Day 1 on St. Clair: Martens & more

Follow the Day 1 action for the current Toyota Angler of the Year leader and his fellow Elites as they battled rough waters and cloudy conditions

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We started Day 1 of the Plano Bassmaster Elite on Lake St. Clair on Aaron Martens who is also leading the Toyota Angler of the Year race.
We started Day 1 of the Plano Bassmaster Elite on Lake St. Clair on Aaron Martens who is also leading the Toyota Angler of the Year race.
Martens hooked up immediately after we arrived in his area.
Martens hooked up immediately after we arrived in his area.
Martens played out his smallmouth for as long as it took so he didn’t break his line or lose them.
Martens played out his smallmouth for as long as it took so he didn’t break his line or lose them.
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Number one for Martens is a good start with a 3+ pound smallmouth.
Number one for Martens is a good start with a 3+ pound smallmouth.
Alton Jones was fishing in a familiar area where he found success in 2013.
Alton Jones was fishing in a familiar area where he found success in 2013.
Jonathon VanDam was nearby as well.
Jonathon VanDam was nearby as well.
After anglers caught fish, they would use their big motor to re-position on their spot.
After anglers caught fish, they would use their big motor to re-position on their spot.
Jones did that often.
Jones did that often.
Paul Elias hooked up in the area as well.
Paul Elias hooked up in the area as well.
Multiple anglers fished around each other in this specific region.
Multiple anglers fished around each other in this specific region.
Elias reaches deep…
Elias reaches deep…
…and pulls out a quality smallmouth from Lake Huron.
…and pulls out a quality smallmouth from Lake Huron.
Martens hooks up again.
Martens hooks up again.
This one took him around the boat multiple times.
This one took him around the boat multiple times.
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A-Mart was stoked with this great smallmouth.
A-Mart was stoked with this great smallmouth.
Showing it off for his Marshal.
Showing it off for his Marshal.
The action didn’t stop as JVD hooked up.
The action didn’t stop as JVD hooked up.
This one was an acrobat.
This one was an acrobat.
It almost jumped in the boat.
It almost jumped in the boat.
As JVD tried to wrangle it…
As JVD tried to wrangle it…
In the boat!
In the boat!
This one is going on the Live Blog on Bassmaster.com.
This one is going on the Live Blog on Bassmaster.com.
Alton Jones was just down river from JVD.
Alton Jones was just down river from JVD.
Almost staying right on the border between the US and Canada.
Almost staying right on the border between the US and Canada.
In the distance we see Jones boat a good smallmouth.
In the distance we see Jones boat a good smallmouth.
Then he ran back up to his spot where he drifted from.
Then he ran back up to his spot where he drifted from.
Jones saved his best fish of the morning for when we were close to him.
Jones saved his best fish of the morning for when we were close to him.
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He knew it was a good one immediately after hooking up.
He knew it was a good one immediately after hooking up.
It was a tank smallmouth.
It was a tank smallmouth.
“This one is all of 5 pounds,” Jones said.
“This one is all of 5 pounds,” Jones said.
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Time to retie.
Time to retie.
After a short run to the main lake of Lake Huron we found Brandon Palaniuk.
After a short run to the main lake of Lake Huron we found Brandon Palaniuk.
It was rough conditions out in what seemed like an ocean.
It was rough conditions out in what seemed like an ocean.
Casey Scanlon drives by in the rough waves.
Casey Scanlon drives by in the rough waves.
So does Morizo Shimizu.
So does Morizo Shimizu.
Shimizu was patiently fishing his area.
Shimizu was patiently fishing his area.
Brandon Palaniuk needed to make a move though.
Brandon Palaniuk needed to make a move though.
Giant freight ships came by.
Giant freight ships came by.
We soon found Aaron Martens in the general area.
We soon found Aaron Martens in the general area.
Staying on your spot was tough in the rough waves.
Staying on your spot was tough in the rough waves.
Local yachts didn’t help.
Local yachts didn’t help.
Ott DeFoe joined the group after fishing nearby this morning.
Ott DeFoe joined the group after fishing nearby this morning.
The freight ships swallowed up the 21-foot bass boats.
The freight ships swallowed up the 21-foot bass boats.
We found James Elam who had a great morning.
We found James Elam who had a great morning.
Every big boat had some sort of name on it.
Every big boat had some sort of name on it.
Elam was satisfied with his day and was basically done fishing his primary area.
Elam was satisfied with his day and was basically done fishing his primary area.
But while we were there he hooked up.
But while we were there he hooked up.
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This one goes back to the Michigan waters.
This one goes back to the Michigan waters.
Elam was 50th in the Angler of the Year standings and having over 20 pounds today will certainly help him.
Elam was 50th in the Angler of the Year standings and having over 20 pounds today will certainly help him.
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