On the Water at BASSfest: Day 1

One of the first anglers we ran into near the morning launch was John Crews.

Photo: James Overstreet

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And nearby was a group of anglers that included…

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…Charlie Hartley.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Just downstream Marty Robinson had gotten a school fired up.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Robinson fights the first of many to the boat.

Photo: James Overstreet

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A solid keeper just after takeoff.

Photo: James Overstreet

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His Day 1 Marshal wants a photo, too.

Photo: James Overstreet

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On the next cast Robinson boats another fish…

Photo: James Overstreet

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…quickly puts it in the live well, makes a cast and is hooked up again.

Photo: James Overstreet

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They’re getting bigger.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Robinson would like to have five of these.

Photo: James Overstreet

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The next cast, another fish.

Photo: James Overstreet

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He leads the fish around the trolling motor…

Photo: James Overstreet

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…then into the boat.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Stops to put a culling bulb in the fish…

Photo: James Overstreet

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…then into the live well it goes.

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Can he hook up on the next cast? Yes, and this is another good one.

Photo: James Overstreet

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That’s the kind he needs to cull up.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Culling early is always a good thing.

Photo: James Overstreet

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The flurry continues…

Photo: James Overstreet

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Robinson’s cranking rod bows from the weight of the fish…

Photo: James Overstreet

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…as it comes thrashing over the side of the boat.

Photo: James Overstreet

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And again a fish slams his bait.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Chris Lane had to watch Robinson’s flurry without boating a fish.

Photo: James Overstreet

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He finally gets in on the action but caught a short fish.

Photo: James Overstreet

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He hooks another one…

Photo: James Overstreet

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…and looks on in disbelief as it comes off.

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Just got to keep grinding…

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…and hope things get better. And they do.

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Lane boats his first keeper of the day. The fish barely measured.

Photo: James Overstreet

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But Robinson continued his relentless assault on the school…

Photo: James Overstreet

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…and boats another solid keeper.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Now Robinson and Lane are both catching them.

Photo: James Overstreet

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A few miles upriver, Aaron Martens was not having near the good fortune as Robinson and Lane.

Photo: James Overstreet

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The morning had been a grind for the two-time Angler of the Year.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Charlie Hartley boats a short fish.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Ouch.

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Martens was sharing his area with several boats, including Keith Poche and Kurt Dove.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Kelly Jaye hooks up with something heavy. At first he thought it was a catfish or a drum.

Photo: James Overstreet

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He reaches down to pull up what’s on the other end…

Photo: James Overstreet

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…and boats his best bass of the day.

Photo: James Overstreet

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That’s the kind that will put a smile on your face.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Jaye’s Day 1 Marshal takes a quick photo to send into the Live blog.

Photo: James Overstreet

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After watching Kelly Jaye boat his best of the day, Shaw Grigsby gets in on the fish catching action.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Grigsby said this fish gave him a five-fish limit.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Dennis Tietje fires a cast.

Photo: James Overstreet

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On the Water at BASSfest: Day 1

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