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Lane loads up

Category: Tournament

 Mar 21st, 2014 by OutdoorsFIRST 

Modified Mar 21st, 2014 at 12:00 AM

Mercury pro and former Bassmaster Classic champion, Chris Lane, blew the doors down today at Bassmaster Elite Series event on the St. John’s River out of Palatka, FL. Lane brought in nothing but beasts in his bag today for 37 pounds 9 ounces to leap into the lead with a two-day total weighing 56 pounds 4 ounces.

	Chris Lane hoists two of a 37-plus-pound bag that vaulted him into first place on the St. John’s River. (Joel Shangle)

In second is yesterday’s leader, Livingston Lures pro Randy Howell with 47 pounds 5 ounces.

Rounding out the Top 5 are in third Abu Garcia pro Justin Lucas with a two-day total weighing 44 pounds 11 ounces.  Skeeter pro Mark Davis with a weight of 44 pounds 10 ounces is in fourth. Fifth is held down by Triton pro Paul Elias, weighing 44 pounds 3 ounces.

Lane having fun
“I was hitting them all day today,” said Lane. “I fished really clean. Today was fantastic. I’m just going out and going fishing. I’m having fun. I’m doing exactly what I want to do out there.”

Lane anchored his limit today with a bass weighing 9 pounds 12 ounces.

Howell in a zoo
“That Chris Lane is a show off,” said Howell. “”He goes and steals everybody’s thunder. Seriously, I’m thankful I caught 20 pounds today.

“I’m fishing in the midst of a zoo of boats. They are everywhere. I really didn’t have a great day. I caught two good ones in there. I think a lot of the fish were dodging trolling motor props all day. I might check out some new water tomorrow.”

	Mark Davis hoists one of the many hawgs caught today on the St. John’s River. (Joel Shangle)

No explanation for Lucas
“You can never give up out there,” said Lucas. “At 2:30, I had about 6 pounds. I never gave up. I kept fishing. Around 2:45 they turned on and I had to leave 45 minutes later. I went from 6 pounds to 24 pounds in less than an hour.

“It gets crazier. I caught a 10-pounder on my last flip of the day. I’m having a really good time and fishing as hard as I can. Sometimes I just can’t explain why things happen. I have no explanation how a 10-pounder shows up on my last cast.”

Davis likes it slow
“It’s happening out there,” said Davis. “It is just phenomenal. I’ve never seen it so good here. I couldn’t have had a better day today unless I caught two 9-pounders.

“I like to fish a worm slowly and that is what you can do here in Florida. I’m fishing a Strike King Rage Bug and looking at the fish. The fishing is phenomenal.”

Today’s weigh-in featured three bass weighing over 10 pounds. Big fish today went to Phoenix Boats pro Greg Hackney. His toad weighed 10 pounds 10 ounces.