STOCKTON, Calif. – Castaic native Aaron Martens now of Leeds, Ala., capped off a week to remember Sunday winning the Bassmaster Elite Series “Duel on the Delta presented by Mahindra Tractors” with 85 pounds, 12 ounces over Elite rookie Derek Remitz of Madison, Ala., who finished in second with 78 pounds, 6 ounces. On Tuesday, Martens’ wife Lesley had the couple’s second child, a boy named Spencer.
The 34-year-old bested Remitz in addition to hard-charging Stephen Browning of Hot Springs, Ark., who finished in third with 75 pounds, 8 ounces.
Fishing fans can see all the details of Martens’ winning pattern on ESPN2 Saturday March 31 at 9 a.m. ET.
“If there was one place on the entire Earth that I could pick to win, it would be the California Delta,” Martens said. “Finally winning here is an amazing feeling. Heading into the tournament, I just wanted to finish in the top 50.”
With the Elite Series win, his fourth BASS win, Martens has amassed more than $1 million in BASS career earnings. He is the 18th member of that prestigious club.
Martens has scored all four BASS victories in the state of California and will look to capture a fifth win in the Golden State at the next Elite Series event on Clear Lake starting Thursday March 29.
Martens primarily concentrated on a short stretch of cover located in the Frank’s Tract area. He worked a four-inch and three-inch worm in his trademark color of Aaron’s magic on drop-shot rigs to sparse tulles.
Remitz fished in the same Frank’s Tract area as Martens for much of the tournament. The 24-year-old continued an unprecedented rookie run after taking victory in the season-opening Elite event on Texas’ Lake Amistad.
“I am really pleased with my finish here,” said Remitz. “I didn’t have a good practice, so I am absolutely satisfied with second-place.”
Remitz was working a red Rat-L-Trap around grass flats near spawning areas and caught the majority of his bigger keeper fish on small underwater structure changes with a jig.
Heading into the final day of action, it looked to be a two-angler race between Remitz and Martens. But the 40-year-old Browning posted the heaviest limit of the day at 24 pounds, 4 ounces, and put some pressure on the leaders.
Rounding out the top five were Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., with 74 pounds, 6 ounces, and Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kansas, with 73 pounds, 12 ounces. Chapman scored the Purolator Big Bass of the Day, a 9-9 lunker, and earned the $1,000 premium.
Heading into the third Elite event of the season, Remitz leads the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year points in addition to the Toyota Rookie of the Year race. Full standings can be found below.
The “Golden State Shootout” on Clear Lake will be hosted by Lakeport, Calif., and daily weigh-ins will be held at Library Park starting at 3:00 p.m. PT. Fishing fans can watch live weigh-ins at www.espnoutdoors.com.
BASS is the worldwide authority on bass fishing, sanctioning more than 20,000 events through the BASS Federation Nation annually. Guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans, BASS sets the standard for credibility, professionalism, sportsmanship and conservation, as it has for nearly 40 years.
BASS stages bass fishing tournaments for every skill level and culminates with the Bassmaster Classic. Through its clubs, youth programs, aquatic resource advocacy, magazine publishing and multimedia platforms, BASS offers the industry's widest array of services and support to its nearly 530,000 members. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.
For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit www.bassmaster.com.
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