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.
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.
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| Heavy rains drowned Orange, Texas. Chris might only need a few | to win. |
“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.
