Aaron Martens Day Four on the water II

As the final day of the Toyota Trucks All-Star Championship comes to a close, Martens swings for the fences

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<p>  </p> <p> Aaron Martens sheds some clothing as the day begins to warm up.</p>
 

Aaron Martens sheds some clothing as the day begins to warm up.

<p>  </p> <p> Martens spent his afternoon running from rocky bank to rocky bank.</p>
 

Martens spent his afternoon running from rocky bank to rocky bank.

<p> Several of those banks produced white bass, like this one.</p>
Several of those banks produced white bass, like this one.
<p>  </p> <p> He alternated between jigs and square-bill crankbaits.</p>
 

He alternated between jigs and square-bill crankbaits.

<p>  </p> <p> Here he hooks up with his fourth keeper.</p>
 

Here he hooks up with his fourth keeper.

<p>  </p> <p> And brings it to the front of the boat.</p>
 

And brings it to the front of the boat.

<p>  </p> <p> Where he can reel it away from the rocks…</p>
 

Where he can reel it away from the rocks…

<p>  </p> <p> And swings it into the boat.</p>
 

And swings it into the boat.

<p>  </p> <p> All afternoon he gathered spectators at every stop.</p>
 

All afternoon he gathered spectators at every stop.

<p> This crowd gathered from the weigh-in area.</p>
This crowd gathered from the weigh-in area.
<p>  </p> <p> He would spend a few minutes in each area and then speed off to the next area.</p>
 

He would spend a few minutes in each area and then speed off to the next area.

<p>  </p> <p> Martens hooks up with his biggest bass of the day.</p>
 

Martens hooks up with his biggest bass of the day.

<p>  </p> <p> The fish hit a crankbait and forced Martens to the back of the boat.</p>
 

The fish hit a crankbait and forced Martens to the back of the boat.

<p>  </p> <p> And then to the front of the boat.</p>
 

And then to the front of the boat.

<p>  </p> <p> And then back to the back again.</p>
 

And then back to the back again.

<p>  </p> <p> After a mighty run to the front of the boat, the fish jumps.</p>
 

After a mighty run to the front of the boat, the fish jumps.

<p>  </p> <p> And practically wallows on top of the water.</p>
 

And practically wallows on top of the water.

<p>  </p> <p> After a two-minute fight, Martens kneels down to get his hands on the fish.</p>
 

After a two-minute fight, Martens kneels down to get his hands on the fish.

<p> The 3-pound class fish slides into his hand…</p>
The 3-pound class fish slides into his hand…
<p> ... and with a firm grip, is pulled aboard.</p>
… and with a firm grip, is pulled aboard.
<p> Martens stands and shows off the fish to about a dozen boats full of spectators.</p>
Martens stands and shows off the fish to about a dozen boats full of spectators.
<p> Then turns and pumps his fist into the air.</p>
Then turns and pumps his fist into the air.
<p> Martens admires the fish.</p>
Martens admires the fish.
<p> After he caught the big fish, he goes to his belly to make sure he doesn’t lose his crankbait.</p>
After he caught the big fish, he goes to his belly to make sure he doesn’t lose his crankbait.
<p> Martens takes advantage of an idle zone to eat a sandwich.<br />  </p>
Martens takes advantage of an idle zone to eat a sandwich.
 
<p> At every stop, Martens would gather a crowd watching from the bank.</p>
At every stop, Martens would gather a crowd watching from the bank.
<p> He stops on a shallow water lay down and immediately hooks up.</p>
He stops on a shallow water lay down and immediately hooks up.
<p> The fish hit a jig in about 10-inches of water.</p>
The fish hit a jig in about 10-inches of water.
<p> And tail walks its way toward the boat.</p>
And tail walks its way toward the boat.
<p> Martens swings the fish into the boat.</p>
Martens swings the fish into the boat.
<p> It measured 14 inches but wasn’t big enough to help.</p>
It measured 14 inches but wasn’t big enough to help.
<p> His last keeper of the day came with about an hour left in the derby.</p>
His last keeper of the day came with about an hour left in the derby.
<p> It produced a lot of cheering from his spectators...</p>
It produced a lot of cheering from his spectators…
<p> ... and a few ounces of upgrade to his livewell.</p>
… and a few ounces of upgrade to his livewell.
<p> Every where people get in an open spot, they would sit in vigil for Martens to fish close.</p>
Every where people get in an open spot, they would sit in vigil for Martens to fish close.
<p> Some of the places they were too thick, requiring even Martens to fish from his knees.</p>
Some of the places they were too thick, requiring even Martens to fish from his knees.