Buzzer beater! Lane claims dramatic victory in final minute on Kissimmee Chain

Florida pro's last-minute 5-5 earns him 9-ounce win over Mark Davis

Chris Lane had no idea he was the winner of Stage One when it was time for lines out. Photo by Garrick Dixon.

Mason Prince

BASS PRO TOUR 

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – “You’re kidding me?” Chris Lane asked his official in disbelief.

“No sir, I’m not,” his official confirmed.

In one of the most memorable finishes in Bass Pro Tour history, Lane was able to leapfrog Bass Fishing Hall of Famer Mark Davis in the final minute of B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Grundéns. Lane needed a bass weighing 4 pounds, 12 ounces or more to cull and catch Davis. With less than 2 minutes remaining, Lane hooked into a 5-5 largemouth, landed it with less than a minute left and was able to edge Davis by 9 ounces.

In what should have been a moment of celebration, Lane had no idea he had actually just won his first Bass Pro Tour event. Lane believed he needed more than a 7-pounder to catch Davis and thought the 5-5 was going to leave him shy. It wasn’t until time expired that Lane’s official informed him that he had, in fact, just won the event.

Of course, there was a signature ‘POW’ expressed by Lane, maybe with a little more spunk and emotion than usual. For Lane to win this event on a lake where he holds so many fond memories, it’s easy to see why the massive moment in his career moved him to tears.

2018 Bassmaster Elite Classic Bracket Day 2: 6 Battles for 3 Classic Spots.

Final 6 ready to fish 

BASS PRESS RELEASE

The picture is steadily growing clearer at the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Classic Bracket on Carters Lake, with the two-day semifinal round now complete and six anglers qualified for Friday’s finals.

A trio of head-to-head matchups on Friday will pit Gerald Swindle vs. Scott Rook, Chris Lane vs. Greg Vinson and Adrian Avena vs. Shin Fukae. The anglers’ weights will start back at zero, and they will fish from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET with the winners of each match advancing to the 2019 Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.

Lane had one of the most impressive days Thursday, landing three big spotted bass that weighed 8 pounds, 9 ounces. Combined with the 2-3 he caught Wednesday, it gave him a two-day total of 10-12 that was more than enough to win his match against Michigan angler Chad Pipkens, who finished with 7-11.

“Knowing I had a little bit of a lead allowed me to fish with an eye toward tomorrow,” said Lane, a former Bassmaster Classic winner who lives in Alabama. “Tomorrow’s going to be amazing with a Classic berth on the line. It’ll either be really exciting or really disappointing.”

Lane’s biggest bass came at 8:18 a.m. when he landed a gigantic 4-10 spotted bass near a boat dock. He added two more fish on a Whopper Plopper the rest of the way to seal the win.

Pipkens caught a nice bass on a jerkbait with just over 30 minutes remaining in the morning session to keep pressure on Lane. But it wasn’t enough.

“I don’t think I would have made any different decisions today except maybe picking up a jerkbait a little earlier,” Pipkens said. “But that’s the way it goes. I’m already looking forward to next year.”

KVD Wins the 2016 BASS Elite Toledo Bend

The King had returned. 
By Bryan Brasher
BASS PRESS RELEASESuperstar professional angler Kevin VanDam often deals with a different set of circumstances than the average angler on the Bassmaster Elite Series.

With such a sparkling resume, many fans' expectations for VanDam are much higher. With such a recognizable name and face, the number of people who want to catch a glimpse of him doing his thing on the water is sometimes off the charts.

Because of all that, many people have wondered aloud these past five years if VanDam would ever win another major tournament. But he was never one of them — and now, he's silenced all of his doubters.

Van Dam scratches out his 21st BASS title. (Photo: BASS)

VanDam slammed the door on a wire-to-wire victory at the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend with 21 pounds, 6 ounces of bass on Championship Sunday. The big bag gave him a four-day total of 96-2 and his record 21st victory in a B.A.S.S. event.

"This was the most challenging tournament I've ever won," said VanDam, who raised his career earnings with B.A.S.S. to just over $5.9 million with Sunday's $100,000 payday. "The first two days were pretty good, but the last two days were really, really tough.

"It's normally not hard fishing here. But with the pressure out there this week, trying to be there at the right time when the conditions were right, it was tough."

VanDam caught 29-5 Thursday and 20-11 Friday to lead the field into Saturday's semifinal round with 50-0. But with the weekend, the lake became more crowded — and at times, VanDam had as many 50 boats following him from spot to spot.

2016 BASS Elite Toledo Bend Day 3: KVD Leads by 5 Pounds Going into Final Day.

KVD cranking in the biggest ones.
By Bryan Brasher
BASS PRESS RELEASE
Kevin VanDam continued his charge toward a possible wire-to-wire victory in the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend with a Saturday catch of 24 pounds, 12 ounces that pushed his four-day total to 74-12.
But he said to make no mistake: The fishing has definitely gotten tougher.
"It was one of the toughest days I've ever had on the water — absolutely brutal," said VanDam, who is vying for his record 21st career B.A.S.S. victory. "I only caught five fish all day, and the last one came very late."

One monster each day keeps KVD as king. (Photo: BASS)

As other anglers in the Top 5 started fast, VanDam only had one fish that weighed just under 5 pounds by 10:30 a.m. But then he worked the same deep-diving crankbait magic he worked the first two days, landing a giant largemouth that tipped the scales at 8-11.
It was 2 p.m. before he landed his third and fourth keepers — one that weighed 2-plus pounds and one that weighed just over 3. Then just when he seemed destined to come in one shy of a five-bass limit, he caught a 5-pounder on his final stop with only minutes remaining.

2016 BASS Elite Toledo Bend Day 2: KVD Leads with 50lbs.

KVD steady as leader board flip flops.
By Bryan Brasher
BASS PRESS RELEASE
The biggest thing Kevin VanDam has caught so far this week has been himself.

But there could be far bigger catches ahead of him if he remains on his current path at the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend.

KVD works his magic with a 10XD. (Photo: BASS)

VanDam had to have a treble hook removed from his hand during Friday’s second round after landing his biggest fish of the day. But it didn’t stop him from catching five bass that weighed 20 pounds, 11 ounces and helped him hold onto the tournament lead with a two-day total of 50-0.

“The fish had just one hook in its mouth, and those Mustad treble hooks are really sharp,” VanDam said. “The fish kind of shook as I was trying to take the hook out, and it jerked one of those trebles right in my hand. I had a crankbait with one hook connected to my hand and the other connected to a big bass.”

Todd Faircloth Wins the 2015 Bassmaster Elite Lake St. Clair Event!

Texan scores 5th Elite Tournament!

By Thomas Allen

bass press release

DETROIT — A thrilling conclusion to the 2015 Plano Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair brought a new level of anticipation to the professional bass-fishing world.

Drop shotting St. Clair was key to great day and win!
(Photo: BASS)

Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas, continued to improve his daily weights of bass and clinched the championship on Lake St. Clair.

Meanwhile, Aaron Martens caught 19 pounds, 6 ounces of bass, which was good enough for a sixth-place finish and the necessary points to lay early claim to the prestigious Toyota Bassmaster Anger of the Year title.

Faircloth spent the entire tournament building on the previous day’s weight by catching large smallmouth bass from Bell’s Hump, which is located on the Canadian side of Lake St. Clair.

ICAST 2015 Pre-view: Mustang Survival's New Products for All Boaters

New for Spring 2016

 

• Elite 38 - Built for offshore conditions, the Elite 38 blends light weight with durability and our highest buoyancy rating for commercial inflatable PFDs at 38 lbs. The lightweight body armour industry outer shell is reinforced with TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) abrasion patches in hard wearing areas. The bright fluorescent yellow/green inflation cell greatly improves in-water visibility and includes a strobe light holder and safety whistle.
• Elite 28K - Designed with paddling in mind, the Elite 28K brings together motion and adaptability with a MOLLE attachment system commonly used in military applications. A separate MOLLE compatible pocket is available and, along with the lash tab and attachment points, allows for secure stowage and retrieval of essential tools and gear. The slim 3D chassis helps to reduce interference, and the integrated back panel has been designed to fit kayak seats.
• Traction Gloves - Engineered for fishing and a first for Mustang Survival, the Traction Glove provides a 30-50% grip improvement over bare hands. There are two models available: a fingerless glove when dexterity is a must; and a full-finger glove for cold and wet conditions with touchscreen-friendly conductive fingertips.
• Accessories - Completing the range for the avid angler is the choice of a Flat Brim Flexfit^® hat in black or a classic Ball Cap with Velcro^® closure in red.

 

2015 Bassmaster Elite Sabine River Day 3: Chris Lane Continues to Lead!

Chris in the fast Lane to Win. 

By Bryan Brasher

BASS PRESS RELEASE

ORANGE, Texas – Despite a heavy downpour that began shortly after take-off Saturday and never relented, Alabama angler Chris Lane caught five bass that weighed 11 pounds, 3 ounces and maintained his lead in the Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River presented by STARK Cultural Venues with a three-day mark of 39-10.

Heavy rains drowned Orange, Texas. Chris might only need a few

 to win.

But with flash-flood warnings in effect across the area Saturday night and muddy water flowing into the river’s maze of bayous and canals, Lane said Sunday’s final round may require a completely different approach if he hopes to score a rare wire-to-wire Elite Series victory.
“It was just a good day as far as I’m concerned, but I think everybody’s going to be thrown a curveball tomorrow with the mud and the rain,” Lane said. “I could be wrong. I’m going to hit a couple of the same spots I’ve been fishing early. But if it’s not happening, I’m going to make an adjustment right off the bat.”
Lane, who holds a slim lead over fellow Alabama angler Aaron Martens (37-9) and veteran Florida pro Shaw Grigsby (36-0), has been targeting shallow spawning fish all week in secluded ditches and canals where the water clarity was at least decent compared to other areas of the fishery.
But with good water clarity likely to be a thing of the past, Lane said he hopes to form a backup plan Saturday night in his hotel room.

Mike Iaconelli Wins Bassmaster Elite Delaware River!

Philly Goes IKE!

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Michael Iaconelli hopped five feet down off the Bassmaster Elite Series stage, turned and hoisted his 55-pound winner’s trophy, then practically danced with it up through the roaring audience stacked on the concrete steps of the Great Stage of Penn’s Landing.

Moments before, he had told the crowd exactly what he was feeling as he won Bassmaster Elite on the Delaware River.

“I won today, but not for me. I won for you guys,” said Iaconelli, Philly-born and raised in New Jersey.

Mike with the whole family celebrate
his home town win.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

Suddenly, “Going Ike” took on a new meaning.

When the fishing goes very right and when the fishing goes horribly wrong, Iaconelli is famous for his, um, unrepressedvocal and physical expression. Now, “Going Ike” also means achieving the win of any pro angler’s dreams.

Sunday, Ike nailed what few anglers have been able to: win a Bassmaster Elite Series event on home water. He topped that by whipping the field by no less than 8 pounds.

His winning total was 47 pounds, 14 ounces — a respectable weight for any midsummer tournament, and, as Iaconelli pointed out, proof that the Delaware River is a fishery worth any bass angler’s time.

Now living in Pittsgrove, N.J., Iaconelli recovered from a start at 21st place to lead for two days running before triumphing on the fourth and final competition day on the Delaware River, where he learned as a kid what bass fishing was all about.

Chris Lane Wins the Bassmaster Elite St. John's River

No Passing Lane!

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

PALATKA, Fla. — Tick-tock, pow!

When everything is in sync and his timing feels perfect, Chris Lane says he experiences a sensation like a clock ticking inside of him. He yells “Pow!” when he boats a big bass.

This is Chris Lane's sixth BASS title setting
him aside from most anglers.
(Photo: BASS)

Over the four-day Bassmaster Elite Series event on the St. Johns River system, Lane heard the tick-tock, and his word of triumph exploded repeatedly from his lips.

Starting Sunday’s final round with a 12 1/2-pound lead, the tournament was Lane’s to win or lose.

Lane not only stayed in stride the final day by catching 15-0, he walked off with the victory in high style: His winning margin was 14 pounds, 4 ounces over the second-place finisher, Dean Rojas.

Lane amassed 90-13 over the four days of competition. He added a sixth Bassmaster victory to his resume that includes being the 2012 Bassmaster Classic champion and a 2013 Bassmaster Elite Series winner.

2014 Bassmaster Elite St. John's River Day 3: Lane Leads by 12 Pounds!

No Safe Lead for Lane

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

PALATKA, Fla. — You’d think with a 12 1/2-pound lead, you could relax.

Not in a Bassmaster Elite Series competition. Not when it’s on a big-fish factory like the St. Johns River. And not if you’re Chris Lane.

Chris knows this win is not in the bag. Anything
can happen on the St. John's River.
(Photo:BASS)

“I have to go out there and do the very best that I can,” said Lane, the 2012 Bassmaster Classic champ from Guntersville, Ala. “Anything can happen on the St. Johns River. There’s no safe lead here.”

Lane, who jumped from 15th into first on Friday after producing a monster bag of five bass weighing 37-9, brought in 19 pounds, 9 ounces Saturday for a three-day leading total of 75-13.

Lane’s 12-8 lead was over runner-up Davy Hite of Ninety Six, S.C., who weighed 24-13, Saturday’s largest catch. It beefed up his total to 63-5, moving him into second place from 10th.

Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark., anchored in third place with 61-7 over three days. Keith Combs of Huntington, Texas, was fourth with 60-9. Alton Jones of Lorena, Texas, who won the 2012 Elite event on the St. Johns, rose from eighth place into fifth with 59-4. First-day leader Randy Howell of Springville, Ala., was sixth with 58-14.

2014 Bassmaster Elite St. John's River Day 2: Chris Lane Smashes Monster Limit

Sight Fishing rules in Florida but Lane might have key technique to win. 

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

Chris Lane bags over 37 pounds of bass and takes lead.
(Photo: BASS)

PALATKA, Fla. — Focus, slow down, try a different lure. Above all, follow your instincts.

That’s what Chris Lane said he did Friday. The result was a five-bass limit that weighed 37 pounds, 9 ounces. It was the largest one-day weight he’s ever achieved, said Lane, a five-time Bassmaster event winner, including the 2012 Bassmaster Classic.

And it was more than enough for the pro from Guntersville, Ala., to take the lead in the Bassmaster Elite Series event on the St. Johns River after two of the four rounds of fishing. Lane climbed from 15th place into first with a two-day total of 56-4.

Lane’s lead was an ounce shy of 9 pounds over first-day leader Randy Howell of Springville, Ala., who dropped to second place with a 47-5 two-day total.

Chris Lanes Wins 2013 Bassmaster Elite Lake St. Clair tournament!

By Deb Johnson

BASS Press Release

DETROIT  — After leading the first day, then falling into Mark Davis’ wake on the second and third days, Chris Lane kicked it into high gear Sunday to win the Bassmaster Elite Series Plano Championship Chase.

Lane holds nothing back after winning on St. Clair!
He also nails a 2014 Classic berth on his home lake.
(Photo: BASS)

Through the win, Lane, the 2012 Bassmaster Classic champ, got his 2014 Bassmaster Classic ticket punched — what he came into the Chase to achieve. From Guntersville, Ala., he was set on qualifying for the 2014 world championship on his home water of Lake Guntersville.

The win was also his first in the Bassmaster Elite Series and a $100,000 payday. 

Lane landed the Chase title by weighing 82 pounds, 4 ounces of smallmouth bass in four days of competition. His margin of victory was 5-7 over Davis of Mount Ida, Ark.

Davis, the 1995 Classic winner who also owns three Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year trophies, led on Days 2 and 3. On Day 4, one bass shy of a five-fish limit, Davis’ weight was 13-3. He finished at 76-13 in the runner-up spot.

2013 Bassmaster Elite Lake St. Clair Day 1: Chris Lane Leads with 22-09lbs!

Lane Needs Win to Make Classic on his Homewaters.

By Deb Johnson

AUG 22, 2013

DETROIT -- Make no mistake, Chris Lane is driven.

The 2012 Bassmaster Classic champ wants to qualify for the 2014 Classic because it’s on his adopted home water, Alabama’s Lake Guntersville. Winning the Aug. 22-25 Plano Championship Chase and the Classic berth that comes with the event title is his best chance to get on the list for Guntersville.

The Florida native, who now lives in Guntersville, Ala., made the most of that chance by landing the first-day lead in the Chase on Thursday. His weight of 22 pounds, 9 ounces led Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark., by 8 ounces. Davis took second place with 22-1.

Chris Lane is hoping for a win to make Classic.
(Photos: BASS)

In third place with 21-14 was Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala. In the No. 4 spot with 21-2 was Michael Simonton of Fremont, Ohio. Fifth place was a tie at 20-7 between Kotaro Kiriyama of Moody, Ala., and Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho.

Bassmaster Elite TroKar Battle on the Bayou Day 4: Rojas Wins by an Ounce!

Dean Rojas Hangs onto TroKar Battle by a Sniff. 

Possibly the bass the won it.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

By Luigi De Rose

MANY, La. -- Dean Rojas outsmarted the wind and the fish to hang onto a wild week of fishing. His reward is the blue Elite trophy for winning the Battle on the Bayou tournament Toledo Bend. G-Man Swindle, who consistently climbed the leader board every day finished an ultra close second. Swindle's 18-14 catch was the largest of Day 4 but not enough to dethrone Dean who lead this tournament wire to wire.


Top 5
1 Dean Rojas 70-15
2 Gerald Swindle 70-14
3 David Walker  70- 2
4 Chris Lane  67- 3
5 Fred Roumbanis 67- 1
More detailed coverage coming up.

HAVOC BAITS

Check out the new line of HAVOC BAITS from Berkley. We got a chance to see them live at the Toronto Sportsman Show. We also found out that there are three new baits coming. So new that no samples exist yet. We'll have an update in a few days.