Sabine River redux

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In 2013 Elite anglers found a vast fishery that crossed the borders of Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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It was filled with creeks and bayous and parts of the Louisiana Marsh.

Photo: James Overstreet

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The big cypress trees and Spanish moss provided a picturesque backdrop.

Photo: James Overstreet

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In some places, banks were lined with a bevy of laydowns....

Photo: James Overstreet

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Or more standing timber than could be flipped to in a day.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Even with its size, anglers often shared water in this event...

Photo: James Overstreet

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Or they found themselves alone in a forest of cover.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Many of those places produced keeper fish.

Photo: James Overstreet

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But most of the anglers spent more time searching. On Day 1, 13 Elites finished the day with a zero, 20 on Day 2 and eight on Day 3.

Photo: James Overstreet

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The crowds of fans in Orange, Texas, could care less how tough the fishing was.

Photo: James Overstreet

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They turned out each day with energy...

Photo: James Overstreet

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Setting records for the most people to view an Elite event at that time.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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There were enough fish to keep them interested...

Photo: Steve Bowman

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And there were enough fish in the Sabine River system to make this an interesting event.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Hefty bass showed up enough to keep the standings moving.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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The fight in the fish of the Sabine produced a lot of excitement...

Photo: Steve Bowman

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And a lot of splashes...

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Even if they were sometimes too short to measure.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Those that did measure were often caught around the many signs posted.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Signs were everywhere.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Some of them on bridges...

Photo: James Overstreet

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Some of them with ominous warnings...

Photo: Steve Bowman

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And others that pointed the way to good fishing.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Along with the signs, there were still remnants of hurricanes that had washed through the area in years past.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Debris offered ideal places for bass to hide.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Even old boats blown around by the storms were likely places.

Photo: James Overstreet

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As were duck blinds...

Photo: James Overstreet

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Old bridges...

Photo: James Overstreet

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And bridges you could stand up under.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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They fished under trees...

Photo: Steve Bowman

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And in debris piles...

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Around big log jams...

Photo: Steve Bowman

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And around basketball goals and shopping carts.

Photo: James Overstreet

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And in all those places...

Photo: Steve Bowman

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The leaders caught fish.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Even around basketballs, keepers could be found.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Every catch was critical, as was every ounce.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Quality bites were at a premium.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Small bass were all too common.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Spectators were able to watch from bridges.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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And even from the I-10 Interstate.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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The anglers could actually fish under the Interstate.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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The tournament was led on Day 1 by Dean Rojas.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Rojas would weigh in a surprising 15 pounds, 10 ounces.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Rojas and Alton Jones shared a small creek in Louisiana.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Their close proximity created a rift between the two...

Photo: Steve Bowman

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But both managed well enough.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Faircloth, though, would take the Day 2 lead.

Photo: James Overstreet

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By the end of Day 3, the final 12 was full of shallow water specialists.

Photo: James Overstreet

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And Rojas would regain the lead.

Photo: James Overstreet

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A large crowd witnessed the takeoff of the final day.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Dean Rojas and Todd Faircloth would lead the pack.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Faircloth would start with a 3 pound, 9 ounce deficit behind Rojas.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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And anglers like Mike McClelland would test the boundaries of the fishing water by traveling 80 miles one way.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Faircloth, though, would stay close in a small backwater marsh.

Photo: James Overstreet

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It was so shallow, Troy Broussard of the television show Swamp People would be hired to carry cameramen into the area on his air boat.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Faircloth would catch fish there all day...

Photo: James Overstreet

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All of them quality keepers.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Photo: James Overstreet

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He would catch 14 pounds, 9 ounces.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Photo: James Overstreet

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This would eventually give him...

Photo: James Overstreet

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A more than 7-pound margin.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Faircloth’s hometown crowd was ecstatic...

Photo: James Overstreet

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When Faircloth showed off his final day catch...

Photo: James Overstreet

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And won the tug of war between him and Rojas...

Photo: James Overstreet

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Faircloth would be equally ecstatic.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Finally, Faircloth was able to share his victory with his family.

Photo: James Overstreet

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