Martens takes early lead on GB
Category: article
Jun 28th, 2012 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Jun 28th, 2012 at 12:00 AM
The “Mystery Lake” that garnered so much attention for months leading up to the announcement in late May is remaining a bit of a mystery to many pros. Aaron Martens the 2006 Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year leads the way with a five-fish limit of Door County smallmouth that weighed 20-0.
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| Aaron Martens (Photo BassFIRST) |
Day One of the Green Bay Challenge got underway to very unlike Green Bay conditions with light winds and clear skies which allowed anglers to make a easy run to the northeast right near the boundary. Over 85% of the boats fished in one of three bays, Little Sturgeon, Riley’s, and Sand Bays just to the west of Sturgeon Bay.
“Everyone’s basically fishing in the same area,” Martens said, describing a 3 or 4 mile stretch of Lake Michigan on the west side of the lake, not far from Sand Bay. “I’m concerned that all the fishing pressure might affect the bite and make things tough tomorrow.”
One angler estimated at one point during the day that 80 boats were fishing a 3-mile stretch, many fishing less than 50 feet apart.
Soft plastics rigged on drop shots and jigheads dominate what most caught their fish on but jerkbaits and spinnerbaits did come into play for some.
The main concern for the next couple of days remains the weather. Reports of wind kicking up have been inconsisent so making a game time decision whether to make the run north or have to change up ones game plan.
Day 1 image gallery from morning take-off and weigh-in here.
Here’s how the field rounded out on Day One.
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts
1. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 20-00 98
Day 1: 5 20-00
2. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 5 19-14 97
Day 1: 5 19-14
3. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 18-03 96
Day 1: 5 18-03
4. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 18-00 95
Day 1: 5 18-00
5. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 5 17-14 94
Day 1: 5 17-14
6. David Walker Sevierville, TN 5 17-13 93
Day 1: 5 17-13
7. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 17-11 92
Day 1: 5 17-11
8. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 17-01 91
Day 1: 5 17-01
9. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 17-00 90
Day 1: 5 17-00
10. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 5 16-13 89
Day 1: 5 16-13
10. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 5 16-13 89
Day 1: 5 16-13
10. Chris Zaldain San Jose, CA 5 16-13 89
Day 1: 5 16-13
13. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 5 16-11 86
Day 1: 5 16-11
14. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 16-09 85
Day 1: 5 16-09
15. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 16-09 84
Day 1: 5 16-09
16. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 5 16-08 83
Day 1: 5 16-08
16. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 5 16-08 83
Day 1: 5 16-08
18. Travis Manson De Pere, WI 5 16-07 81
Day 1: 5 16-07
19. John Crews Salem, VA 5 16-06 80
Day 1: 5 16-06
20. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 16-00 79
Day 1: 5 16-00
21. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 5 15-14 78
Day 1: 5 15-14
22. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 5 15-13 77
Day 1: 5 15-13
23. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 5 15-12 76
Day 1: 5 15-12
23. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, SC 5 15-12 76
Day 1: 5 15-12
25. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 5 14-14 74
Day 1: 5 14-14
25. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 14-14 74
Day 1: 5 14-14
27. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 14-10 72
Day 1: 5 14-10
28. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 14-08 71
Day 1: 5 14-08
29. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 5 14-04 70
Day 1: 5 14-04
30. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 14-02 69
Day 1: 5 14-02
31. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 14-01 68
Day 1: 5 14-01
32. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 5 13-15 67
Day 1: 5 13-15
33. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 5 13-14 66
Day 1: 5 13-14
34. Shaw E Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 5 13-13 65
Day 1: 5 13-13
35. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 13-13 64
Day 1: 5 13-13
36. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 13-12 63
Day 1: 5 13-12
37. Matt Greenblatt Port St Lucie, FL 5 13-08 62
Day 1: 5 13-08
38. Jeremy Starks Scott Depot, WV 5 13-06 61
Day 1: 5 13-06
39. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 5 13-04 60
Day 1: 5 13-04
40. David Smith Del City, OK 5 13-02 59
Day 1: 5 13-02
41. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 13-01 58
Day 1: 5 13-01
42. Kelly Jordon Palestine, TX 5 12-13 57
Day 1: 5 12-13
42. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 5 12-13 57
Day 1: 5 12-13
44. Alton Jones Woodway, TX 5 12-12 55
Day 1: 5 12-12
44. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 12-12 55
Day 1: 5 12-12
44. Fletcher Shryock Newcomerstown, OH 5 12-12 55
Day 1: 5 12-12
47. Morizo Shimizu Matsugaoka JAPAN 3 12-12 52
Day 1: 3 12-12
48. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 5 12-11 51
Day 1: 5 12-11
49. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 5 12-10 50
Day 1: 5 12-10
50. Casey D Ashley Donalds, SC 5 12-04 49
Day 1: 5 12-04
51. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 5 12-02 48
Day 1: 5 12-02
52. Chad Griffin Cresson, TX 5 12-01 47
Day 1: 5 12-01
52. Nate Wellman Newaygo, MI 5 12-01 47
Day 1: 5 12-01
54. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 5 12-00 45
Day 1: 5 12-00
55. Jamie Horton Centerville, AL 5 12-00 44
Day 1: 5 12-00
56. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 11-09 43
Day 1: 5 11-09
57. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 5 11-04 42
Day 1: 5 11-04
58. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, NC 5 11-03 41
Day 1: 5 11-03
59. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 5 11-02 40
Day 1: 5 11-02
60. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 5 11-01 39
Day 1: 5 11-01
61. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 4 11-00 38
Day 1: 4 11-00
62. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 4 10-13 37
Day 1: 4 10-13
63. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 5 10-12 36
Day 1: 5 10-12
64. Russell Parrish Riesel, TX 4 10-08 35
Day 1: 4 10-08
65. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 5 10-03 34
Day 1: 5 10-03
66. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 5 10-02 33
Day 1: 5 10-02
67. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 5 09-09 32
Day 1: 5 09-09
68. Randy Howell Springville, AL 5 09-08 31
Day 1: 5 09-08
69. Clark Reehm Shreveport, LA 5 09-06 30
Day 1: 5 09-06
70. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 4 09-01 29
Day 1: 4 09-01
71. Casey Scanlon Lenexa, KS 3 09-00 28
Day 1: 3 09-00
72. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 08-05 27
Day 1: 5 08-05
73. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 4 08-05 26
Day 1: 4 08-05
74. Grant Goldbeck Boerne, TX 3 07-12 25
Day 1: 3 07-12
75. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 3 07-08 24
Day 1: 3 07-08
76. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 3 07-07 23
Day 1: 3 07-07
77. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 4 07-02 22
Day 1: 4 07-02
78. Kyle A. Fox Lakeland, FL 4 07-01 21
Day 1: 4 07-01
79. Michael Iaconelli Pittsgrove, NJ 4 06-09 20
Day 1: 4 06-09
80. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 3 06-09 19
Day 1: 3 06-09
81. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 3 06-08 18
Day 1: 3 06-08
82. Michael Simonton Fremont, OH 2 06-00 17
Day 1: 2 06-00
83. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 3 05-13 16
Day 1: 3 05-13
84. Terry Butcher Talala, OK 3 05-10 15
Day 1: 3 05-10
85. Jami Fralick Martin, SD 2 05-03 14
Day 1: 2 05-03
86. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 2 05-00 13
Day 1: 2 05-00
87. Byron Velvick Boenre, TX 2 04-10 12
Day 1: 2 04-10
88. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 2 04-03 11
Day 1: 2 04-03
89. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 2 03-11 10
Day 1: 2 03-11
89. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 2 03-11 10
Day 1: 2 03-11
91. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 2 03-06 8
Day 1: 2 03-06
92. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 2 03-04 7
Day 1: 2 03-04
93. Brent Broderick Oregonia, OH 1 02-13 6
Day 1: 1 02-13
94. Jared Miller Norman, OK 1 02-02 5
Day 1: 1 02-02
95. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 1 02-01 4
Day 1: 1 02-01
96. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 1 02-00 3
Day 1: 1 02-00
97. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
97. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 66 411 1118-10
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66 411 1118-10