2015 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell Day 1: Rojas Rules with Over 21 Pounds!

Despite Bitter Cold Dean was Red Hot!

By Bryan Brasher

bass press release

Doesn’t it just figure that after the coldest day in the history of the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro, four anglers from warm, sunny climates are sitting atop the standings?

Arizona angler Dean Rojas wowed the crowd at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., with five Lake Hartwell bass that weighed 21 pounds, 2 ounces despite frigid temperatures that were in the neighborhood of 10 degrees just before takeoff at Green Pond Landing in Anderson.

Dean overcame the bass, weather, and
practice late penalty to take day 1 lead. He was
optimistic before the day started because this was
his 13th Classic, he is boat #13 and its was
Friday the 13th.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

Rojas also overcame a 28-minute penalty that he was forced to spend in the tournament “penalty box” as punishment for being late for check-in to Wednesday’s practice period.

He leads California angler Skeet Reese (20-2), Texas pro Keith Combs (18-8) and fellow Arizona angler Brett Hite (15-7).

“This is our biggest stage that we perform on, and to be able to catch a big bag like that on the first day is amazing,” Rojas said. “How could you script it any better than that? Obviously, I’d rather finish it that way. But hey, I’ll take it.”

Though Rojas hasn’t won a Classic in 12 previous appearances – and hasn’t finished first in an event since the 2011 Elite Series event on Toledo Bend Reservoir – he said he’ll be more excited than nervous to lead the field into Saturday’s second round.

He’s taking his Day 1 success in stride, much like he did the 28-minute penalty he endured Friday morning. He said the infraction was due to a Lowrance unit on his boat that he kept promising himself he would switch from Central Time to South Carolina’s Eastern Time, but never did.

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2014 Bassmaster Elite Toledo Bend Day 3: Dean Rojas take lead and ready for his third victory here!

Rojas rules Toledo Bend again. 

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

MANY, La. — Toledo Bend Reservoir produced a little something extra — lagniappe in Louisiana French-speak — for Dean Rojas on Saturday.

This beauty along with a sizeable sack launched Dean
into the lead.
(Photo: BASS)

Actually, that something extra was very large: a 7-pound, 2-ounce largemouth bass. And it proved to be the catch that made all the difference for Rojas on the third day of the May 1-4 Evan Williams Bourbon Bassmaster Elite on Toledo Bend.

Because of the big cull his 7-2 made possible, Rojas turned his day around. The so-so limit he would have had became a good day’s catch of 17-14.

Best of all, the 7-2 helped him to a 2-10 advantage over Friday leader Jacob Powroznik.

“I was fortunate today to have that big one that separated me from having a small limit,” said Rojas, who’s from Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

It helped that Powroznik tripped. He managed just 11-13 Saturday. Those bass put his total to 60-1, good enough for second, but not enough to stay in the catbird seat, the spot Rojas captured with his 62-11 total going into the final competition on Sunday.

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.

2013 BASSMASTER Elite Sabine River Champion is Todd Faircloth!

Sabine a dream for Todd Faircloth

By Deb Johnson

BASS Press Release

ORANGE, Texas — “Everything’s bigger and better in Texas.”

Faircloth's big limit was too much for Rojas to overcome.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

That’s what Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas, said Sunday as he won the Sabine River Challenge presented by STARK Cultural Venues out of Orange, Texas, trumping Dean Rojas of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., by 6 pounds, 10 ounces.

“It means a lot to me to win here,” Faircloth said. “I won one in Texas in Amistad, but that’s not real close to my home. Winning here in front of my home crowd is special. I’ve got a lot of family and friends here, and a lot of people I grew up fishing with and against.”

Faircloth’s win — his fourth Bassmaster Elite Series title and second in Texas — was a victory in a four-day tug-of-war with Rojas. Rojas led the first day, then Faircloth took the lead away from him on Day Two.

The third day, Rojas got it back, and led Faircloth by 3-9, a considerable deficit on the stingy and tough Sabine River system. But Faircloth pulled away on Day Four by weighing a 14-9 limit, easily getting the best of Rojas, who had a single fish Sunday that weighed 4-6.

2013 Sabine River Challenge Champ: Todd Faircloth

1.       Todd Faircloth 49-6

2.       Dean Rojas 42-12

3.       Terry Scroggins 41-1

4.       Ishama Monroe 40-0

5.       Bill Lowen 38-3

2013 BASSMASTER ELITE Sabine River Day 2: Todd Faircloth Jumps into Lead.

Leader Todd Faircloth culls and calls it a day by noon

By Deb Johnson

BASS Press Release

Faircloth's big bag helps Texan lead on difficult fishery.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

It was a short workday for Todd Faircloth on Friday. By noon, the Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Jasper, Texas, had a five-fish limit. He decided they weighed enough, and they were all he should take from his prime fishing area on the Sabine River system, so he called it a day.

He was right: At the scales, his fish weighed 16 pounds, 8 ounces, bringing his two-day total to 26-15. It was enough for the Friday lead in the Sabine River Challenge presented by STARK Cultural Venues in Orange, Texas, the season opener of the Elite Series.

Enough, yes, to jump over first-day leader Dean Rojas, but by only 7 ounces. Rojas, of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., had a two-day total of 26-8. He slipped to second place after his Day Two catch of 10-14 was almost five pounds lighter than his big Day One bag of 15-10. Cliff Crochet of Pierre Part, La., is third with a two-day total of 25-0.

Faircloth said he left his area after he caught his eighth keeper and had culled for his best five. His largest, a 4-6, was his first keeper of the day.

2013 BASSMASTER ELITE Sabine River Day 1: Rojas Roots Out Lead!

By Deb Johnson

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Dean Rojas of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., with a history of wins on Toledo Bend Reservoir, shone equally bright Thursday on the Sabine, the big lake straddling the river to the north.

Rojas leads with 15-10 when
most didn't have a limit.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

He took the first-day lead in the March 14-17 Sabine River Challenge presented by STARK Cultural Venues, the season opener of the Bassmaster Elite Series.

Rojas’ 15 pounds, 10 ounces kept him in front of Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark., who was second with 13-13, and Cliff Crochet of Pierre Part, La., who had 13-0 for third place.

“It must be the water,” Rojas laughed, a hint that his fast start in the 2013 season opener was almost a coincidence to his success on Toledo Bend, where he won an Elite event in 2011, one of several victories on that fishery over the course of his career.

Bass Master Classic 2011 Day 2: The Role of Radar

Bass Master Classic: Day 2
Saturday,  February 19, 2011
Louisiana Delta
New Orleans, La.
By Luigi De Rose




Rojas's skeg found something hard last Friday.
Photo: (BASS)

 Two very distinct factors are playing a major role in the year's Bass Master Classic: distance and weather. The Delta is a massive fishery. Unlike the Great Lakes, which is geographically gigantic, the Delta is a maze of marsh, cuts, channels and the Mississippi River. Littered with stumps, logs, crab traps, floating islands and thousands of posts, this place is very dangerous to navigate.  A few degrees off your course on a two hour journey and you're not lost you're dead! Ripping at top bass boat speeds is only for the skilled. Mix in the fog, which has plagued this tournament, driving at top speed is only for the crazy or very well equipped.


Radar

Skeet's boat has one.
Photo: James Overstreet (BASS)

Radar is a must to navigate in all weather conditions. It's not a common electronic for a bass boat but this is the Classic. If it can help you win you get it.  Radar provides a clearer picture of the surrounding area especially approaching water crafts where GPS cannot compare. It is still very critical that boaters use caution when using any navigation aide but radar even works at night. Still, running flat out in poor conditions can be on the edge of reckless. The Delta is like an F1 road course; one slip of the steering wheel and you're eating dirt.


The Out Come
Even with today's long fog delay, many of the top bags seem to be coming from Venice. A distant oasis south of New Orleans, this place is known for being great. But, it was counted out by many as too far even with ideal conditions. Mix in fog and many couldn't justify the trip. Well, the role of radar might make the difference between who wins and who doesn't even if the final day is clear and sunny.


Some of the anglers with Lowrance Radar
Edwin Evers
Mike Iaconelli
Gary Klein
Skeet Reese
Kevin Wirth