Anglers were met by a beautiful sunrise as they ran south on the Red River.
Photo: James Overstreet
The last flight of anglers take their hole shots to speed to their first fishing locations.
Photo: James Overstreet
A long idle awaited anglers fishing the backwaters of the Red River.
Photo: James Overstreet
Clark Wendlandt was catching fish before later flights of boats left the launch area.
Photo: James Overstreet
Wendlandt places a fish in the live well, while Elite Series angler Keith Poche speeds past him in an aluminum boat he had chosen to use for this tournament.
Photo: James Overstreet
Duck blinds are a common sight along the Red River.
Photo: James Overstreet
Elite Series angler Dennis Tietje was off to a fast start on Day One.
Photo: James Overstreet
The backwaters of the Red River is a maze of stumps and shallow cover.
Photo: James Overstreet
Tietje boats the keeper bass.
Photo: James Overstreet
Tietje swings another fish into the boat.
Photo: James Overstreet
This one’s going in the live well.
Photo: James Overstreet
A look at some of the fishing territory along the Red River.
Photo: James Overstreet
Tietje was quickly fighting another fish.
Photo: James Overstreet
The fish fights to the surface in an effort to throw the hooks.
Photo: James Overstreet
He swings the fish aboard…
Photo: James Overstreet
…and quickly gains control of the thrashing bass.
Photo: James Overstreet
On the next cast Tietje leans into another one.
Photo: James Overstreet
He fights the fish to the boat.
Photo: James Overstreet
Another fish in the boat for Tietje.
Photo: James Overstreet
Tietje celebrates his early limit of bass.
Photo: James Overstreet
Now that he has a limit of fish in the boat, Tietje said he was going where some bigger fished lived.
Photo: James Overstreet
Clark Wendlandt fires a cast with a shallow running crankbait.
Photo: James Overstreet
Wendlandt hooks up and his co-angler readies the net.
Photo: James Overstreet
The fish turns from the net on the initial try.
Photo: James Overstreet
Wendlandt wears the fish down.
Photo: James Overstreet
The fish is now securely in the bottom of the net.
Photo: James Overstreet
Wendlandt and his co-anglers look into the net to get a closer look at the fish.
Photo: James Overstreet
One more look at the bass for the camera.
Photo: James Overstreet
Clent Davis and his partner were fishing a long riprap wall.
Photo: James Overstreet
A cat fishermen prepares to deploy his hoop nets.
Photo: James Overstreet
The backwaters of the Red River are shared by fishermen and critters alike.
Photo: James Overstreet
Shallow canals are often the only access to some of the remote backwater areas.
Photo: James Overstreet
Clent Davis fishes around a duck blind.
Photo: James Overstreet
Gene Eisenmann attempts to free a fish from a brush top for his co-angler.
Photo: James Overstreet
Eisenmann and his partner were flipping and pitching shallow cover.
Photo: James Overstreet
Anglers locking through lock #5 into pool #4.
Photo: Melton Gregory
Anglers locking through lock #5 into pool #4.
Photo: Melton Gregory
Anglers locking through lock #5 into pool #4.
Photo: Melton Gregory
