transcript of the Twitter chat. You can watch an archived version of the video chat here.

 

Bassmaster ‏@BASS_nation 

Welcome to the B.A.S.S. Twitter chat with @AMartFishing and @justinlucasbass! Watch live here: http://tinyurl.com/ngoxjdv 

Justin Lucas @justinlucasbass

Come to talk to me and Aaron on Twitter on how we won the West Coast! We’re excited for the questions!

Aaron Martens @AMartFishing

I’m really happy to be here, it doesn’t happen often enough and I like answering the questions, especially challenging ones!

 

Adam McCollum ‏@AUadam 

Hey fellas, how does it feel to be snappin necks and cashin checks?

Aaron Martens ‏@AMartFishing 

It’s always more fun when you’re snappin necks & cashin checks, especially big checks. The wife & kids are happy!

Justin Lucas ‏@justinlucasbass 

That was my first big check! The money is cool, but the trophy is awesome! I finally got it home. I tried to put it in my duffle bag, but it wouldn’t fit.

 

Steve Crew ‏@SteveCrew 

What type of mind set are you in when you are closing in on a win?

Aaron Martens ‏@AMartFishing 

You’re very focused. You can tell the guys who will be threats can’t be distracted.  Just thinking about putting bass in the boat. I talk to my wife or kids in the morning & after that it’s all fishing.

Justin Lucas ‏@justinlucasbass 

The Delta was the first tournament I ever lead going into the last day, and I was surprised at how calm I was. I got to my spot and put my head down. Just focused on putting bass in the boat.

 

Sammy Camut ‏@sammycamut 

How do you transition from being a confident shallow water angler to deeper water?

Justin Lucas ‏@justinlucasbass 

You’ve got to get out there. It’ll be uncomfortable at first when you’re not used to it. But, it takes practice.

Aaron Martens ‏@AMartFishing 

Check what the deepest part of the lake is and focus on the water that’s less than 25 or 30. Once you catch a bass & graph them, you’ll start knowing what they look like. My favorite deep lures are a football jig, drop shot and crankbait.

 

Emily Hand ‏@ejhand 

What is your favorite thing about Alabama that is completely different than the west coast?

Justin Lucas ‏@justinlucasbass 

The taxes are a lot better out here, first of all. The first time I came to Alabama, north Alabama, specifically I realized there are a bunch of lakes so close together.

 

Jeff ‘N Kaylaa ‏@bassaddict81 

Will you fish a spot you found on your fishfinder without seeing bait or bass?

Aaron Martens ‏@AMartFishing 

The electronics are so good, I won’t fish unless I see them. A lot of times I don’t fish unless I see something.

 

Tony Arno ‏@Tonester5 

Of all the anglers, who has the best crankbait game in the #BassElite series??

Justin Lucas ‏@justinlucasbass 

I think @AMartFishing is! He won shallow cranking in the All-Star event and he’s won deep cranking, too!

Aaron Martens ‏@AMartFishing 

Timmy Horton and Keith Combs. I think you should stay open-minded and versatile.

Tony Arno ‏@Tonester5 

Thanks, guys.

 

Ray Duncan ‏@RadWorkTN 

Was there one fish that had you not executed would have sunk your chance to win?

Aaron Martens ‏@AMartFishing 

I had an 8-pounder come up at the California Delta—she was so close! It happens to everyone all the time.

Justin Lucas ‏@justinlucasbass 

Yes, a Potomac River tournament years ago, but I kept losing fish. I lost by 3 ounces. I wasn’t meant to win it.

 

frankie ‏@Mireles_55 

They say bass tend to move to shallow water when it gets warm, but I can’t seem to find them? What am I doing wrong?

Aaron Martens ‏@AMartFishing 

They don’t always move shallow. Fish live deep this time of year at certain lakes.

 

Brian Campbell ‏@BrianC1977 

As a “west coast” transplant, I’ve never heard your thoughts on #swimbaits . Hard? Soft? Brand? Best times to throw?

Aaron Martens ‏@AMartFishing 

I was into swimbait fishing during my teens, and I got burned out because it was hot & cold. It’s kind of come back and some are really good. It’s a “dangerous” bait for a multi-day tournament because it may work one day and not the next. I like hard and soft, jointed swimbaits. I usually find ways that are more productive though.

 

Adam McCollum ‏@AUadam 

Alright fellas, do you like cats or dogs?

Justin Lucas ‏@justinlucasbass 

I hate our cat! It’s mean – we tried to take a family picture with our animals and our cat freaked out!

Aaron Martens ‏@AMartFishing 

Cats are more gnarly than dogs, pound for pound.

 

Austin ‏@TooTallJoiner 

I know you can’t make it pro overnight, but what is the point where you realized you had made it?

Aaron Martens ‏@AMartFishing 

I was ready a couple years before I went. I was 19 when I realized I could go pro, but I waited until I was 21.

Justin Lucas ‏@justinlucasbass 

If you’re doing well at @bass_nation Opens, you can do it! Once I made enough money on each level, I would move up. Once I was fishing well at the @bass_nation Opens and beating some of the Elite pros, I thought, “I can do this.”

 

Adam McCollum ‏@AUadam 

So, @justinlucasbass, how did you feel when you ran out gas? What where your lessons learned?

Justin Lucas ‏@justinlucasbass 

I knew if I got gas, I’d be the last one out & there wouldn’t be anyone to help if something else went wrong. I planned it so that if I got in trouble I would have help. Ish was right behind me. He would have done that for anybody.

 

Wess Cook ‏@WessCook 

Offshore advice for Clear Lake?

Aaron Martens ‏@AMartFishing 

You can do whatever you want! Bring big, heavy swimbaits, the 7-inch Basstrixx, 6 or 8 inch flutter spoon or 3/4- or 1-ounce jig. You can drop shot there, too.

Justin Lucas ‏@justinlucasbass 

I agree with the bigger flutter spoons. I would spend time with my @LowranceFishing structure scan!

 

Wess Cook ‏@WessCook 

What do you look for on the graph when fishing deep like Clear Lake?

Justin Lucas ‏@justinlucasbass 

You want to look for little white dots. On Clear Lake, they’re big dots! You want to find them near cover.

Aaron Martens ‏@AMartFishing 

Fish! Sidescan & down imaging are my favorite for seeing fish. It’s nice to find them when they’re up on top, hunting.

 

Adam McCollum ‏@AUadam 

Hey @AMartFishing what is your competitive advantage while fishing wearing toe shoes?

Aaron Martens ‏@AMartFishing 

I’m barefoot almost all the time. You’ve got a better feel & it’s more comfortable. My body does better all around.

 

Chuck Cunningham ‏@ccunningham519 

What’s the best all around knot to tie

Aaron Martens ‏@AMartFishing 

For connecting a lure, a Uni double instead of doing a single, I loop it twice. Double seems to be stronger.

 

Zack Colbert ‏@duckkiller20 

What advice would you give to a young rookie fisherman when going to a new lake to practice before a tournament?

Justin Lucas ‏@justinlucasbass 

Finding a boat ramp that fishes a lot of tournaments and start practicing there!

Aaron Martens ‏@AMartFishing 

Save your fuel & putter around the lake & get to know it. You might find something that catches your eye.

 

Chuck Cunningham ‏@ccunningham519 

You started as a coangler how did you know you were ready for front. And was money or experience a bigger factor.

Justin Lucas ‏@justinlucasbass 

It was both! But, experience was key! I didn’t want to move to the front until I was financially ready. I used to live at home so I could save money. I was trying to build my bank account before I became a pro angler.

 

frankie ‏@Mireles_55 

When you find a school of bass, does it mean big mama is there? or are mature bass in another area?

Aaron Martens ‏@AMartFishing 

You have to be careful because sometimes big mama is on her own. They tend to run in sizes. Guntersville is a good example. You can get on a school of 2 to 3 pounders, and a 4 pounder is rare.

 

Justin Lucas ‏@justinlucasbass 

Thanks for the questions everyone! See you guys at @BASS_nation BASSfest.

Aaron Martens ‏@AMartFishing 

Thanks for the questions, and sorry if we didn’t get to them all. See you at the next tournament!