With Georgia’s Lake Lanier still low, both Martin and Walker knew the key would be finding post-spawn fish grouped up tight to cover. “I was extremely confident in my spots” said Scott Martin. “The sea walls were producing and I had several pockets where I found both spotted bass and largemouths in good numbers and size.”

“It really comes down to strategy”, added David Walker. “I know how good Scott Martin is. I know he’s going to be on fish. I just felt like if I could come up with a better strategy that I could win the match.”

And in the end, that’s exactly what he did. Taking control of the boat in the second quarter and facing a big early deficit, David Walker used almost 30 minutes of his 90-minute quarter to run as far up the Chestatee River (one of the major tributaries flowing into Lake Lanier), as he could safely run. Walker then dropped the trolling motor and started making specific casts with a balsa crankbait into a deep water pool. It didn’t take long for Walker’s strategy to play out. He instantly began landing good quality largemouths while Scott Martin could do nothing but look on in anguish. Then, as Walker continued to cast and cull, the fish began to get even bigger.

“I really had no idea that those quality fish would be there,” said Walker. “I was just trying to get a limit after Scott had boated four in the first quarter. I doubt Scott believes me, but that was really a big surprise.”

“Looking back, I should have definitely made a few penalty casts. I didn’t have anything to lose and chances were highly likely that I could have landed one of those fish,” said Scott Martin. “I can’t really look back and say I would have done anything differently. I fished my water about as well as it could be fished, it just didn’t work out.”

To cap off his incredible display, David Walker then raised the trolling motor, blew out his spot and then ran as far back down the river as he could. The half with Scott Martin close to his water but facing a tough decision; should he run back up to the spot on the river or continue running the sea wall and pocket pattern?

“David made a great move blowing out that spot up the river and then running us back to the lake,” said Martin. “I guarantee you that I would have started right where he left off if he hadn’t.

As the 3rd quarter progresses, the wind, rain and lightning began to intensify. With a sizable lead, David Walker made the decision to not fish the 4th quarter and Scott Martin readily agree.

“It’s a tough call to make,” added Martin. “You want to fish out the entire match, but David had nothing to gain and everything to lose. This is Lake Lanier and trust me, I could easily land a huge spot out of the back of the boat. Then, David would look foolish. Plus, I didn’t have any desire to fish in those nasty conditions anyway!”

In the end, David Walker ended up boating 19.39 pounds including a 5.58 pound kicker to Martin’s respectable 12.13 pounds. David Walker now advances to the Title Round on Lake Dardanelle in Arkansas. This week, returning champion Boyd Duckett will face Californian Ish Monroe in a showdown between Elite Series contenders.