In a thrilling finale, Fisher Anaya, a rookie angler from Eva, Alabama, secured his first Bassmaster Elite Series victory at Lake Martin, showcasing remarkable skill and determination throughout the tournament. Anaya recorded a four-day weight of 54 pounds, 6 ounces, culminating in a dazzling Championship Sunday performance.
Anaya's journey began on Day 1 when he opened the tournament with a weight of 11 pounds and 6 ounces. By Day 2, he had maneuvered his way into the top ten, adding a limit of 12 pounds and 13 ounces to his total. As he prepared for Day 3, Anaya claimed the lead with an impressive weight of 14 pounds and 7 ounces, edging out competitor Brock Mosely. The final day saw Anaya land the biggest catch of the tournament, tipping the scales at 15 pounds and 12 ounces, which ultimately secured his victory.
"This feels awesome," said Anaya, clearly overwhelmed with joy. "I didn't know if I'd ever win one of these. My buddy Gerald Swindle always tells me it's not easy to win one of these, so if you get a shot to win, you better make it work. I knew this one would set up in my wheelhouse; I just had to get the bites and land them."
The win came not long after a challenging experience at Lake Guntersville, where Anaya finished in a disappointing 65th place during his debut. However, Lake Martin was a familiar and comfortable setting for him, owing to his extensive experience fishing on Lewis Smith Lake. His confidence was boosted by previous success in a local tournament he had won there just before the off-limits period.
"I won a small local tournament here that paid $5,000 and won Phoenix money," Anaya explained. "I had right at 15 pounds with all spotted bass and thought, 'Maybe I can make something work down here.' I fished the same exact way, just in different areas."
During the tournament, Anaya focused his efforts on prespawn staging areas located in larger pockets on the lake's southern section, where the water conditions were clearer. Upon arriving at his chosen spots, he would deploy his trolling motor and utilize his Garmin LiveScope technology to track down above-average bass.
"A lot of the females were staging on rockpiles in 5 to 7 feet of water and the males were really shallow," Anaya noted. "The females were staging on any piece of cover they could find before they went up to spawn."
Crucial to his strategy was the need to keep the bait just above the spotted bass, a technique significantly aided by the LiveScope technology. Anaya also relied on sight-fishing several key bass, particularly during Day 3.
"Staying my distance away from them was important. I tried to hit them from 50 to 70 feet away to give them time to see the bait and not the boat," he said. "Some of them would come up and blow up on it and others I'd have to force feed it to them."
While most anglers typically needed the majority of the day to reach weights of 13 or 14 pounds, Anaya showcased his skill by accelerating his catch rate, even amidst unpredictable weather conditions. Surprisingly, the rain and clouds, which he initially thought would hinder his fishing, ended up enhancing his success.
"I thought the rain and clouds would make it tougher, but it honestly made it better," Anaya shared, reflecting on the experience.
Anaya's victory at Lake Martin marks a significant milestone in his budding career in competitive bass fishing. As he continues to build on this success, both he and his supporters are optimistic about the future, signaling strong potential for further achievements in the Bassmaster Elite Series.
