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BASS AOY Race
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Martens brings home the AOY title, while it seems like just yesterday that I met this young man as he fished his first pro event in Northern Ca. Since that time I have had the pleasure and honor of staying in touch with him over the years and regular conversations have developed a friendship that we both enjoyed over the years, fishing/photographing together in a few Classics. Watching grow from single young fisherman to married Dad who adores his wife and baby girl. From the first time we met on the Delta til last week when he told me, “Dude, I blew the AOY race at Lake Toho, I can’t believe I still have a shot. I didn’t spend enough time preparing for Toho and it cost me.”

Martens came back the following event at the Harris Chain with a 6th place finish, and the “California Kid” was back on track. Then on to Guntersville, where Martens said , I like this Lake, It’s close to home” (his new Alabama address). Georgia was then tough for everyone but Modesto native Mike Reynolds. Martens worked hard and finished 22nd on Augusta’s Strom Thurmond. Then onto North Carolina, where again he found himself fishing just outside Charlotte, where he finished at last summers Bassmaster Classic, this time though it was Lake Norman and brutally cold temperatures, in one call Aaron said, “Dude, it’s cold here 30 degrees at noon, but the bite is pretty good”. Martens wound up the cold event on Norman in 16th place.

All of the sudden with only Table Rock to decide the battle Martens found himself in a pretty darn solid top ten which included the Marty Stone, Rounding out the top 10 are New Jersey’s Michael Iaconelli, Lake Norman event winner Edwin Evers, Florida’s Terry Scroggins, California’s Skeet Reese, Tennessee’s David Walker, Toyota Rookie of the Year leader David Wolak of Pennsylvania, Missouri’s Rick Clunn and Arkansas’s George Cochran.

As things shook out at Table Rock the race was as tight as ever where just one big bite could get the job done, for Martens that big bite came on Day 2 when he landed the tournaments big fish of 9 pounds elevating him into the final twelve as Stone fell just six ounces short of making the cut. Now Martens knew 4th or better and the AOY race was his as Stone could just sit and watch.

Day Three left everyone wondering as BASS live weigh in format held all of us in suspense as Martens numbers didn’t get posted, yet finally those watching in Ca received the press releases that confirmed the Martens edge into the Super Six. At the end of day 3, "I missed seven or eight bites," Martens said, "but my chances tomorrow are still pretty good. I felt a lot of pressure today, and I'll feel more tomorrow. The pressure is getting really bad because I know I have to catch some fish tomorrow to do well."

Catch fish he did, Martens first to scales on day 4 as BASS fans from all over watched to see if this young man could get that second place monkey off his back. This household exclaimed with joy as Aaron weighed 12 pounds 11 ounces and secure his spot among the best bass anglers in the world.

Angler of the Year runner-up, Marty Stone, was gracious in defeat and enjoyed a terrific year on the Tour. Had he made the cut to the semifinals, he and Martens would have battled things out on the water. He spoke highly of his friend, Martens, calling him a “world-class angler.”

“Let me tell you something about talking to Aaron. Ignore the ‘dudes’ and the ‘mans’ he loves to use, and listen to everything else,” Stone joked. “He’s an amazing fisherman and really deserves this honor.”

In addition to the money he earned for his big bass, Martens takes home $100,000 as Angler of the Year, $38,000 for his second-place finish in the tournament and another $1,000 for the Busch Heavyweight catch of the final day (12-11). His final round catch included four spotted bass and a largemouth, all caught on a drop-shotted Aaron’s Special Roboworm.

Use all the dudes and man’s you want brother you are the man!

Photos courtesy of BASS

Inside Bass, Courtesy BASS