Day 1 with Martens and Powroznik

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...

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...

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...

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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.

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Marty Robinson works a point nearby.

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Randall Tharp fires away.

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Hammer-time for the Honey Badger.

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A solid smallmouth gives it his best.

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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.

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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.

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As Tharp eases by Aaron hooks up.

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A big smallmouth rears its ugly head.

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

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The fight continues.

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The fish makes a run.

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Time to head to the back.

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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.

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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.

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Check this out.

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Number 1 in the well.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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Give me some of that.

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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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Day 1 with Martens and Powroznik

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