Sabine River redux

Revisiting the ups and downs of the exciting 2013 Elite event that took place on this vast fishery.

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In 2013 Elite anglers found a vast fishery that crossed the borders of Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana.
In 2013 Elite anglers found a vast fishery that crossed the borders of Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana.
It was filled with creeks and bayous and parts of the Louisiana Marsh.
It was filled with creeks and bayous and parts of the Louisiana Marsh.
The big cypress trees and Spanish moss provided a picturesque backdrop.
The big cypress trees and Spanish moss provided a picturesque backdrop.
In some places, banks were lined with a bevy of laydowns....
In some places, banks were lined with a bevy of laydowns….
Or more standing timber than could be flipped to in a day.
Or more standing timber than could be flipped to in a day.
Even with its size, anglers often shared water in this event...
Even with its size, anglers often shared water in this event…
Or they found themselves alone in a forest of cover.
Or they found themselves alone in a forest of cover.
Many of those places produced keeper fish.
Many of those places produced keeper fish.
But most of the anglers spent more time searching. On Day 1, 13 Elites finished the day with a zero, 20 on Day 2 and eight on Day 3.
But most of the anglers spent more time searching. On Day 1, 13 Elites finished the day with a zero, 20 on Day 2 and eight on Day 3.
The crowds of fans in Orange, Texas, could care less how tough the fishing was.
The crowds of fans in Orange, Texas, could care less how tough the fishing was.
They turned out each day with energy...
They turned out each day with energy…
Setting records for the most people to view an Elite event at that time.
Setting records for the most people to view an Elite event at that time.
There were enough fish to keep them interested...
There were enough fish to keep them interested…
And there were enough fish in the Sabine River system to make this an interesting event.
And there were enough fish in the Sabine River system to make this an interesting event.
Hefty bass showed up enough to keep the standings moving.
Hefty bass showed up enough to keep the standings moving.
The fight in the fish of the Sabine produced a lot of excitement...
The fight in the fish of the Sabine produced a lot of excitement…
And a lot of splashes...
And a lot of splashes…
Even if they were sometimes too short to measure.
Even if they were sometimes too short to measure.
Those that did measure were often caught around the many signs posted.
Those that did measure were often caught around the many signs posted.
Signs were everywhere.
Signs were everywhere.
Some of them on bridges...
Some of them on bridges…
Some of them with ominous warnings...
Some of them with ominous warnings…
And others that pointed the way to good fishing.
And others that pointed the way to good fishing.
Along with the signs, there were still remnants of hurricanes that had washed through the area in years past.
Along with the signs, there were still remnants of hurricanes that had washed through the area in years past.
Debris offered ideal places for bass to hide.
Debris offered ideal places for bass to hide.
Even old boats blown around by the storms were likely places.
Even old boats blown around by the storms were likely places.
As were duck blinds...
As were duck blinds…
Old bridges...
Old bridges…
And bridges you could stand up under.
And bridges you could stand up under.
They fished under trees...
They fished under trees…
And in debris piles...
And in debris piles…
Around big log jams...
Around big log jams…
And around basketball goals and shopping carts.
And around basketball goals and shopping carts.
And in all those places...
And in all those places…
The leaders caught fish.
The leaders caught fish.
Even around basketballs, keepers could be found.
Even around basketballs, keepers could be found.
Every catch was critical, as was every ounce.
Every catch was critical, as was every ounce.
Quality bites were at a premium.
Quality bites were at a premium.
Small bass were all too common.
Small bass were all too common.
Spectators were able to watch from bridges.
Spectators were able to watch from bridges.
And even from the I-10 Interstate.
And even from the I-10 Interstate.
The anglers could actually fish under the Interstate.
The anglers could actually fish under the Interstate.
The tournament was led on Day 1 by Dean Rojas.
The tournament was led on Day 1 by Dean Rojas.
Rojas would weigh in a surprising 15 pounds, 10 ounces.
Rojas would weigh in a surprising 15 pounds, 10 ounces.
Rojas and Alton Jones shared a small creek in Louisiana.
Rojas and Alton Jones shared a small creek in Louisiana.
Their close proximity created a rift between the two...
Their close proximity created a rift between the two…
But both managed well enough.
But both managed well enough.
Faircloth, though, would take the Day 2 lead.
Faircloth, though, would take the Day 2 lead.
By the end of Day 3, the final 12 was full of shallow water specialists.
By the end of Day 3, the final 12 was full of shallow water specialists.
And Rojas would regain the lead.
And Rojas would regain the lead.
A large crowd witnessed the takeoff of the final day.
A large crowd witnessed the takeoff of the final day.
Dean Rojas and Todd Faircloth would lead the pack.
Dean Rojas and Todd Faircloth would lead the pack.
Faircloth would start with a 3 pound, 9 ounce deficit behind Rojas.
Faircloth would start with a 3 pound, 9 ounce deficit behind Rojas.
And anglers like Mike McClelland would test the boundaries of the fishing water by traveling 80 miles one way.
And anglers like Mike McClelland would test the boundaries of the fishing water by traveling 80 miles one way.
Faircloth, though, would stay close in a small backwater marsh.
Faircloth, though, would stay close in a small backwater marsh.
It was so shallow, Troy Broussard of the television show <em>Swamp People</em> would be hired to carry cameramen into the area on his air boat.
It was so shallow, Troy Broussard of the television show Swamp People would be hired to carry cameramen into the area on his air boat.
Faircloth would catch fish there all day...
Faircloth would catch fish there all day…
All of them quality keepers.
All of them quality keepers.
He would catch 14 pounds, 9 ounces.
He would catch 14 pounds, 9 ounces.
This would eventually give him...
This would eventually give him…
A more than 7-pound margin.
A more than 7-pound margin.
Faircloth’s hometown crowd was ecstatic...
Faircloth’s hometown crowd was ecstatic…
When Faircloth showed off his final day catch...
When Faircloth showed off his final day catch…
And won the tug of war between him and Rojas...
And won the tug of war between him and Rojas…
Faircloth would be equally ecstatic.
Faircloth would be equally ecstatic.
Finally, Faircloth was able to share his victory with his family.
Finally, Faircloth was able to share his victory with his family.