Post Spawn Bass With Shimano Pro Aaron Martens Tonight on Facebook

PRO BASS ANGLER AARON MARTENS TALKS LARGEMOUTH STRATIGIES

THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT ON SHIMANO FACEBOOK LIVE

Considered one of the most technical tournament bass anglers, Aaron Martens shares the screen with host JP DeRose this Wednesday night (May 27) at 8 pm EST (7 pm CST, 5 pm PST) as Shimano continues  its Wednesday LIVE  ‘Fishing School’ series on Facebook and YouTube. Martens, a noted expert on post-spawn largemouth strategies,  and DeRose will discuss their thoughts on targeting big bass and will answer questions throughout the hour-long show. The Facebook link for the live broadcast is https://www.facebook.com/FishShimanoNorthAmerica/videos/1151277921923084/, while the YouTube channel link is https://youtu.be/5SFcMp-yG4c.

“Following his recent medical situation, we’ve been anxious for Aaron to be able to join us for our Wednesday night fishing schools,” said Shimano’s pro staff manager Blaine Anderson. “We appreciate him giving us some of his time as we do our part to keep folks fishing.”

Shimano will continue its Wednesday night ‘schools’ into the summer. Visit Shimano’s Facebook page  and YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/FishWithShimano) for future show topics and other information as well as to view past ‘Shimano School’ events on largemouth and smallmouth bass, tarpon, striped bass, snook and redfish.

Two Bass Fishing Legends Deal with Cancer

Cancer scares Aaron Martens and Shaw Grigsby Jr. 
By Luigi De Rose 

Cancer has gripped two popular MLF pros in recent days. Aaron Martens has undergone 2 brain surgeries after suffering seizures while fishing on Saturday, April 11. Surgery and testing confirmed cancer tumors in his brain. He will under go future radiation and chemo to combat this disease. Aaron's strong physical character has been a blessing as he is up and active as he recovers from surgery. Aaron is very appreciative of his fans and is trying to remain strong as he prepares for his next step towards recovery. 

Here's a link to see his most recent Facebook video: 
https://www.facebook.com/AMartFishing/posts/3208387255872581

Fellow MLF pro, Shaw Grigsby notified his friends and fan with a Facebook post that he underwent kidney surgery earlier this week. He indicated that doctors discovered his cancer very early and expects the surgery to be a success. 

On his Facebook Fan page, Shaw wrote, "It’s sad that so many of my friends and family have had to deal with Cancer during their life time. Now it’s my turn. Kidney surgery scheduled for 7:30 am tomorrow (April 28, 2020). Doctors say that they found it early so everything looks good. Should be back fishing in about 4 weeks."

Shaw's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/shaw.e.grigsby

IBASSIN.com wishes both anglers and their families strength and plenty of prayers for a speedy recovery.

ICAST 2018: Duo Realis Crank G87 with Aaron Martens

Aaron Martens is one of the most influential anglers on the BASS Elite Tournament trail. He always is looking for an edge. If Aaron said a bait is amazing then you should listen. Check out this video as Aaron explains why the Duo Realis Crank G87 is a great one.

2018 Bassmaster Elite Mississippi River Day 3: Randall Tharp Leads by Ounces!

High water moving bass
By Thomas Allen

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Tharp's adjustments nets him narrow lead.
(Photo: BASS)

Randall Tharp of Port St. Joe, Fla., scrapped his fish catching game plan because floodwaters washed out his primary hot spot and forced him to find a place to catch bass on the upper Mississippi River.
 
That adjustment might earn him a second Bassmaster Elite Series title and a healthy $100,000 payday.
 
Tharp’s efforts produced 15 pounds, 10 ounces of bass today, giving him the lead going into Championship Sunday at the 2018 Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River presented by Go RVing.
 
His two-day total is 49-12 — only 1 ounce ahead of Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala.
 
Martens will start the final round Sunday in second place with 49-11.
 
The moderate flooding of the Upper Mississippi has been a hot topic in La Crosse this week. It’s affected the fishing for most of the field — some good and some bad. For Tharp, it’s kept him on his toes.
 
“I knew my pattern was falling apart. The more the water levels increased, the more concerned I’ve been that my bass would move,” he said. “And they did. I started out in the same area I have been over the past couple of days, and after an hour or so I knew the fish weren’t there any more. I decided to call an audible, and it paid off.”
 
The 49-year-old pro said that he was catching bass right along a section of the bank that is now under water, and the bass are no longer positioned on the same structure.
 

2018 Bassmaster Elite Mississippi River Day 2: Aaron Martens Leads by Ounce over Tharp!

Strong fishing despite flooding 
By Thomas Allen

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Martens and Zaldain share honey hole.
(Photo: BASS)

With this tournament being his fourth visit to the legendary Upper Mississippi River, Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., is now eyeballing a $100,000 payday as he took the lead at the 2018 Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River presented by Go RVing.

The water is rising at La Crosse, but it’s not stopped the big largemouth and smallmouth bass from eating with regularity. River levels are expected to remain within the forecasted range: 12 feet high by Sunday, and cresting sometime Monday.
 
Twelve feet is considered flood stage, which will certainly impact the fishing from day to day.
 
Regardless of challenging river conditions, Martens posted a five-bass limit that weighed 17 pounds, 14 ounces to push him to the atop of the leaderboard with a two-day total of 34-3.

The three-time Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year finished in fifth place in 2012 when the Elite Series visited La Crosse, second in 2013 and 30th in 2016.
 
To say he wants to win here is an understatement.
 
“I know the winning limit of fish is swimming where I'm fishing,” he said. “I want to prove it this time. But a number of factors are going to have to go my way for that to happen.”
 
Over the years, he’s spent a lot of time across this vast fishery, and he said it’s an amazing place to come and catch a lot of bass. But his location close to the launch in Veterans Freedom Park continues to produce quality fish year after year.
 

Aaron Martens Wins 2017 BASS Elite Lake Champlain Tournament!

23-05Lbs limit on Sunday seals win!
BASS PRESS RELEASE

From 19th place to 1st!
(Photo: BASS)

Nobody thought it was possible, Aaron Martens least of all. But on the final day of competition at the Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain presented by Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Martens massed a 23-pound, 5-ounce sack of bass and stunned the crowd, and the field, who all thought such a feat was impossible. He edged second-place finisher Seth Feider of Bloomington, Minn., by a little less than a pound.
 
“I'm still in shock,” Martens said, surrounded by reporters behind the stage, trophy at rest beside him on a chair. “I can’t believe I won. It still hasn’t set in yet.”
 
Martens, originally from California but now a resident of Leeds, Ala., wasn’t sure how much his limit weighed — it’s difficult to judge weight at a tournament where winners can be decided by ounces. But his bag included a 6-2 largemouth that was second only to Seth Feider’s 6-4 bass, which won the Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award of $1,500 for the tournament.
 
“I didn't know how much I actually had,” Martens said. “The only time all day when I thought I had a shot to win was when I saw 23-5 on the scales. The BASSTrakk (unofficial leaderboard) said I had 20-11. I thought I maybe had 22. But I just didn’t know. I overestimated BASSTrakk the first day, so maybe I got a little gun-shy and underestimated today. I’m still really in shock.”
 

2015 Bassmaster Elite Chesapeake Bay Day 3: Aaron Martens Lead Going into Finals!

Martens Aims for Wire to Wire Win!

By Bryan Brasher

bass press release 

NORTH EAST, Md. — Aaron Martens said he’s exhausted after averaging only four hours of sleep a night since the tournament began, and he’s lost at least four good-size bass this week.

But through it all, he’s put himself in position to score a rare wire-to-wire victory at the Huk Performance Fishing Bassmaster Elite at Chesapeake Bay.

Spinnerbait key to Aaron's lead.
(Photo: BASS)

Martens caught five bass that weighed 16 pounds, 5 ounces Saturday and held onto his lead for the third straight day with a total of 48-13.

After entering Saturday’s semifinal round with a lead of only 11 ounces, Martens will begin Championship Sunday with nearly a 5-pound cushion over Indiana angler Bill Lowen (43-14). Alabamians Russ Lane (41-12) and Gerald Swindle (39-15) are next, followed by South Carolina pro Davy Hite (39-13).

“I was panicking a little bit today, all day until the end,” said Martens, who stretched his lead in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings to 69 points over Justin Lucas. “Every day has been like that. It was a nerve-racking day, to say the least.”

Martens caught two “good fish” (any bass weighing 3 pounds or better is considered “good” in this event) early and then pushed closer to a limit with one that weighed only about a pound. Then he lost four heavy bass before finally putting his fourth fish in the boat.

“That makes you kind of jittery,” Martens said. “But once I caught another one, I settled down and started thinking again.”

2015 Bassmaster Elite Chesapeake Bay Day 2: A- Mart Continues to Lead!

Martens keeps lead but Pipkens, Jocumsen less than a pound back!

By Bryan Brasher

bass press release

NORTH EAST, Md. – Aaron Martens took another step toward his second victory of the season Friday, bringing in five bass that weighed 15 pounds in the Huk Performance Fishing Bassmaster Elite at Chesapeake Bay.

The weight pushed Martens’ two-day total to 32-8 and kept him in the lead for a second straight day. But two young anglers, Michigan’s Chad Pipkens (31-13) and Australian Carl Jocumsen (31-12), are less than a pound back, and reigning Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Greg Hackney (30-5) is within easy-striking distance.

Aaron spins spinnerbaits along dock post to capture the lead.
(Photo: Steve Bowman BASS)

Martens, who has performed well in tougher tournaments throughout his career, said he doesn’t know how long his pattern will hold up.

Aaron Martens Wins BASS Elite Lake Havasu Tournament with 68-09lbs!

With 13 Second Place Finishes Martens Finally Wins. 

By Bryan Brasher

bass press release

LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. – Aaron Martens heard the chuckles from the crowd when he explained the primary pattern he used during the Bassmaster Elite at Lake Havasu presented by Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels.

But as crazy as it sounded, he was serious.

Martens made a short run up the Colorado River each day and fished thick patches of shoreline vegetation where big largemouth bass were feeding on blackbirds. Flipping a bait designed to mimic their prey, he caught enough bass the first three days to enter Sunday’s championship round in fourth place.

Then during the championship round, he caught five bass that weighed 19-5 and took home the $100,000 first-place prize with a four-day total of 68-9.

Winning on Mother's Day overcame series of second places.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

He used a drop-shot rig some during the week, too. But after the final weigh-in, the buzz was about the birds.

“I do that all the time,” said Martens, who earned the victory on Mother’s Day with his own mother, Carol, in the crowd. “I don’t know why people don’t believe me when I say it. The birds fall out of the nest, and the bass eat them. Birds are definitely part of their diet.”

Martens used a 1/2- or 3/4-ounce weight and a 4/0 Heavy-Cover Gamakatsu hook rigged with a green pumpkin punch skirt and one of two plastic trailers. His choice of trailer was determined by which weight he was using – it was a large Rage Craw for the 1/2-ounce rig and a Speed Craw for the 3/4-ounce setup.

He paid special attention to areas where lots of blackbirds were nesting.

“I probably shouldn’t even be talking about it, because I’ve known about it for 25 years,” said Martens, who said several fish spit up black feathers in his livewell during the tournament. “I’ve caught them in California and had them spit up full-grown blackbirds.

Justin Lucas Wins 2015 BASS Elite Sacramento River with 82-14lb!

Lucas Saves Secret Spot for Win!

By Bryan Brasher

bass press release

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Turning just 29 years old on Friday, it’s hard to imagine Justin Lucas has accomplished all he’s going to in professional bass fishing.

But wherever he goes from here, it’ll be hard for him to top what he experienced the past four days in the Sacramento Bassmaster Elite at Sacramento River.

“This one’s perfect,” a teary-eyed Lucas said after claiming the $100,000 victory in just his 23rd B.A.S.S. event. “For about 17 years, I’ve been dreaming of doing something like this. It’s cool. It’s just super cool.”

Lucas and Team enjoy his first win on the Elites.
(Photo: Garrick Dixon BASS)

Lucas began the week in eighth place with a solid catch of 21-13 Thursday. Then he bullied his way up to third with 25-14 Friday and took the lead with 19-3 during a Saturday round when difficult tidal conditions baffled much of the field.

He made at least a 90-minute run down the Sacramento River to the California Delta each of the first three days and targeted shallow largemouth with a Berkely Havoc Pit Boss in the vampire orange color pattern. He stayed with the same approach Sunday, but made an even longer run to an area he’d been holding in reserve.

2015 Bassmaster Elite Sacramento River Day 3: Justin Lucas Leads As Weights Sink.

Lucas Readies for Career Defining Win.

By Bryan Brasher

bass press release

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Justin Lucas knows he’s on the verge of something special.

But with the way fish are behaving on the California Delta, he knows he still has plenty of work to do if he’s going to raise the coveted blue trophy and pocket a $100,000 check in front of a crowd filled with his family and friends Sunday afternoon.

Lucas still sight fishing as the Delta becomes more difficult.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

A native Californian who now lives in Alabama, Lucas caught five bass Saturday that weighed 19 pounds, 3 ounces and took the lead in the Sacramento Bassmaster Elite at Sacramento River with a three-day total of 66-14.

Lucas will lead the Top 12 remaining anglers into Sunday’s championship round with a pair of fellow California natives in close contention. Aaron Martens, who like Lucas grew up in California and relocated to Alabama, is in second with 63-14, followed by San Jose, Calif., resident Chris Zaldain with 60-12.

2015 Bassmaster Elite Sabine River Day 2: Chris Lane Controls with 28-7 Pounds!

Spawning bass and long fog delay derails many anglers.

By Bryan Brasher

bass press release

ORANGE, Texas – Chris Lane knows things can change quickly on an unpredictable fishery like the Sabine River.

So he can’t say for sure if the pattern he’s fishing will hold up long enough for him to win the Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River Presented by STARK Cultural Venues.

But for the moment, it certainly seems to be serving him well.

Lane has been consistent when others can catch a limit.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

After a fog delay of more than two hours Friday – the second such delay in as many days – Lane caught five bass that weighed 12 pounds, 13 ounces and pushed his two-day total to 28-7. That mark put him in the lead for the second straight day, with Aaron Martens (25-14), Shaw Grigsby (24-6), Todd Faircloth (23-8) and Scott Rook (21-6) trailing behind him.

The field will be trimmed to the top 53 anglers for Saturday’s round, and those in contention will be forced to chase fish that have experienced heavy pressure all week.

“I really think I’m going to need 13-15 pounds each day the next two days to win,” Lane said. “Aaron is catching them, Shaw is catching them – and they’re all coming from similar areas. Will that hold up to win? That’s going to be the question.”

Lane continued targeting spawning fish in water less than 2 feet deep – and once again, his best fish came during one brief period of the day. He said it started between noon and 1 p.m., and was influenced heavily by tidal flows.

“I pulled in to where I was yesterday, and there were five or six boats in the back,” Lane said. “So I stayed out, and I caught one as soon as I got there – my first flip. Then I caught another one, caught another one, caught another one and then I culled one. It happened just that fast.”

Lane, who said he plans to follow the same pattern Saturday, is hoping for an earlier start that would give him more time to catch a decent limit and then go exploring other areas for larger fish.

Martens, who crossed paths with Lane several times Thursday, caught five bass Friday that weighed 12-0 with Grigsby close enough to see his every move. The Alabama pro and two-time Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year is running a similar shallow pattern to Lane’s and watching closely for those moments when the tidal flow is just right.

“I stayed in one area all day because I’m not planning on going back, and I beat it up as best I could,” Martens said. “The fishing is getting a little tougher because the easy ones are getting caught. The ones that are left are hard to catch.

“Hopefully I can go to a different area tomorrow that nobody has been hammering, and it will pay off.”

Grigsby didn’t seem thrilled with the increased level of company he had in the spot that was so good to him on Day 1. But he still put together a solid five-fish limit that weighed 11-2.

Widely known as one of the top sight-fishing anglers in the world, Grigsby said he has been catching bedding fish this week. But with a heavy stain on the water in most places, he said “sight” has had little to do with the technique he’s using.
“They’re spawners,” Grigsby said. “So they’ll bite it and swim off and with it, and you’ll set the hook and miss 50 percent of them. As soon as you think ‘I got him,’ you ain’t got Jack.

“On clearer lakes like Harris Chain, I can watch them and know when the hook is in their mouths. You can’t do that here.”

Martens wasn’t the only contender who milked the same area as Grigsby on Friday.

2014 ICAST Megabass Quick Walker Topwater Glide bait with Aaron Martens ...

2014 ICAST we find Bassmaster Angler of the Year Aaron Martens in the Megabass booth. He is considered one of the very best with topwater. Lets listen with IBASSIN.com as Aaron Martens explains all about the Quick Walker

2014 ICAST Megabass Renegade Buzzbait with Aaron Martens and IBASSIN

2014 ICAST we meet with Bassmaster Elite Angler and Two Time Angler of the Year Aaron Martens. Aaron explains the brand new Megabass Renegade buzzbait. Learn with IBASSIN.com about this cool bait.



ニュージェネレーション、サブサーフェイスルアー「レネゲード」。

2014 ICAST Megabass Vision 110 Magnum Jerkbait with Aaron Martens and IB...

2014 ICAST we meet with Bassmaster Elite Angler and Two Time Angler of the Year Aaron Martens. Aaron explains the brand new Megabass Renegade buzzbait. Learn with IBASSIN.com about this cool bait.

Mike McClelland Wins 2014 Bassmaster Elite Table Rock Lake Tournament

Arkansas Pro Flips Tables to Win!

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

BRANSON, Mo. — They call him “McStick.” As of Sunday, they can call him “McRock” too.

Mike used his signature jerbait and wiggle
wart to take the win over super hot pro Mark Davis.
(Photo: Bass)

Mike McClelland of Bella Vista, Ark., added a seventh Bassmaster title by a nail-biting 13 ounces over Mark Davis in Sunday’s final round of the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Table Rock Lake.“This is where I cut my teeth fishing,” said McClelland, now with four victories in his Bassmaster Elite Series career. “I’ve never had the opportunity to win a big one here before.” To do it, McClelland sacked 61 pounds, 15 ounces of bass. His prize was $100,000 and an instant-in for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic, his 10th qualification for the world championship.

McClelland broke a six-year winner’s drought. His most recent victory before Sunday was in March 2008 on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes, when he added a sixth Bassmaster event title to his record. That was the end of a streak he had going from 2005 to 2008, with a win in each of those seasons.“I seem to go in these spurts where I win a few, then I go years without winning one, and it really can get under your skin,” he said. “To win at Table Rock in front of all my friends and family and people who have supported me through the years is a phenomenal feeling.”  “And I just realized I’ve got a berth for the Bassmaster Classic. That’s an awesome feeling,” said McClelland, who missed out on the 2014 event last February. McClelland said that “fishing by the seat of my pants” was one key to winning.“I didn’t try to slow down and finesse fish into biting. I chased the wind,” he said. “On this clear lake, you always have to look for at least a little ripple.”  McClelland said he’s been fishing Table Rock since he was 8 years old. What he learned over the years helped him considerably in the Elite event. He knows the lake so well, he was able run his primary pattern through areas he had not tried out during the three-day practice. And that pattern was fishing windy, rocky banks close to channel swings in creeks or main-lake pockets.“This time of year, these fish want to be on the biggest, gnarliest rocks,” he said. “Some people get frustrated trying to fish that stuff, but it was key for me.” He used his his signature series stickbaits made by Spro, a McStick 110, mostly in a natural herring color, and a McStick 115 in clear chartreuse for shallower presentations.When the water surface became slick because the wind died, he turned to a 4-inch paddletail swimbait near docks or over brush.

2014 Bassmaster Elite Table Rock Lake Day 2: Mark Turns Tables!

Veteran Davis Claims lead in tournament and AOY

by Deb Johnson

Bass press release

BRANSON, Mo. — Everyone’s saying Mark Davis is on fire.

Indeed he is. Friday he fanned that flame by taking the lead on the second day of the April 3-6 A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite on Table Rock Lake.

Inferno, anyone?

Experience and determination has made
Mark Davis super keen to win it all.
(Photo: BASS)

Davis moved up from second place by adding another 15 pounds, 3 ounces to his first-day weight of 18-8. The Mount Ida, Ark., pro’s two-day tally was 33 pounds, 11 ounces.

If Davis, who already owns three Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles, goes on to win Sunday, he would cement his early lead in the race for the 2014 AOY title. He earned the AOY lead by finishing in third place in each of the first two Elite events of the season.

“It’s been really, really hard to keep it going, but so far, so good,” said Davis, who also owns a Bassmaster Classic title from 1995.

2014 Bassmaster Elite Table Rock Lake Day 1: Aaron Martens Lead on Stormy Day

Aaron naps 8 pounder to grab early lead

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

BRANSON, Mo. — Aaron Martens called it a “picture-perfect day.” Mark Davis said he was “singing hymns all day.” Chris Lane landed inside his “comfort zone.”

Aaron has done well on Table Rock. He won his
first Angler of the Year on this lake.
(Photo BASS)

And that’s how it was for three of the hottest pros in bass fishing on Thursday, the first day of the April 3-6 A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite on Table Rock Lake.

Martens, the 2013 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year, took the Day 1 lead at Table Rock with 18 pounds, 11 ounces of largemouth bass. Davis, currently in the lead for the 2014 AOY prize, was second with 18 pounds, 8 ounces. Right behind them with 18-5 was Lane, who won the most recent Elite Series event less than two weeks ago.

The three leaders have lots of company. Weighing 17-4 to tie at fourth place were Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., and Jamie Horton of Centreville, Ala. They were 1 pound, 7 ounces, behind Martens.

2013 BASS Elite Angler of the Year Rankings

The Top 5 Elite anglers for 2013 season.

RNK	NAME	ST	PTS
1	Aaron Martens	AL	652
2	Edwin Evers	OK	640
3	Kevin VanDam	MI	624
4	Bobby Lane	FL	619
5	Keith Combs	TX	608

What happened to Aaron Martens on Day 4?

By Luigi De Rose

Aaron Martens safe as motor rips from his boat.
(Photo: BASS)

If you look at the standings you will see that Aaron Martens finished in 12th on the final day. He scored a zero. A blank in the standings leaves a lot of us wondering. What happened to Aaron?

Aaron is fine and recent up-dated his facebook page. While journeying back to the weigh-in he clocks several nasty waves and ripped the motor from his boat. He is fine but couldn't make it back to the ramp under his own power so his final day catch was void.

Here is his statement from is page:

Aaron and the boat are out of the water and everyone is fine. He confirmed he had about 21 lbs of smallmouth. He was coming off of Lake Erie into the mouth of the Detroit River when he hit a combination of 3 or 4 giant waves (made by multiple freighter style boats) at just the wrong angle. The bolts that hold the motor on the boat snapped. He is working on securing the motor so he can trailer it back to the launch ramp. 

He is bummed, but he did say he was happy for Chris Lane Outdoors for the win. Aaron knew it was a risky run and it just didn't work out the way he hoped. 

We'll get more from Aaron soon.