Elites tackle Day 2 on Dardanelle

Steve Bowman catches up with the Elite Series pros as they take on Lake Dardanelle on Day 2 of competition.

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James Niggemeyer starts the morning casting along the edges of reeds on Lake Dardanelle.
James Niggemeyer starts the morning casting along the edges of reeds on Lake Dardanelle.
Niggemeyer switched between casting and flipping.
Niggemeyer switched between casting and flipping.
And when a small fish bites, it takes a ride through the air.
And when a small fish bites, it takes a ride through the air.
He spent part of his day covered in reeds.
He spent part of his day covered in reeds.
At times, they were so thick you couldn’t see his boat.
At times, they were so thick you couldn’t see his boat.
He started the day in the top 10 of the standings.
He started the day in the top 10 of the standings.
Matt Herren flips laydowns along the Arkansas River.
Matt Herren flips laydowns along the Arkansas River.
But doesn’t stay long.
But doesn’t stay long.
Nearby Tommy Biffle moves down a bank, casting his signature Biffle-O,
Nearby Tommy Biffle moves down a bank, casting his signature Biffle-O,
While three pelicans swim by.
While three pelicans swim by.
Biffle struggled early, but was able to get bit by drum.
Biffle struggled early, but was able to get bit by drum.
When he would catch a bass.
When he would catch a bass.
The fish put up a good fight,
The fish put up a good fight,
Making a big splash.
Making a big splash.
But not big enough to keep.
But not big enough to keep.
He got lots of bites.
He got lots of bites.
Like this one that started to take him to the side of the boat,
Like this one that started to take him to the side of the boat,
But revealed itself as another drum.
But revealed itself as another drum.
Ronnie Moore captures GoPro footage of Biffle.
Ronnie Moore captures GoPro footage of Biffle.
Nearby Matt Reed follows the same process,
Nearby Matt Reed follows the same process,
of catching bass that were too short.
of catching bass that were too short.
But he doesn’t stay long and soon moves on.
But he doesn’t stay long and soon moves on.
J. Todd Tucker casts at the mouth of a creek.
J. Todd Tucker casts at the mouth of a creek.
And occasionally uses the back deck for a platform.
And occasionally uses the back deck for a platform.
Stephen Browning casts along the edge of a lily pad field.
Stephen Browning casts along the edge of a lily pad field.
The Arkansas angler struggled, but was determined.
The Arkansas angler struggled, but was determined.
He worked a buzzbait for much of the afternoon.
He worked a buzzbait for much of the afternoon.
But few bass were willing to hit the bait.
But few bass were willing to hit the bait.
Kevin Short was getting bit.
Kevin Short was getting bit.
They just weren’t big.
They just weren’t big.
But this one went into the box.
But this one went into the box.
Short fires a crankbait at a sandbar.
Short fires a crankbait at a sandbar.
Hoping to find bites moving out of the shallows.
Hoping to find bites moving out of the shallows.
Across the river, Randall Tharp boats a keeper.
Across the river, Randall Tharp boats a keeper.
The fish allowed him to cull.
The fish allowed him to cull.
Dean Rojas works a shallow bank.
Dean Rojas works a shallow bank.
But like many of the anglers struggled.
But like many of the anglers struggled.