From the air Day Three

We get a bird's eye view on the final day of the Classic

<p>The camera copter approaches Wolf Creek Park on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees for the final day launch of the 2013 Bassmaster Classic.</p>
The camera copter approaches Wolf Creek Park on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees for the final day launch of the 2013 Bassmaster Classic.
<p>Another good crowd lines the boat ramps, getting as close to the action as they can.</p>
Another good crowd lines the boat ramps, getting as close to the action as they can.
<p>The top 25 competitors’ boats are lined up at the new dock.</p>
The top 25 competitors’ boats are lined up at the new dock.
<p>The boats are lined in order from one to 25 along the dock in preparation for launch.</p>
The boats are lined in order from one to 25 along the dock in preparation for launch.
<p>As tournament leader, Cliff Pace has the position of honor at the far left.</p>
As tournament leader, Cliff Pace has the position of honor at the far left.
<p>The Classic began with 53 competitors and was cut for the final day.</p>
The Classic began with 53 competitors and was cut for the final day.
<p>Media are given a final chance to interview anglers before they head out.</p>
Media are given a final chance to interview anglers before they head out.
<p>B.A.S.S. officials, media and anglers’ support staff, including some family and friends, are on the dock waiting for the third and final day to begin.</p>
B.A.S.S. officials, media and anglers’ support staff, including some family and friends, are on the dock waiting for the third and final day to begin.
<p>Pace was positioned just under the raised stage for emcee Dave Mercer and tournament director Trip Weldon.</p>
Pace was positioned just under the raised stage for emcee Dave Mercer and tournament director Trip Weldon.
<p>Mercer announces each angler’s name and credentials as they leave the dock.</p>
Mercer announces each angler’s name and credentials as they leave the dock.
<p>The national anthem is played before every B.A.S.S. tournament.</p>
The national anthem is played before every B.A.S.S. tournament.
<p>A flag boat leads Cliff Pace out as they head out in order of the Day Two standings.</p>
A flag boat leads Cliff Pace out as they head out in order of the Day Two standings.
<p>The anglers idle out in single order before blasting off.</p>
The anglers idle out in single order before blasting off.
<p>Pace has a 7-pound lead as he seeks his first Classic title.</p>
Pace has a 7-pound lead as he seeks his first Classic title.
<p>The race is one to get to their spots and begin fishing.</p>
The race is one to get to their spots and begin fishing.
<p>Pace said he slept well and is on a mission to win bass fishing’s biggest event.</p>
Pace said he slept well and is on a mission to win bass fishing’s biggest event.
<p>Pace has ESPN TV’s Robbie Floyd and a cameraman in his boat.</p>
Pace has ESPN TV’s Robbie Floyd and a cameraman in his boat.
<p>With two bags of more than 21 pounds, Pace has built a comfortable lead but said he still had work to do.</p>
With two bags of more than 21 pounds, Pace has built a comfortable lead but said he still had work to do.
<p>Out of the cove, the field swings around toward Highway 59.</p>
Out of the cove, the field swings around toward Highway 59.
<p>It’s known as the Sailboat Bridge, and anglers are required to idle within 150 feet on both sides.</p>
It’s known as the Sailboat Bridge, and anglers are required to idle within 150 feet on both sides.
<p>The boats slow in the area, a popular spot for spectators to pick up and follow their favorite angler.</p>
The boats slow in the area, a popular spot for spectators to pick up and follow their favorite angler.
<p>The boats take off again.</p>
The boats take off again.
<p>A local news helicopter follows the action.</p>
A local news helicopter follows the action.
<p>One of the competitors who turned north at the bridge makes his way past a neighborhood.</p>
One of the competitors who turned north at the bridge makes his way past a neighborhood.
<p>Two other boats head north up the lake.</p>
Two other boats head north up the lake.
<p>Skynews 6 was shooting video for its news reports.</p>
Skynews 6 was shooting video for its news reports.
<p>Jason Christie continues his run down lake.</p>
Jason Christie continues his run down lake.
<p>With extensive experience on Grand, Christie was among the home-state favorites to win.</p>
With extensive experience on Grand, Christie was among the home-state favorites to win.
<p>Mike Iaconelli, who started the day in third, shuts down to fish his first spot.</p>
Mike Iaconelli, who started the day in third, shuts down to fish his first spot.
<p>Mike McClelland, another area favorite, and his cameramen acknowledge the chopper.</p>
Mike McClelland, another area favorite, and his cameramen acknowledge the chopper.
<p>A poor second day hurt McClelland’s chances on a lake he has won on.</p>
A poor second day hurt McClelland’s chances on a lake he has won on.
<p>Shaw Grigsby, who is in eighth place, waves.</p>
Shaw Grigsby, who is in eighth place, waves.
<p>Marty Robinson gives a fist pump as the copter runs alongside him.</p>
Marty Robinson gives a fist pump as the copter runs alongside him.
<p>A competitor peels off into one of the many arms of Grand Lake.</p>
A competitor peels off into one of the many arms of Grand Lake.
<p>Tracy Adams, who fell to ninth after a great start on Day One, fishes his first spot.</p>
Tracy Adams, who fell to ninth after a great start on Day One, fishes his first spot.
<p>An angler turns off the main lake into a cove and shuts down.</p>
An angler turns off the main lake into a cove and shuts down.
<p>Shaw Grigsby begins his day on the main lake channel.</p>
Shaw Grigsby begins his day on the main lake channel.
<p>Grigsby began the day in eighth place, but more than 13 pounds back.</p>
Grigsby began the day in eighth place, but more than 13 pounds back.
<p>Grigsby was casting toward a rocky shoreline.</p>
Grigsby was casting toward a rocky shoreline.
<p>Mike Iaconelli moved to a new spot, and the boats following him are just shutting down.</p>
Mike Iaconelli moved to a new spot, and the boats following him are just shutting down.
<p>The fan favorite ducks behind some docks and the spectators jockey for position to watch.</p>
The fan favorite ducks behind some docks and the spectators jockey for position to watch.
<p>Ike’s crowd seems very orderly.</p>
Ike’s crowd seems very orderly.
<p>Iaconelli began Day Three in third place, 8 pounds off of leader Cliff Pace.</p>
Iaconelli began Day Three in third place, 8 pounds off of leader Cliff Pace.
<p>Ike casts toward the dock.</p>
Ike casts toward the dock.
<p>After tying Pace for the first-day lead, Ike experienced technical issues on Day Two.</p>
After tying Pace for the first-day lead, Ike experienced technical issues on Day Two.
<p>Ike fished a narrow cove.</p>
Ike fished a narrow cove.
<p>Cliff Pace was also hitting docks early.</p>
Cliff Pace was also hitting docks early.
<p>Pace’s first spot was in the main lake area.</p>
Pace’s first spot was in the main lake area.
<p>While off the radar and fishing in solitude on the first two days, Pace, as the Classic leader, has a large following.</p>
While off the radar and fishing in solitude on the first two days, Pace, as the Classic leader, has a large following.
<p>Pace was moving very slowly, working the docks hard.</p>
Pace was moving very slowly, working the docks hard.
<p>He tries the outside edge.</p>
He tries the outside edge.
<p>Pace might not have even noticed the slide on the dock, he’s so focused on catching the winning fish.</p>
Pace might not have even noticed the slide on the dock, he’s so focused on catching the winning fish.
<p>Pace continues to work the same corner of the dock.</p>
Pace continues to work the same corner of the dock.
<p>With two of the biggest fish this week, Pace has confidence in his tactics and sticks with it.</p>
With two of the biggest fish this week, Pace has confidence in his tactics and sticks with it.
<p>Pace moves just slightly down toward the next dock.</p>
Pace moves just slightly down toward the next dock.
<p>All along Grand Lake, there are rocky shores with some steep drops.</p>
All along Grand Lake, there are rocky shores with some steep drops.
<p>Grand Lake is highly developed, with some large homes overlooking bluffs near Shangri-la.</p>
Grand Lake is highly developed, with some large homes overlooking bluffs near Shangri-la.
<p>Jason Christie was slightly up lake from Pace.</p>
Jason Christie was slightly up lake from Pace.
<p>The area Christie fished was in a protected area and dead still compared to others.</p>
The area Christie fished was in a protected area and dead still compared to others.
<p>Christie was making long casts.</p>
Christie was making long casts.
<p>Brandon Palaniuk was up lake from Christie.</p>
Brandon Palaniuk was up lake from Christie.
<p>He said he was doing something different from many of the other anglers, and that is fishing comparatively shallow.</p>
He said he was doing something different from many of the other anglers, and that is fishing comparatively shallow.
<p>Palaniuk, who began the day in second place, works the trolling motor to stay in position.</p>
Palaniuk, who began the day in second place, works the trolling motor to stay in position.
<p>Fans watch the rising star from shore.</p>
Fans watch the rising star from shore.
<p>Palaniuk stayed a ways from the shoreline and made long casts.</p>
Palaniuk stayed a ways from the shoreline and made long casts.
<p>Spectators were able to drive onto the peninsula to watch Palaniuk.</p>
Spectators were able to drive onto the peninsula to watch Palaniuk.
<p>There was some downed wood in the area.</p>
There was some downed wood in the area.
<p>Palaniuk, a second-year Elite angler, is a fan favorite.</p>
Palaniuk, a second-year Elite angler, is a fan favorite.