Sabine: Road to the Opens

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1,276 miles. That’s the distance that Mitch Kistner and Patrick Spencer will need to drive before they even put their boats in the water.
1,276 miles. That’s the distance that Mitch Kistner and Patrick Spencer will need to drive before they even put their boats in the water.
The route is simple, stay on I-10 East for 1,244 miles.
The route is simple, stay on I-10 East for 1,244 miles.
Simple as relative, as bumps in the road are part of the journey. Such as Mitch’s trailer lights going out…
Simple as relative, as bumps in the road are part of the journey. Such as Mitch’s trailer lights going out…
…or realizing that you left the boat keys on the deck of the boat for the past 200 miles.
…or realizing that you left the boat keys on the deck of the boat for the past 200 miles.
Nonetheless, it’s time to strap in and make the long haul to Orange, Texas for the second stop of the Bassmaster Central Opens.
Nonetheless, it’s time to strap in and make the long haul to Orange, Texas for the second stop of the Bassmaster Central Opens.
Rotating driving duties throughout the night, the caravan arrives in Orange 20 hours later.
Rotating driving duties throughout the night, the caravan arrives in Orange 20 hours later.
Bassmaster Elite Series Pro, Josh Bertrand , left his boat in Little Rock, AR after the last Elite Series event. After a flight from Phoenix, AZ to Little Rock, AR and a drive from Little Rock to Orange, it was time to begin prefishing.
Bassmaster Elite Series Pro, Josh Bertrand , left his boat in Little Rock, AR after the last Elite Series event. After a flight from Phoenix, AZ to Little Rock, AR and a drive from Little Rock to Orange, it was time to begin prefishing.
The endless canals and sloughs make it tough to find those better than average fish.
The endless canals and sloughs make it tough to find those better than average fish.
With a large population of 12in fish the Sabine River, finding 14-15 inch fish was key.
With a large population of 12in fish the Sabine River, finding 14-15 inch fish was key.
The more fish caught, gave Josh more and more clues to where the fish were positioning…
The more fish caught, gave Josh more and more clues to where the fish were positioning…
…and what they wanted to eat.
…and what they wanted to eat.
The search continues…
The search continues…
…as Josh explores some more backwaters around Orange, TX.
…as Josh explores some more backwaters around Orange, TX.
After a few successful days of prefishing…
After a few successful days of prefishing…
….it was time to get organized for the next couple days.
….it was time to get organized for the next couple days.
Mitch Kistner & Robert Nakatomi take in a beautiful sunrise as they idle into a backwater during prefishing.
Mitch Kistner & Robert Nakatomi take in a beautiful sunrise as they idle into a backwater during prefishing.
No bass here, only some strong fighting Mud Fish.
No bass here, only some strong fighting Mud Fish.
The Sabine River is full of Cypress Tree filled sloughs, making navigating them difficult at times.
The Sabine River is full of Cypress Tree filled sloughs, making navigating them difficult at times.
You forget about a 30 minute idle after catching one like this!
You forget about a 30 minute idle after catching one like this!
A fish like this would go a long way on tournament day.
A fish like this would go a long way on tournament day.
Time to head out and find more healthy river bass.
Time to head out and find more healthy river bass.
From Cypress Trees to Lilly Pads, there’s plenty to explore in and around Orange, TX.
From Cypress Trees to Lilly Pads, there’s plenty to explore in and around Orange, TX.
Not to mention lots of wildlife, including Alligators.
Not to mention lots of wildlife, including Alligators.
A quick update between boats…
A quick update between boats…
…and it’s time to start fishing again.
…and it’s time to start fishing again.
Robert catches a good one on a frog as he begins to put together a strategy for Day 1….
Robert catches a good one on a frog as he begins to put together a strategy for Day 1….
…while Mitch continues searching with a sqaurebill crankbait.
…while Mitch continues searching with a sqaurebill crankbait.
After an 11 hour day of prefishing, it’s time to tie up for tomorrow.
After an 11 hour day of prefishing, it’s time to tie up for tomorrow.
The west coast anglers stand at the dock at Nibletts Bluff Park where they’re camping to discuss their first couple days of prefishing.
The west coast anglers stand at the dock at Nibletts Bluff Park where they’re camping to discuss their first couple days of prefishing.
When they arrive back at camp, they come across a group of young anglers who are ecstatic that the Bassmaster Opens are in town.
When they arrive back at camp, they come across a group of young anglers who are ecstatic that the Bassmaster Opens are in town.
Day 3 of Prefishing begins for Patrick Spencer…
Day 3 of Prefishing begins for Patrick Spencer…
…as he feels right at him with a flippin stick in his hand.
…as he feels right at him with a flippin stick in his hand.
Although, they’re going to need to get bigger than this little guy!
Although, they’re going to need to get bigger than this little guy!
After a few hours of fishing, Mitch and Patrick compare notes to help speed up the process.
After a few hours of fishing, Mitch and Patrick compare notes to help speed up the process.
Meet California resident, Gary Spencer, Patrick’s Dad. Gary headed out on the road with his son and entered himself in his first Bassmaster Central Open as a Co-Angler.
Meet California resident, Gary Spencer, Patrick’s Dad. Gary headed out on the road with his son and entered himself in his first Bassmaster Central Open as a Co-Angler.
Getting to spend the week with one another fishing, will be a trip they won’t forget.
Getting to spend the week with one another fishing, will be a trip they won’t forget.
Even if it’s memories filled with small bass!
Even if it’s memories filled with small bass!
None the less, the search continues.
None the less, the search continues.
After a long day of fishing, it’s time for some dinner and much needed rest.
After a long day of fishing, it’s time for some dinner and much needed rest.
Day 1 of the Bassmaster Central Open on the Sabine River is about to kick off as a young fan holds the American flag for the playing of the National Anthem.
Day 1 of the Bassmaster Central Open on the Sabine River is about to kick off as a young fan holds the American flag for the playing of the National Anthem.
A floatilla of 185 boats await their number to be called.
A floatilla of 185 boats await their number to be called.
Patrick hears his name, and heads through the check out point where navigation lights, live wells, and weigh in times are all accounted for.
Patrick hears his name, and heads through the check out point where navigation lights, live wells, and weigh in times are all accounted for.
Not long there after, Josh heads out….
Not long there after, Josh heads out….
…hoping to make back to back Top 12 finishes.
…hoping to make back to back Top 12 finishes.
Boats must check in at the conclusion of each day before their fish are weighed and released back into the river.
Boats must check in at the conclusion of each day before their fish are weighed and released back into the river.
Patrick Bags his fish…
Patrick Bags his fish…
…and shows off his best fish from Day 2.
…and shows off his best fish from Day 2.
He awaits his turn to step up on stage…
He awaits his turn to step up on stage…
…and he’s all smiles after seeing the overwhelming support the City of Orange has brought to the weigh in.
…and he’s all smiles after seeing the overwhelming support the City of Orange has brought to the weigh in.
Gary Spencer get’s amped up for his first trip across a Bassmaster Opens stage.
Gary Spencer get’s amped up for his first trip across a Bassmaster Opens stage.
Weighing fish on both days of competition, Gary was happy with his first BASS tournament.
Weighing fish on both days of competition, Gary was happy with his first BASS tournament.
Josh Bertrand finished the first Central Open on Table Rock Lake, MO in 2nd place.
Josh Bertrand finished the first Central Open on Table Rock Lake, MO in 2nd place.
He hopes to follow that finish up with a win.
He hopes to follow that finish up with a win.
Josh get’s on the bigger fish…
Josh get’s on the bigger fish…
…and manages to capture back to back Top 12 finishes, ending up in 6th place on the Sabine River.
…and manages to capture back to back Top 12 finishes, ending up in 6th place on the Sabine River.
After a long week in 90 degree weather with high humidity, Mitch is ready to weigh in his fish.
After a long week in 90 degree weather with high humidity, Mitch is ready to weigh in his fish.
He shows off his best fish here, with the help of his Day 2 Co-Angler Phillipe Leitner.
He shows off his best fish here, with the help of his Day 2 Co-Angler Phillipe Leitner.
The 2 make the walk to the weigh in line…
The 2 make the walk to the weigh in line…
…and chat with Tournament Director Chris Bowes about how their days went.
…and chat with Tournament Director Chris Bowes about how their days went.
After a week full of fishing and high humidity, it was time to hit the road back to Arizona.
After a week full of fishing and high humidity, it was time to hit the road back to Arizona.
But not before stopping at Buc-Eee’s for some souvenirs and BBQ sandwiches.
But not before stopping at Buc-Eee’s for some souvenirs and BBQ sandwiches.
The caravan will regroup this October for the 3rd and final stop of the Bassmaster Central Opens on Grand Lake, Oklahoma.
The caravan will regroup this October for the 3rd and final stop of the Bassmaster Central Opens on Grand Lake, Oklahoma.