Mystified Aaron Martens Of Alabama
Manages 1-Ounce Lead In West Point Lake Battle

Kansan Casey Scanlon misses cutoff by less than a pound

May 3, 2013 - LAGRANGE, Ga. — With 24 pounds, 14 ounces of largemouth bass weighed over two days and a Bassmaster Elite Series lead in hand, Aaron Martens had good reason to feel he had a handle on West Point Lake bass.

He felt no such thing. Even as he moved up from fourth place into first on Friday at the West Point Lake Battle, Martens said he was mystified.

“On this place, I’m not sure about anything,” Martens said. “It is one of those lakes that humbles the best of the best, and when you don’t think it will happen, it happens. It’s hard here, so hard.”

From Leeds, Ala., Martens — a six-time Bassmaster winner, including the 2012 Elite Series postseason event — led the Battle by 1 ounce over Greg Vinson of Wetumpka, Ala. Vinson’s 24-13 two-day total kept him in second place, the same finish he had on Day 1.

Tommy Biffle of Wagoner, Okla., was third with 23-3, trailing Martens by 1-11 — the size of one small spotted bass on West Point Lake, and perhaps the size of the fifth fish Biffle failed to bring to the scales for the second day in a row.

One ounce behind Biffle was Day 1 leader Keith Combs of Huntington, Texas. Combs weighed 7-4 Friday, a big fall from his first-day weight of 15-14, but good enough for fourth place. Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., took fifth place with a two-day total of 22-10.

Martens said his day was “nerve-wracking.”

“I moved a lot today, running-and-gunning, fished a lot of different spots, fished fast, fished slow,” he said. “I did everything I could.”

Martens said he caught bass on five different baits Friday “just fishing” for postspawners, a contrast to the bedding-bass bite he was on the first day, when he weighed 13-5 for fourth place.

Yet he tried for big bedders. His first stop of the morning was an area with spawning beds, and he caught a 2 1/2-pounder on his first cast. But after that, the beds yielded only small male bass of about 2 pounds.

He said he’d try the same area again Saturday to see if larger, game-changer females moved onto the beds again. But he’ll also go for the postspawners that helped him to his second-day lead as his best bet to win.

“But I might not catch a fish there again the rest of the week. It may have been a fluke deal. Maybe the wind was blowing just right, and I may have caught most of the good ones out of the school. I don’t know,” he said.

Vinson’s 9-3 weight of Friday was a marked difference from his Day 1 bag of 15-10, even though he worked the same pattern both days.

“I didn’t feel like the places where I caught them yesterday were going to replenish, so I’m really happy I caught a solid limit today running new water,” Vinson said Friday. “I didn’t get the big bite today.”

Vinson again weighed in all largemouth for his five-fish limit. He caught 10 keeper bass Friday, but no hoped-for big bass was among them.

“I kept thinking I would get it,” he said.

Biffle moved up from seventh place to claim third. Happy with his day, he still looked back with regret on two days of being one shy of a limit.

His day started slowly.

“It probably was 9:30 [a.m.], 10 o’clock when I caught the first one,” he said. “I was pretty happy because I knew that meant I was fishing tomorrow.”

Biffle meant he felt assured he’d make the Top 50 cut for Saturday’s competition. As it turned out, he was nowhere near falling out with 23-3. The 50th-place cut settled in at 14-3. Kelly Jordan of Palestine, Texas, took that last spot.

Friday’s largest bass, a 6-6, was brought in by Casey Ashley of Donalds, S.C. The bass helped push him from 20th place on Day 1 into sixth place on Day 2. The 6-6, however, did not knock out the 6-12 largemouth weighed Thursday by Biffle as the tournament’s best bass so far. After four days, the largest fish will land the Battle’s Carhartt Big Bass bonus of $1,000 plus $500 if the angler was wearing Carhartt clothing.

Martens won the $500 Livingston Leader Award presented by Livingston Lures to the pro in first place after two days.

For the event’s Berkley Heavyweight award of $500, Combs’ Day 1 bag of 15-14 remained the top contender. The largest bag of Day 2 was 14-6 by Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., who jumped from 40th into seventh place with 22-2 over two days.

The pros are after a first prize of $100,000 and an instant-in for the 2014 Bassmaster Classic. They’re also are earning points toward a Classic qualification. The top pro in points at the end of the eight-event regular season will win the coveted Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year title.

The four-day event continues Saturday, when 50 pros who survived Friday’s cut will return to West Point Lake. The pros will launch at 6:40 a.m. each day from Pyne Road Park (4481 Roanoke Road, LaGrange, GA 30240). Beginning at 3:15 p.m., weigh-ins will be at the same location.

Fans are invited to the launch and weigh-in, as well as to the Bassmaster Elite Series Expo, which features products and activities by Elite Series sponsors; free demo rides in Nitro, Skeeter and Triton bass rigs powered by Mercury and Yamaha engines; Dixie Dock Dogs, a dog-jumping competition; and much more. See Bassmaster.com for a full list of Expo features.

At Pyne Road Park next to the weigh-in site, the Expo opens at noon. All Bassmaster events are free and open to the public.

Bassmaster.com will continue to provide all-day coverage of the event. Online features include live video of the weigh-ins, real-time leaderboards, blogs and catch reports from the water, video reports, daily results.

The West Point Lake Battle will air on ESPN from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. ET May 12 on The Bassmasters TV show.

2013 Bassmaster Elite Series Official Sponsors: Toyota, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley

2013 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Carhartt, Diet Mountain Dew, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Luck-E-Strike, Power-Pole, Ramada, Shimano

2013 Bassmaster Elite Series Proud Partner: Mustang Survival

About B.A.S.S.
For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.

The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications — Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times — comprehensive website Bassmaster.com and ESPN2 and Outdoor Channel television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, B.A.S.S. Nation events and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.

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Media Contact: Cara Clark, 205-313-0955, cclark@bassmaster.com, or Dave Precht, 205-313-0931, dprecht@bassmaster.com.

2013 West Point Lake Battle 5/2-5/5

West Point Lake, La Grange GA.

(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2



Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts


1. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 10 24-14 100

Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 11-09

2. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 10 24-13 99

Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 09-03

3. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 8 23-03 98

Day 1: 4 12-10 Day 2: 4 10-09

4. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 23-02 97

Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 07-04

5. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 10 22-10 96

Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 09-10

6. Casey D Ashley Donalds, SC 10 22-07 95

Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 13-08

7. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 10 22-02 94

Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 14-06

8. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 10 21-14 93

Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 11-10

9. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 10 21-11 92

Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 5 14-00

10. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 10 21-11 91

Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 13-00

11. Chris Zaldain San Jose, CA 10 21-08 90

Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 5 12-12

12. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 10 21-06 89

Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 07-04

13. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 21-05 88

Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 10-00

14. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 10 21-04 87

Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 11-11

15. Hank Cherry Maiden, NC 10 21-00 86

Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 08-12

16. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 10 20-09 85

Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 07-15

17. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 10 20-09 84

Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 10-02

18. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 6 20-07 83

Day 1: 3 10-13 Day 2: 3 09-10

19. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 10 19-08 82

Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 11-05

20. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 10 19-01 81

Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 09-05

21. Fletcher Shryock Newcomerstown, OH 10 18-13 80

Day 1: 5 05-08 Day 2: 5 13-05

22. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 7 18-09 79

Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 2 08-14

23. John Crews Salem, VA 9 18-01 78

Day 1: 4 10-06 Day 2: 5 07-11

24. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 18-00 77

Day 1: 5 06-09 Day 2: 5 11-07

25. Jami Fralick Martin, SD 10 17-10 76

Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 08-12

26. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 10 17-08 75

Day 1: 5 06-06 Day 2: 5 11-02

27. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 10 17-05 74

Day 1: 5 07-13 Day 2: 5 09-08

28. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 10 17-03 73

Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 08-12

29. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 16-15 72

Day 1: 5 06-07 Day 2: 5 10-08

30. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 10 16-12 71

Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 07-08

31. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 9 16-10 70

Day 1: 4 07-04 Day 2: 5 09-06

32. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 10 16-10 69

Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 07-15

33. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 10 16-08 68

Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 08-12

34. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 9 16-07 67

Day 1: 4 04-12 Day 2: 5 11-11

35. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 10 16-07 66

Day 1: 5 07-01 Day 2: 5 09-06

36. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 9 16-06 65

Day 1: 5 07-07 Day 2: 4 08-15

37. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 10 15-15 64

Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 07-05

38. Kurt Dove Del Rio, TX 10 15-14 63

Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 08-02

39. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 8 15-12 62

Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 5 11-06

40. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 10 15-04 61

Day 1: 5 08-01 Day 2: 5 07-03

41. Nate Wellman Newaygo, MI 10 15-01 60

Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 5 07-01

42. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 10 15-00 59

Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 07-01

43. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 10 14-15 58

Day 1: 5 07-09 Day 2: 5 07-06

44. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 9 14-14 57

Day 1: 4 06-03 Day 2: 5 08-11

45. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 10 14-13 56

Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 5 07-09

46. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 10 14-10 55

Day 1: 5 06-07 Day 2: 5 08-03

47. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 7 14-09 54

Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 5 10-08

48. Clark Reehm Shreveport, LA 10 14-05 53

Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 5 06-10

49. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 10 14-04 52

Day 1: 5 07-14 Day 2: 5 06-06

50. Kelly Jordon Palestine, TX 9 14-03 51

Day 1: 4 05-13 Day 2: 5 08-06

51. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 10 14-01 50

Day 1: 5 07-03 Day 2: 5 06-14

52. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, SC 10 13-15 49

Day 1: 5 06-03 Day 2: 5 07-12

53. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 9 13-15 48

Day 1: 5 07-06 Day 2: 4 06-09

54. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 9 13-14 47

Day 1: 4 05-07 Day 2: 5 08-07

55. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 9 13-13 46

Day 1: 4 06-03 Day 2: 5 07-10

56. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 10 13-12 45

Day 1: 5 05-12 Day 2: 5 08-00

57. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 6 13-10 44

Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 4 10-07

58. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 9 13-10 43

Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 4 04-11

59. Jared Miller Norman, OK 8 13-10 42

Day 1: 3 05-07 Day 2: 5 08-03

60. Casey Scanlon Lenexa, KS 10 13-10 41

Day 1: 5 05-11 Day 2: 5 07-15

61. Randy Howell Springville, AL 9 13-06 40

Day 1: 4 06-00 Day 2: 5 07-06

62. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 10 13-05 39

Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 04-11

63. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 8 13-05 38

Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 3 05-06

64. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 10 13-05 37

Day 1: 5 05-09 Day 2: 5 07-12

65. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 10 13-02 36

Day 1: 5 05-10 Day 2: 5 07-08

66. James Elam Tulsa, OK 10 13-02 35

Day 1: 5 05-11 Day 2: 5 07-07

67. David Smith Del City, OK 10 13-00 34

Day 1: 5 06-04 Day 2: 5 06-12

68. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 7 12-15 33

Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 2 03-10

69. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 8 12-14 32

Day 1: 3 03-00 Day 2: 5 09-14

70. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 7 12-12 31

Day 1: 2 04-00 Day 2: 5 08-12

71. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 9 12-09 30

Day 1: 4 05-06 Day 2: 5 07-03

72. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 8 12-02 29

Day 1: 3 05-03 Day 2: 5 06-15

73. Chad Pipkens Holt, MI 10 12-02 28

Day 1: 5 06-09 Day 2: 5 05-09

74. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 9 11-15 27

Day 1: 4 04-12 Day 2: 5 07-03

75. Kevin Hawk Guntersville, AL 8 11-13 26

Day 1: 5 07-13 Day 2: 3 04-00

76. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 10 11-11 25

Day 1: 5 04-15 Day 2: 5 06-12

77. David Walker Sevierville, TN 6 11-02 24

Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 1 01-11

78. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 8 10-14 23

Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 3 03-14

79. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 9 10-12 22

Day 1: 5 06-04 Day 2: 4 04-08

80. Jeremy Starks Scott Depot, WV 9 10-10 21

Day 1: 5 05-11 Day 2: 4 04-15

81. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 8 10-06 20

Day 1: 5 07-10 Day 2: 3 02-12

82. Michael Simonton Fremont, OH 5 10-03 19

Day 1: 2 06-04 Day 2: 3 03-15

83. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 7 10-02 18

Day 1: 5 05-12 Day 2: 2 04-06

84. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 6 10-00 17

Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 1 01-10

85. Morizo Shimizu Osaka JAPAN 6 09-11 16

Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 1 01-11

86. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 6 09-05 15

Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 1 01-00

87. Matt Greenblatt Port St Lucie, FL 7 09-05 14

Day 1: 2 02-12 Day 2: 5 06-09

88. Shaw E Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 7 08-11 13

Day 1: 5 06-15 Day 2: 2 01-12

89. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 7 08-10 12

Day 1: 5 05-10 Day 2: 2 03-00

90. Josh Bertrand Gilbert, AZ 5 08-07 11

Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 4 07-04

91. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 6 07-14 10

Day 1: 2 02-01 Day 2: 4 05-13

92. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 6 07-13 9

Day 1: 5 05-09 Day 2: 1 02-04

93. Chip Porche Bixby, OK 4 07-12 8

Day 1: 3 04-14 Day 2: 1 02-14

94. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 5 07-06 7

Day 1: 2 02-08 Day 2: 3 04-14

95. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 3 07-04 6

Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 0 00-00

96. BJ Haseotes Centerville, MA 5 07-03 5

Day 1: 4 05-06 Day 2: 1 01-13

97. Grant Goldbeck Boerne, TX 4 06-00 4

Day 1: 2 02-03 Day 2: 2 03-13

98. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 4 05-03 3

Day 1: 4 05-03 Day 2: 0 00-00

99. Jamie Horton Centerville, AL 3 03-10 2

Day 1: 3 03-10 Day 2: 0 00-00

100. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 4 03-07 1

Day 1: 3 02-07 Day 2: 1 01-00

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Totals

Day #Limits #Fish Weight

1 69 441 729-11

2 67 412 733-06

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136 853 1463-01