ORANGE, Texas -- With many areas flooded and the tide playing havoc with others, Alabama angler Chris Lane figured he would have a one-hour window to make a big score during Thursday’s opening round of the Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River Presented by STARK Cultural Venues.
He was right – and he made the most of it, bringing in five bass that weighed 15 pounds, 10 ounces to claim the opening-round lead after the launch was delayed nearly two hours by fog. Terry “Big Show” Scroggins is a close second with 15-2, followed by Aaron Martens (13-14), Shaw Grigsby (13-4) and 2014 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Greg Hackney (12-9).
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| Chris found magic hour to claim first. (Photo: BASS) |
Lane, who caught all of his fish from 2 feet of water or less, said that one magic hour when the tide was just right proved to be his best ever on the Sabine.
“With tidal water, there are times to really capitalize,” said Lane, who finished 22nd in the 2013 Elite Series event on the Sabine. “Those windows are very short. But when you find what really works on a certain fishery during that hour window that you have, you can really put some good fish in the boat.”
Lane already had a limit before his magic hour began, but he culled his three smallest fish for his three biggest of the day during that window.
