Day 1 with Martens and Powroznik

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Aaron Martens arrives on Day 1 of the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship with his trusty drop-shot.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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The composition of a cast...

Photo: Shaye Baker

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...

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...

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Aaron Martens loads up another cast.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Like Aaron is with everything, he precisely adjusts the speed of his trolling motor by hand to 2.4 units of speed/time frame. Not sure exactly what those figures are.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Aaron continues to fire away with nothing to show for his relentless casting so far.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Another shot.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Aaron's line is so small that it disappears in plain sight leaving only a little moisture in the air.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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One of the best in the business with electronics, Martens tweaks his unit.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Matt Herren on the move.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Aaron unloads the locker.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Marty Robinson works a point nearby.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Randall Tharp fires away.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Hammer-time for the Honey Badger.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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A solid smallmouth gives it his best.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Eventually, Tharp wins the battle.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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That one didn't keep, time to look for another one.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Tharp has 4 in the boat at this point.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Tharp and Martens cross paths and compare notes.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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As Tharp eases by Aaron hooks up.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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A big smallmouth rears its ugly head.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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This ones a fighter, as they all seem to be.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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The fight continues.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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The fish makes a run.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Time to head to the back.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Aaron moves back to the front of the boat, seemingly ignoring the bass at the back.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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The bass does not like being ignored.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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The battle continues on as Aaron nonchalantly looks back.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Time to go for the grab.

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Number 1 is a nice one.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Check this out.

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Number 1 in the well.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Aaron hooks up with another nice smallmouth.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Cameraman Rick Mason works to get the right angle.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Time to jump.

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The fish makes a run.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Aaron eases the fish closer as it starts to break the surface.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Come here....

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Gotcha.

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Number 2 is even better.

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Aaron is figuring them out.

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Jacob Powroznik picks up and makes a move. He's off to a solid start so we follow along.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Powroznik loads up with what could be number 5.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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This one's digging in.

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A nice smallmouth emerges.

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'Get over here...'

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'Don't do that...'

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'Don't you do that!'

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"These smallmouth never give up," Powroznik exclaims.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Gotcha.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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In the well and that's over 20 pounds for Jacob Powroznik.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Give me some of that.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Powroznik shows off a couple nice ones.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Powroznik flags Cliff Crochet over and hands him the baits that are working.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Powroznik even goes as far as tying on Crochet's leader line for him. Now that's true friendship when you can trust another angler to tie your knots. Apparently Powroznik owed Crochet one and he paid up big time.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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Marty Robinson on the move.

Photo: Shaye Baker

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