Day 4 with Lane

Go on the water with tournament leader Chris Lane on Day 4 of the Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River Presented by STARK Cultural Venues.

The start of the morning found us at the opening to the large creek that Chris Lane had been fishing. But the first to arrive was Brandon Lester.
The start of the morning found us at the opening to the large creek that Chris Lane had been fishing. But the first to arrive was Brandon Lester.
Lester found the mouth of the creek clogged with hyacinths.
Lester found the mouth of the creek clogged with hyacinths.
Not far behind was Todd Faircloth, who won way in the back of this creek in 2013.
Not far behind was Todd Faircloth, who won way in the back of this creek in 2013.
The hyacinths were piled up in front of a barrier that is usually easy to drive around.
The hyacinths were piled up in front of a barrier that is usually easy to drive around.
But the flood of the day before had washed mats of hyacinths against it.
But the flood of the day before had washed mats of hyacinths against it.
They required a push pole to get the lower unit over the barrier.
They required a push pole to get the lower unit over the barrier.
Next to arrive was Lane.
Next to arrive was Lane.
Like the others, he had to work to get into the area but only for a few minutes.
Like the others, he had to work to get into the area but only for a few minutes.
Soon Lane was following a familiar pattern.
Soon Lane was following a familiar pattern.
He was hitting openings along the area that in the previous days had clearer water.
He was hitting openings along the area that in the previous days had clearer water.
Many of those were around water-control structure, like the yellow structure behind him.
Many of those were around water-control structure, like the yellow structure behind him.
But almost all of them were not holding any clear water.
But almost all of them were not holding any clear water.
Lane worked hard to see if there were any bites to be had.
Lane worked hard to see if there were any bites to be had.
He eventually went into the small ditch where he caught so many fish the three days prior.
He eventually went into the small ditch where he caught so many fish the three days prior.
Even it was clogged with hyacinths...
Even it was clogged with hyacinths…
...requiring him to motor through the mats.
…requiring him to motor through the mats.
But soon enough he was in his fishing water...
But soon enough he was in his fishing water…
...where he started covering every piece of vegetation he could cast to.
…where he started covering every piece of vegetation he could cast to.
The hyacinths, though, stayed with him.
The hyacinths, though, stayed with him.
At times he would pitch and flip,
At times he would pitch and flip,
And other times he would cast.
And other times he would cast.
But the water was too muddy and forced him to leave.
But the water was too muddy and forced him to leave.
In areas that he had treated so gingerly in the days prior...
In areas that he had treated so gingerly in the days prior…
...he pushed through heavy mats of vegetation to get out.
…he pushed through heavy mats of vegetation to get out.
He eventually made it to the canal where he, Shaw Grigsby, Aaron Martens and Micah Frazier had set up shop. He caught one as soon as he arrived, his first keeper.
He eventually made it to the canal where he, Shaw Grigsby, Aaron Martens and Micah Frazier had set up shop. He caught one as soon as he arrived, his first keeper.
And he worked the area over, catching short fish on occasion.
And he worked the area over, catching short fish on occasion.
They all went back in.
They all went back in.
Some produced a fight...
Some produced a fight…
...coming in with aerial acrobatics...
…coming in with aerial acrobatics…
...
...and creating a stir.
…and creating a stir.
But this one was still too small to keep.
But this one was still too small to keep.
After a few short fish...
After a few short fish…
...he was able to hook into his second keeper.
…he was able to hook into his second keeper.
Like the short fish...
Like the short fish…
...it jumped and splashed...
…it jumped and splashed…
...before coming aboard...
…before coming aboard…
...
...and giving Lane a boost in confidence.
…and giving Lane a boost in confidence.
He dug into the area...
He dug into the area…
...as did Grigsby, who was fishing his way out.
…as did Grigsby, who was fishing his way out.
Lane would continue to hook up.
Lane would continue to hook up.
But they would be small.
But they would be small.
Dave Mercer would slip in for the Bassmaster LIVE broadcast on Bassmaster.com.
Dave Mercer would slip in for the Bassmaster LIVE broadcast on Bassmaster.com.
And spectators would gather around.
And spectators would gather around.
Occasionally, Lane would make a short move.
Occasionally, Lane would make a short move.
Grigsby would leave the canal...
Grigsby would leave the canal…
...and the resulting spectator boats leaving with Grigsby...
…and the resulting spectator boats leaving with Grigsby…
...would give a Lane an obvious moment of stress,
…would give a Lane an obvious moment of stress,
The boats would muddy up the water going by.
The boats would muddy up the water going by.
Lane, though, would continue digging in.
Lane, though, would continue digging in.

Pitching to cover...
Pitching to cover…
...or casting...
…or casting…
...working as hard as he could...
…working as hard as he could…
...to get another keeper.
…to get another keeper.
A buzzard would stretch its wings as Lane passed.
A buzzard would stretch its wings as Lane passed.
But he wasn't dead, yet.
But he wasn’t dead, yet.
He kept working...
He kept working…
...apologizing once to two young fans, telling them
…apologizing once to two young fans, telling them “I promise you, I’m doing every thing I can.”
He would eventually move to a second canal, where Grigsby was leaving as he was entering.
He would eventually move to a second canal, where Grigsby was leaving as he was entering.
Grigsby passed on the story of him losing a keeper that bounced across the deck.
Grigsby passed on the story of him losing a keeper that bounced across the deck.
Lane had caught several of his better fish in this canal...
Lane had caught several of his better fish in this canal…
...but on the final day all he could hook up with was short fish.
…but on the final day all he could hook up with was short fish.
He covered the area thoroughly...
He covered the area thoroughly…
...switching between a spinnerbait and his pitching bait.
…switching between a spinnerbait and his pitching bait.
But eventually felt he had to move to the Sabine River, if he was going to finish out his limit.
But eventually felt he had to move to the Sabine River, if he was going to finish out his limit.
At the end of the day, with a five fish limit, Lane made a few last casts close to the check-in ramp in hopes of culling and raising his weigh. Just as he was about to head to the dock, Lane hooked into this largemouth on a spinnerbait.
At the end of the day, with a five fish limit, Lane made a few last casts close to the check-in ramp in hopes of culling and raising his weigh. Just as he was about to head to the dock, Lane hooked into this largemouth on a spinnerbait.
He smoothly brought the fish around the side of the boat…
He smoothly brought the fish around the side of the boat…
…and swung him in.
…and swung him in.
Cameraman Brian captures Lane’s winning fish.
Cameraman Brian captures Lane’s winning fish.
With a smile on his face, Lane unhooks the fish knowing he now has a strong chance at victory.
With a smile on his face, Lane unhooks the fish knowing he now has a strong chance at victory.
Talk about one happy angler.
Talk about one happy angler.
Lane makes a cull, comparing two fish.
Lane makes a cull, comparing two fish.
He shows the camera boats the smaller fish…
He shows the camera boats the smaller fish…
…and releases the fish back into the Sabine to grow.
…and releases the fish back into the Sabine to grow.
A quick fist pump in celebration, and Chris headed for the dock.
A quick fist pump in celebration, and Chris headed for the dock.