Zaldain Claims First Win After Hackney Blanks

By BassFan Staff

With the wave of an empty, folded up weigh-in bag on stage today, Greg Hackney signaled the conclusion of the 2015 Bassmaster Elite Series season. He may as well have been waving a white flag in surrender to the nomadic smallmouth of Sturgeon Bay.

After catching nearly 40 pounds over the first 2 days of competition, Hackney came in with zero fish today and that opened the door for Chris Zaldain to capture his first Elite Series victory.

Zaldain went out in 2nd today and his 14-15 stringer catapulted him to the win with a 3-day total of 53-04. He also advanced four places to 6th in the final Angler of the Year points standings, which is where the majority of attention was focused this week.

David Walker caught a final day-best 20-10 to finish 2nd with 50-11, his best showing in an Elite Series event since his win at Wheeler Lake in 2011. Alton Jones wound up 3rd – his second Top-3 finish on a Great Lakes fishery this season – with 46-03 after catching 16-07 Sunday.

Bobby Lane, who struggled Friday after a stellar day Thursday, bounced back with 18-15 that earned him a 4th-place result with 45-13. Chad Pipkens closed out the Top 5 with an 11-07 stringer that gave him 45-11.

Aaron Martens, this year’s landslide Angler of the Year winner, capped off his historic season with a 17-08 stringer that eclipsed what he caught over the first 2 days combined. His 34-11 total was good enough for 29th and a whopping 112-point margin of victory in the final point standings.

Here's how the Top 12 finished up:

1. Chris Zaldain: 53-04
2. David Walker: 50-11
3. Alton Jones: 46-03
4. Bobby Lane: 45-13
5. Chad Pipkens: 45-11
6. Jordan Lee: 45-09
7. Ott DeFoe: 45-04
8. John Crews: 44-13
9. Brandon Palaniuk: 44-05
10. James Elam: 43-11
11. Mark Menendez: 43-02
12. Todd Faircloth: 42-06

Two anglers fished their way into the Bassmaster Classic this week – Ott DeFoe and Mike Iaconelli. DeFoe had a strong week, finishing 7th to move up from 43rd to 30th in points. Iaconelli came in with three fish for 9-09 today and finished 21st, which helped him go from 45th to 39th in points. His 476 points were 1 more than Billy McCaghren, who currently occupies 40th in points and unofficially the last qualification spot for the Classic through the Elite Series points.

If an Elite Series angler already qualified for the Classic wins one (or more) of the three remaining Bassmaster Opens – Lake Erie, Table Rock Lake or Lake Seminole – additional Classic berths will be awarded via the Elite Series points. Mark Menendez and Jonathon VanDam wound up tied for 41st, but Menendez would get the Classic nod as he won the tiebreaker of more total weight caught on full-field days during the season.

Scott Rook and Elite Series newcomer Brandon Coulter both fell out of Classic contention with finishes in the 40s this week. Rook dropped from 38th in points to 44th while Coulter fell from 39th to 46th.

In the race for Rookie of the Year, top honors went to rookie-in-name-only Brent Ehrler, who edged first-year pro Jordan Lee. It’s the second straight year an established pro making the move from the FLW Tour has claimed ROY. Jacob Powroznik won it last year.

With the 10th season of Elite Series competition in the book, the focus can now shift to Grand Lake, site of next year’s Classic, which is 167 days away.

Zaldain Thrilled

> Day 3: 5, 14-15 (15, 53-04)

Zaldain, whose first Bassmaster win came at the 2005 Clear Lake Western Open, didn’t care that there was no trophy or oversized check to take home to mark his win at the AOY Championship. The thrill of beating a stout field was just the same even if there had been all the trappings of a regular-season Elite Series event.

“I beat the best of the best of the best,” he said. “It was a fun win. In my book, it’s a win. It’s a notch on the belt and I can honestly say, “I was the best of the Top 50 this week. It feels great. I don’t need a trophy or prize money – that’s personal stuff. I can take this experience into next year and the year after that. It really is special.”

After catching the majority of his fish over the first 2 days off the same flat, he had to alter his strategy today when his key area didn’t produce. At 9:30 a.m., he was still without a keeper, but he didn’t panic.

“I’ve been in that position before and I told myself I wasn’t going to be stubborn and stick it out there and go up in flames,” he said.

He made a move to an area where he’d caught some fish in practice on a jerkbait. After catching his first keeper on a jerkbait, he switched to the 3-inch Megabass Spark Shad swimbait that had worked so well on the other spot.

“On my third cast, I caught a 4-13 and that got the juices flowing,” he added.

He caught two more there before heading back to his best spot, but it remained unproductive.

“I went back to that other spot and filled out my limit,” he said, noting he only got five bites all day. “While I was out there, there were other guys around and I was hearing chatter about how tough it was and I started thinking I had a chance to pull off the win. When I was putting the boat on the trailer, there was talk that Hackney didn’t catch them and I knew it was pretty much a two-man race between he and I.”

2nd: Walker Satisfied

> Day 3: 5, 20-10 (15, 50-11)

With little to gain in the way of Angler of the Year positions this week, Walker arrived at the Door Peninsula looking for a good time.

“I came into this wanting to catch a few fish and have some fun,” he said. “Then the fishing stunk and I didn’t have any fun and the stress level went through the roof.”

Over the course of the tournament, he settled into a groove and weighed progressively heavier bags each day of the event.

“I’d caught a bunch of fish (Friday) so I was excited to get back out there today,” he said. “I could sense it was getting better and it got better again today. I started catching them immediately, but knew I needed big ones so I started focusing on that.”

To find the better quality fish, he moved toward deeper water (35 feet) and rigged a Z-Man StreakZ on a dropshot to fool the fish.

“What a (great) way to end the season,” he said. “I caught the best bag I could’ve had and I have the Classic made. I did well. I don’t have any lost fish stories or any of that. I fished really well.”

3rd: Jones Adjusted to Conditions

> Day 3: 5, 16-07 (15, 46-03)

Jones came on strong at the smallmouth venues this season and it resulted in him rising to 14th in points. He took 2nd at the St. Lawrence River and 24th at Lake St. Clair before this week.

“The smallmouth swing has been really good for me this year,” he said. “I don’t have any particular reasons why except for I’m using a bait that I have a lot of confidence in and the smallmouth seem to like it a lot.”

Like Zaldain, his most productive area from earlier in the tournament was largely vacant early today. He caught his first fish off another spot, then opted to head back to it around 11 a.m.

“There was still nothing on my graph, but the waves had been building,” he said. “What happened was the fish were still there, but the boat was rocking so much that the sonar cone wasn’t able to pick them out.”

To combat that issue, he went upwind of the spot by 50 yards and deployed his Power-Pole Drift Paddles and pulled across the sweet spot.

“I made six drifts and caught six fish,” he added.

His main presentation was a YUM Warning Shot rigged upside-down on a dropshot with a 3/8-ounce weight.

4th: Plan B(rother) Worked for Lane

> Day 3: 5, 18-15 (13, 45-13)

Despite his struggles Friday, Lane figured he had to take another stab at the spot that produced so well for him and others on day 1.

“Of course, I started there,” he said. “We’d had the day off, the sun was out and the wind was out of the right direction.”

The only problem was the fish were not in a feeding mood. Lane was still without a keeper at 10:30, so he decided to move into Sturgeon Bay and fish near brother Chris, who’d been having great success around the bridges that span the bay, not far from the takeoff point.

“He caught 17 pounds there on day 2 and I told him I’d be coming to see him if I started to struggle,” Bobby said. “When I got to him, he already had five and he tells me to “just fish around this bridge.’”

On his first cast, he caught a 4 3/4-pounder, then added a 3 1/2 about an hour later.

“There were a bunch guys around and we were all hooking up,” he said. “It was unbelievable. I went around this corner and everybody was catching them, but mine tended to be bigger.”

He caught a couple more good ones, before finishing his limit with another one that was close to 5 pounds.

“It was ridiculous,” he added. “I can’t believe out of that whole entire lake with miles and miles of shoals and amazing smallmouth fishing, I found myself within 100 yards of the ramp and catch 19 pounds, and watch John Crews catch 19 and my brother catch 19.”

He was certain none of the fish he caught were released fish from earlier in the tournament.

“Every one I caught, none had a hole in their mouths or had been poked with a cull tag,” he added. “They were all fat, healthy and fought like hell.”

5th: Pipkens Had to Move Shallower

> Day 3: 5, 11-07 (15, 45-11)

While his weights dropped each day of the event, Pipkens was able to secure a third straight Top-5 Elite Series finish and wrap up a second career trip to the Classic.

“It feels awesome,” he said. “Going into this, everything had gone so good. It was frustrating to have a horrible practice on a smallmouth fishery where I should catch them.”

He added and expanded on his game plan each day and employed a dropshot and deep-running Damiki crankbait to catch his best fish in the tournament.

“Today, the current went the opposite way,” he said. “I had no bites for the first 90 minutes before I realized they slid up shallower than they had been.

“It was good to be around the right sized fish. That’s important when smallmouth fishing to be able to try new things and bounce around during the day.”

Notable

> Day 3 stats – 50 anglers, 33 limits (10 more than day 2), 5 fours, 3 threes, 4 twos, 2 ones, 3 zeroes (one fewer than day 2).

> Menendez went over the $1 million career earnings mark with B.A.S.S. this week.

> Kevin VanDam, who finished 26th this week, was the winner of B.A.S.S.’ Most Popular Angler vote. The promotion was sponsored by Toyota, which awarded VanDam $5,000 to give to the charity of his choice. On stage today, he said he would donate it to the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital along with a matching $5,000 donation of his own.

Final Results

1. Chris Zaldain -- San Jose, CA -- 15, 53-04 -- 100 -- $30,000
Day 1: 5, 18-02 -- Day 2: 5, 20-03 -- Day 3: 5, 14-15

2. David Walker -- Sevierville, TN -- 15, 50-11 -- 99 -- $14,000
Day 1: 5, 11-15 -- Day 2: 5, 18-02 -- Day 3: 5, 20-10

3. Alton Jones -- Lorena, TX -- 15, 46-03 -- 98 -- $20,000
Day 1: 5, 13-04 -- Day 2: 5, 16-08 -- Day 3: 5, 16-07

4. Bobby Lane Jr. -- Lakeland, FL -- 13, 45-13 -- 97 -- $14,000
Day 1: 5, 21-04 -- Day 2: 3, 05-10 -- Day 3: 5, 18-15

5. Chad Pipkens -- Holt, MI -- 15, 45-11 -- 96 -- $12,000
Day 1: 5, 18-01 -- Day 2: 5, 16-03 -- Day 3: 5, 11-07

6. Jordan Lee -- Vinemont, AL -- 15, 45-09 -- 95 -- $27,000
Day 1: 5, 12-03 -- Day 2: 5, 15-04 -- Day 3: 5, 18-02

7. Ott DeFoe -- Knoxville, TN -- 15, 45-04 -- 94 -- $12,000
Day 1: 5, 11-11 -- Day 2: 5, 15-00 -- Day 3: 5, 18-09

8. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 14, 44-13 -- 93 -- $14,000
Day 1: 5, 16-00 -- Day 2: 4, 09-06 -- Day 3: 5, 19-07

9. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 15, 44-05 -- 92 -- $26,000
Day 1: 5, 13-08 -- Day 2: 5, 17-02 -- Day 3: 5, 13-11

10. James Elam -- Tulsa, OK -- 14, 43-11 -- 91 -- $12,000
Day 1: 4, 11-04 -- Day 2: 5, 15-01 -- Day 3: 5, 17-06

11. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 15, 43-02 -- 90 -- $12,000
Day 1: 5, 14-02 -- Day 2: 5, 14-13 -- Day 3: 5, 14-03

12. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, TX -- 15, 42-06 -- 89 -- $12,000
Day 1: 5, 18-05 -- Day 2: 5, 15-07 -- Day 3: 5, 08-10

13. Greg Vinson -- Wetumpka, AL -- 15, 41-04 -- 88 -- $20,000
Day 1: 5, 14-05 -- Day 2: 5, 13-00 -- Day 3: 5, 13-15

14. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 13, 40-13 -- 87 -- $40,000
Day 1: 3, 10-03 -- Day 2: 5, 13-12 -- Day 3: 5, 16-14

15. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 15, 40-09 -- 86 -- $22,000
Day 1: 5, 12-13 -- Day 2: 5, 15-12 -- Day 3: 5, 12-00

16. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 10, 39-12 -- 85 -- $28,000
Day 1: 5, 21-07 -- Day 2: 5, 18-05 -- Day 3: 0, 00-00

17. Chris Lane -- Guntersville, AL -- 12, 39-08 -- 84 -- $20,000
Day 1: 2, 04-13 -- Day 2: 5, 17-05 -- Day 3: 5, 17-06

18. Jonathon VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 12, 38-13 -- 83 -- $12,000
Day 1: 3, 06-02 -- Day 2: 4, 15-07 -- Day 3: 5, 17-04

19. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 12, 38-11 -- 82 -- $21,000
Day 1: 5, 15-12 -- Day 2: 4, 15-02 -- Day 3: 3, 07-13

20. Josh Bertrand -- Gilbert, AZ -- 14, 38-06 -- 81 -- $12,000
Day 1: 5, 18-05 -- Day 2: 4, 10-02 -- Day 3: 5, 09-15

21. Michael Iaconelli -- Pitts Grove, NJ -- 12, 37-10 -- 80 -- $12,000
Day 1: 4, 11-07 -- Day 2: 5, 16-10 -- Day 3: 3, 09-09

22. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 10, 36-15 -- 79 -- $25,000
Day 1: 5, 18-07 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00 -- Day 3: 5, 18-08

23. Marty Robinson -- Lyman, SC -- 13, 36-03 -- 78 -- $12,000
Day 1: 3, 09-11 -- Day 2: 5, 11-15 -- Day 3: 5, 14-09

24. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 11, 35-15 -- 77 -- $12,000
Day 1: 3, 10-00 -- Day 2: 3, 05-09 -- Day 3: 5, 20-06

25. Brett Hite -- Phoenix, AZ -- 11, 35-08 -- 76 -- $12,000
Day 1: 1, 02-05 -- Day 2: 5, 17-12 -- Day 3: 5, 15-07

26. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 13, 35-07 -- 75 -- $14,000
Day 1: 5, 12-00 -- Day 2: 4, 12-14 -- Day 3: 4, 10-09

27. Ish Monroe -- Hughson, CA -- 12, 35-01 -- 74 -- $12,000
Day 1: 5, 15-03 -- Day 2: 5, 15-09 -- Day 3: 2, 04-05

28. Jacob Powroznik -- Port Haywood, VA -- 10, 34-11 -- 73 -- $35,000
Day 1: 5, 20-01 -- Day 2: 1, 03-02 -- Day 3: 4, 11-08

29. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 12, 34-11 -- 72 -- $100,000
Day 1: 4, 08-07 -- Day 2: 3, 08-12 -- Day 3: 5, 17-08

30. Morizo Shimizu -- Suita, Osaka Japan -- 12, 33-11 -- 71 -- $12,000
Day 1: 4, 09-00 -- Day 2: 3, 07-07 -- Day 3: 5, 17-04

31. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, OK -- 8, 33-10 -- 70 -- $23,000
Day 1: 5, 20-15 -- Day 2: 3, 12-11 -- Day 3: 0, 00-00

32. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- 15, 33-02 -- 69 -- $12,000
Day 1: 5, 09-09 -- Day 2: 5, 09-07 -- Day 3: 5, 14-02

33. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 12, 32-13 -- 68 -- $20,000
Day 1: 4, 10-10 -- Day 2: 4, 12-04 -- Day 3: 4, 09-15

34. Mark Davis -- Mount Ida, AR -- 12, 32-08 -- 67 -- $12,000
Day 1: 5, 13-02 -- Day 2: 2, 04-10 -- Day 3: 5, 14-12

35. Brent Ehrler -- Newport Beach, CA -- 12, 31-00 -- 66 -- $29,000
Day 1: 5, 11-10 -- Day 2: 3, 08-03 -- Day 3: 4, 11-03

36. Justin Lucas -- Guntersville, AL -- 11, 30-14 -- 65 -- $55,000
Day 1: 2, 03-14 -- Day 2: 4, 13-15 -- Day 3: 5, 13-01

37. Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, AL -- 12, 29-11 -- 64 -- $12,000
Day 1: 3, 08-04 -- Day 2: 5, 12-11 -- Day 3: 4, 08-12

38. Brandon Card -- Caryville, TN -- 10, 29-05 -- 63 -- $12,000
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 5, 13-13 -- Day 3: 5, 15-08

39. Billy McCaghren -- Mayflower, AR -- 13, 29-03 -- 62 -- $12,000
Day 1: 3, 05-11 -- Day 2: 5, 11-07 -- Day 3: 5, 12-01

40. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- 10, 27-15 -- 61 -- $12,000
Day 1: 2, 04-15 -- Day 2: 3, 07-02 -- Day 3: 5, 15-14

41. Boyd Duckett -- Guntersville, AL -- 9, 26-12 -- 60 -- $12,000
Day 1: 5, 15-11 -- Day 2: 1, 02-04 -- Day 3: 3, 08-13

42. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 9, 26-00 -- 59 -- $24,000
Day 1: 1, 03-00 -- Day 2: 3, 07-14 -- Day 3: 5, 15-02

43. Russ Lane -- Prattville, AL -- 8, 23-03 -- 58 -- $12,000
Day 1: 5, 14-11 -- Day 2: 1, 03-01 -- Day 3: 2, 05-07

44. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 9, 22-10 -- 57 -- $12,000
Day 1: 4, 09-10 -- Day 2: 4, 08-13 -- Day 3: 1, 04-03

45. Randy Howell -- Springville, AL -- 8, 21-01 -- 56 -- $14,000
Day 1: 1, 02-10 -- Day 2: 2, 05-11 -- Day 3: 5, 12-12

46. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 7, 18-08 -- 55 -- $12,000
Day 1: 5, 13-13 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00 -- Day 3: 2, 04-11

47. Brandon Coulter -- Knoxville, TN -- 7, 17-13 -- 54 -- $13,500
Day 1: 4, 08-11 -- Day 2: 1, 05-04 -- Day 3: 2, 03-14

48. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 4, 15-06 -- 53 -- $20,000
Day 1: 1, 04-06 -- Day 2: 2, 07-08 -- Day 3: 1, 03-08

49. Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu City, AZ -- 6, 12-10 -- 52 -- $45,000
Day 1: 1, 01-13 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00 -- Day 3: 5, 10-13

50. John Murray -- Phoenix, AZ -- 3, 07-08 -- 51 -- $12,000
Day 1: 3, 07-08 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00 -- Day 3: 0, 00-00