Hackney in fifth place 3 pounds back; Crochet in 27th with 9-12
With a five-fish stringer weighing 15-10, Chris Lane is in the lead following Day 1 of the Bassmaster Elite Series stop on the Sabine River.
On a day that was delayed almost two hours by fog, Lane caught all of his fish in 2 feet of water or less, and said that one magic hour when the tide was right proved to be his best ever on the Sabine.
“With tidal water, there are times to really capitalize,” said Lane, who finished 22nd in the 2013 Elite Series event on the Sabine. “Those windows are very short. But when you find what really works on a certain fishery during that hour window that you have, you can really put some good fish in the boat.”
Lane already had a limit before his magic hour began, but he culled his three smallest fish for his three biggest of the day during that window of opportunity.
“I culled three times within that hour, and that made all the difference between bringing in 10 and 15 pounds,” Lane said. “Those were the three biggest fish I think I’ve ever caught in the Sabine River — two pushing 4 pounds and one almost 3.”
Reigning Angler of the Year and Sportsman TV host Greg Hackney, of Gonzales, also brought five fish to the scales for 12-9, and is currently in fifth place.
Cliff Crochet, of Pierre Part, brought in four fish for 9-12 and is in 27th place after Day 1.
Terry Scroggins, of San Mateo, Fla, was the day’s Big Bass leader, with a 6-10 fish, and sits in second place with a total of 15-2.
For a complete look at the leaderboard, click here.
Tomorrow morning’s launch is scheduled to take place at 7:10 from the Orange Boat Ramp, with the weigh-in starting again Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.
After Friday’s round, the field will be reduced to the Top 53 anglers in the standings. Then after Saturday’s round, only the Top 12 will advance to Sunday’s championship.
