Up Close on Cayuga, Day 2

Check out the Elites on Cayuga Lake on the second day of the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite event!

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Todd Faircloth fires a cast with a Strike King 5XD to a submerged grassbed.
Todd Faircloth fires a cast with a Strike King 5XD to a submerged grassbed.
Meanwhile, Aaron Martens is catching tasty fish.
Meanwhile, Aaron Martens is catching tasty fish.
This perch is a good eating size.
This perch is a good eating size.
Here's the motivation behind Martens' Phoenix.
Here’s the motivation behind Martens’ Phoenix.
Martens works a popular grassbed on the morning of Day 2.
Martens works a popular grassbed on the morning of Day 2.
He lays into one...
He lays into one…
...and it's the right species!
…and it’s the right species!
He welcomed it aboard. It was his third keeper.
He welcomed it aboard. It was his third keeper.
He's all smiles.
He’s all smiles.
Let's go on board Randy Howell's Triton 21 TRX.
Let’s go on board Randy Howell’s Triton 21 TRX.
At the base of his step is his constant motivation - photos of his family.
At the base of his step is his constant motivation – photos of his family.
Howell prepares to jack one.
Howell prepares to jack one.
Ready...
Ready…
...wham!
…wham!
The bass is hooked and the fight is on.
The bass is hooked and the fight is on.
Howell bests the fish and swings it on board.
Howell bests the fish and swings it on board.
Cheers!
Cheers!
Let's hop on David Walker's Ranger.
Let’s hop on David Walker’s Ranger.
He was throwing a crankbait.
He was throwing a crankbait.
In a side corner of his Ranger lie several different Live Target hard baits, including the new BaitBall walking bait.
In a side corner of his Ranger lie several different Live Target hard baits, including the new BaitBall walking bait.
Walker eyes the competition.
Walker eyes the competition.
Here's his office.
Here’s his office.
The front of it.
The front of it.
A little ways away, Jeff Kriet hammers a keeper.
A little ways away, Jeff Kriet hammers a keeper.
Here it is!
Here it is!
In the box it goes.
In the box it goes.
He re-rigs.
He re-rigs.
He was throwing a Livingston Lures hardbait.
He was throwing a Livingston Lures hardbait.
Todd Faircloth was enjoying a successful Day 2 when our cameras caught up with him.
Todd Faircloth was enjoying a successful Day 2 when our cameras caught up with him.
He had a smattering of Strike King baits on deck, rigged on CastAway Rods with Shimano reels.
He had a smattering of Strike King baits on deck, rigged on CastAway Rods with Shimano reels.
He works his bait.
He works his bait.
More baits.
More baits.
He sets the hook!
He sets the hook!
But it's a rock bass.
But it’s a rock bass.
And again...
And again…
..this one is heavier...
..this one is heavier…
...shoot, it's a pike.
…shoot, it’s a pike.
Here's what powers his Skeeter.
Here’s what powers his Skeeter.
His work space.
His work space.
A GoPro on his windshield captured all the action.
A GoPro on his windshield captured all the action.
More rods and reels.
More rods and reels.
Who knew pike could be so acrobatic?
Who knew pike could be so acrobatic?
Faircloth rears back on something much heavier.
Faircloth rears back on something much heavier.
He quickly marks the spot on his Lowrance.
He quickly marks the spot on his Lowrance.
The fish leads him around the front of his Skeeter...
The fish leads him around the front of his Skeeter…
...and to the back.
…and to the back.
it was a smallmouth, and it wouldn't give up!
it was a smallmouth, and it wouldn’t give up!
More struggles...
More struggles…
Here's his prize.
Here’s his prize.
He gets a nice cull with the smallie.
He gets a nice cull with the smallie.
Let's check out Jonathon VanDam's Triton TRX.
Let’s check out Jonathon VanDam’s Triton TRX.
G.Loomis rods and Shimano reels adorn his deck.
G.Loomis rods and Shimano reels adorn his deck.
He makes another cast with his jig.
He makes another cast with his jig.
A 250-horse OptiMax motivates his 21-foot Triton.
A 250-horse OptiMax motivates his 21-foot Triton.
Would you believe that JVD's is the first Classic Edition TRX off the line?
Would you believe that JVD’s is the first Classic Edition TRX off the line?
The wheel.
The wheel.
On board Tracy Adams' Nitro, we watch him work a stretch of docks.
On board Tracy Adams’ Nitro, we watch him work a stretch of docks.
He was skipping a jig under docks and into the shallows.
He was skipping a jig under docks and into the shallows.
His Cashion rods sure look like they're comfortable to throw.
His Cashion rods sure look like they’re comfortable to throw.
He re-rigs.
He re-rigs.
We found Dean Rojas working shallow water.
We found Dean Rojas working shallow water.
He makes a pitch.
He makes a pitch.
The deck of his FX20 has ample space.
The deck of his FX20 has ample space.
Here's his bait of choice, a Big Bite Baits Dean Rojas Fighting Frog.
Here’s his bait of choice, a Big Bite Baits Dean Rojas Fighting Frog.
How snazzy are the complementing Power-Poles?
How snazzy are the complementing Power-Poles?
Rojas has designed several baits for Spro...
Rojas has designed several baits for Spro…
...most notably the Bronzeye Frog.
…most notably the Bronzeye Frog.
Here's
Here’s “Kermit” behind his name.
Mark Davis was also working docks.
Mark Davis was also working docks.
Here's his outboard.
Here’s his outboard.
It was amazing watching his effortlessly skip a soft stickworm deep under docks.
It was amazing watching his effortlessly skip a soft stickworm deep under docks.
He twitches it.
He twitches it.
Despite its promising looks, there was no one home under this boat house.
Despite its promising looks, there was no one home under this boat house.
Davis re-rigs.
Davis re-rigs.
Here's a neat trick that Davis employs when fishing a wacky worm around sparse cover: Take a short length of super-heavy monofilament and wrap it around the shank of the hook to make a lightweight weedguard.
Here’s a neat trick that Davis employs when fishing a wacky worm around sparse cover: Take a short length of super-heavy monofilament and wrap it around the shank of the hook to make a lightweight weedguard.