SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The West Coast dominance continued during Friday’s second round of the Sacramento Bassmaster Elite at Sacramento River, with four native Californians taking over the top of the standings.
Aaron Martens, who grew up in California and now lives in Alabama, caught five bass Friday that weighed 26 pounds, 9 ounces and took the lead with a two-day mark of 51-4.
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| Aaron Martens take slight lead into weekend. (Photo: James Overstreet BASS) |
The total was just enough to push him past Chris Zaldain, who is 6 ounces back in second with 50-14. After catching 30-7 Thursday, Zaldain added 20-7 Friday to stay within good striking distance of his second career win with B.A.S.S.
Justin Lucas – another California native who now resides in Alabama – is in third with 47-11, and California resident Ish Monroe is fourth with 45-4.
Most anglers near the top of the leaderboard are targeting shallow spawning fish 80 to 100 miles downriver in the California Delta, and they said some are easier to catch than others.
“I caught a 6-pounder right before I left to come back, and I made it back with two minutes to spare,” said Martens, who if late would have been penalized 1 pound per minute. “Some of these fish aren’t really spawning or even guarding fry, they’re just kind of there. The mornings are tough, because it’s been cold.
