On the Sabine with Martens and the gang

Take a look at how Aaron Martens, Scott Rook and Chris Lane started Day 1 of the Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River Presented by STARK Cultural Venues.

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Heavy fog halted the start of Day 1 of the Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River Presented by STARK Cultural Venues.
Heavy fog halted the start of Day 1 of the Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River Presented by STARK Cultural Venues.
The presence of moisture in the air is evident in this spiderweb.
The presence of moisture in the air is evident in this spiderweb.
Looks like it's been awhile since anyone inhabited this lakefront cottage.
Looks like it’s been awhile since anyone inhabited this lakefront cottage.
Cypress stumps are a big player here on the Sabine.
Cypress stumps are a big player here on the Sabine.
The cypress trees turn up knees that the fish crowd around and use for cover.
The cypress trees turn up knees that the fish crowd around and use for cover.
Another spiderweb heavy with dew.
Another spiderweb heavy with dew.
There are some massive cypress trees here.
There are some massive cypress trees here.
Wouldn't want to meet this while running through the fog. Anglers are never happy about delays, but safety comes first.
Wouldn’t want to meet this while running through the fog. Anglers are never happy about delays, but safety comes first.
The tide is on the way out.
The tide is on the way out.
Be on the lookout, anglers should be coming up the river soon.
Be on the lookout, anglers should be coming up the river soon.
This bird knows there's competition on the way.
This bird knows there’s competition on the way.
Here he comes.
Here he comes.
Matt Herren is hauling.
Matt Herren is hauling.
And there he goes.
And there he goes.
Here comes another angler.
Here comes another angler.
Looks like Scott Ashmore.
Looks like Scott Ashmore.
Ashmore heads up river.
Ashmore heads up river.
Aaron Martens comes hook sliding in.
Aaron Martens comes hook sliding in.
Warning, there's a hammer fishing in this pocket.
Warning, there’s a hammer fishing in this pocket.
Aaron Martens heads down a ditch.
Aaron Martens heads down a ditch.
Martens has lots of rods on deck.
Martens has lots of rods on deck.
Martens hooks up.
Martens hooks up.
A small fish comes into the boat.
A small fish comes into the boat.
This one won't quite make the legal limit.
This one won’t quite make the legal limit.
Martens uses his whole boat, making sure he doesn't miss a thing.
Martens uses his whole boat, making sure he doesn’t miss a thing.
Martens works a frog down the grass line.
Martens works a frog down the grass line.
Martens quickly retrieves his frog to make another cast.
Martens quickly retrieves his frog to make another cast.
Most of the time, Martens is in super stealth mode. But when it's time to move, he does so quick.
Most of the time, Martens is in super stealth mode. But when it’s time to move, he does so quick.
Calm in this ditch.
Calm in this ditch.
Martens takes a left...
Martens takes a left…
and hooks up.
and hooks up.
This one goes back too.
This one goes back too.
Martens continues to work his frog, while his Marshal gets a front row seat.
Martens continues to work his frog, while his Marshal gets a front row seat.
Martens wakes a spinnerbait...
Martens wakes a spinnerbait…
... and then hammers one.
… and then hammers one.
In you go.
In you go.
Aaron meets the bass eye-to-eye.
Aaron meets the bass eye-to-eye.
This one looks like it'll keep.
This one looks like it’ll keep.
Judging by Aaron's face, he's unhappy with how this bass messed up his spinnerbait.
Judging by Aaron’s face, he’s unhappy with how this bass messed up his spinnerbait.
Martens tweaks his gear.
Martens tweaks his gear.
A fish wakes on Aaron's bait.
A fish wakes on Aaron’s bait.
It looks like a good one so he goes to the rod box for something special.
It looks like a good one so he goes to the rod box for something special.
Aaron soft pitches his bait in the bed...
Aaron soft pitches his bait in the bed…
and hooks up.
and hooks up.
The fish fights to regain its freedom.
The fish fights to regain its freedom.
One last leap.
One last leap.
No luck, Martens boats the bass.
No luck, Martens boats the bass.
Another bite for Martens.
Another bite for Martens.
In you go.
In you go.
Aaron's Marshal is getting an eyeful.
Aaron’s Marshal is getting an eyeful.
Martens is glad they're getting bigger, but still a little aggravated at how they are abusing his bait.
Martens is glad they’re getting bigger, but still a little aggravated at how they are abusing his bait.
There's a smile.
There’s a smile.
A pic for the blog.
A pic for the blog.
Martens goes back to the frog and it's not long before...
Martens goes back to the frog and it’s not long before…
one comes unglued on it.
one comes unglued on it.
...
…
Get in the boat.
Get in the boat.
This one may make it.
This one may make it.
Aaron puts the fish on the board to see if it's 14 inches long.
Aaron puts the fish on the board to see if it’s 14 inches long.
In the well it goes.
In the well it goes.
This bird decided it wanted a closer look at Aaron's frog.
This bird decided it wanted a closer look at Aaron’s frog.
Though Aaron's frog made it out, this other frog wasn't so lucky.
Though Aaron’s frog made it out, this other frog wasn’t so lucky.
Aaron goes on point, knowing there should be one here.
Aaron goes on point, knowing there should be one here.
And there is.
And there is.
Unfortunately this one comes unbuttoned.
Unfortunately this one comes unbuttoned.
Aaron re-rigs...
Aaron re-rigs…
And goes back in there.
And goes back in there.
Got her.
Got her.
Another small fish for Martens...
Another small fish for Martens…
but it'll keep.
but it’ll keep.
Martens fires back in, keeping his finger on the trigger.
Martens fires back in, keeping his finger on the trigger.
Got another one.
Got another one.
Another small one.
Another small one.
Martens unhooks this one and returns it to the water.
Martens unhooks this one and returns it to the water.
Martens flinches as a big fish wakes up on his bait but doesn't get it.
Martens flinches as a big fish wakes up on his bait but doesn’t get it.
Got this one though.
Got this one though.
Martens hooks up again.
Martens hooks up again.
All smiles for the 2013 AOY because he knows...
All smiles for the 2013 AOY because he knows…
it's time to cull.
it’s time to cull.
This one goes back...
This one goes back…
in slow motion.
in slow motion.
Aaron hooks up yet again.
Aaron hooks up yet again.
This might be a good one...
This might be a good one…
nope, another small bass for Martens.
nope, another small bass for Martens.
Martens continues his clinic.
Martens continues his clinic.
Another small fish goes back.
Another small fish goes back.
The sun pops out momentarily.
The sun pops out momentarily.
Chris Lane shows up on the scene.
Chris Lane shows up on the scene.
Lane likes the looks of this place...
Lane likes the looks of this place…
it suits his south Florida style of fishing.
it suits his south Florida style of fishing.
Lane sees something he doesn't like though...
Lane sees something he doesn’t like though…
Aaron Martens idling out of this ditch.
Aaron Martens idling out of this ditch.
Chris Lane decides it's time to roll out, too.
Chris Lane decides it’s time to roll out, too.
A few more casts.
A few more casts.
Martens has it trimmed up.
Martens has it trimmed up.
Martens and Lane ease out.
Martens and Lane ease out.
Lane and Martens talk it over.
Lane and Martens talk it over.
Shallow here.
Shallow here.
Lane heads out.
Lane heads out.
Martens is right behind him. We head off to find someone else.
Martens is right behind him. We head off to find someone else.
Zell Rowland rolls up.
Zell Rowland rolls up.
And Zell Rowland rolls by.
And Zell Rowland rolls by.
Scott Rook works a bank nearby...
Scott Rook works a bank nearby…
and sets up quick.
and sets up quick.
A small keeper enters the boat.
A small keeper enters the boat.
But it doesn't stay long...
But it doesn’t stay long…
Rook already has a limit in the boat.
Rook already has a limit in the boat.
Rook goes on point.
Rook goes on point.
This style of fishing suits Scott Rook. A river rat, he could flip and pitch wood all day.
This style of fishing suits Scott Rook. A river rat, he could flip and pitch wood all day.
Rook swings another.
Rook swings another.
A few trees offer added cover to this bank.
A few trees offer added cover to this bank.
A pitch goes out...
A pitch goes out…
and a fish comes in.
and a fish comes in.
Rook continues on around the point.
Rook continues on around the point.
The tide is out now, these stumps are submerged when it's in.
The tide is out now, these stumps are submerged when it’s in.
Rook rolls on, and we roll out.
Rook rolls on, and we roll out.