On the water at Nickajack

Follow B.A.S.S. photographer James Overstreet to Nickajack Lake where 90 anglers vied for a second chance to qualify for another day on Chickamauga.

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The 90 anglers who didn't finish within the Top 50 two-day cut at BASSfest on Chickamauga Lake fished at Nickajack Lake near Chattanooga for a second chance to qualify for another day on Chickamauga.
The 90 anglers who didn’t finish within the Top 50 two-day cut at BASSfest on Chickamauga Lake fished at Nickajack Lake near Chattanooga for a second chance to qualify for another day on Chickamauga.
With little or no practice time on Nickajack, several anglers chose to run upstream to the dam that separates Chickamauga and Nickajack.
With little or no practice time on Nickajack, several anglers chose to run upstream to the dam that separates Chickamauga and Nickajack.
Jonathon VanDam steps into a long cast.
Jonathon VanDam steps into a long cast.
A strong warning for the strong current near the dam.
A strong warning for the strong current near the dam.
Kevin Hawk fishing alongside a barge pier.
Kevin Hawk fishing alongside a barge pier.
Nearby, Charlie Evans was utilizing the same tactic.
Nearby, Charlie Evans was utilizing the same tactic.
Current Toyota Angler of the Year point’s leader Mark Davis was one of the 90 anglers that were forced to fish the second chance event on Nickajack.
Current Toyota Angler of the Year point’s leader Mark Davis was one of the 90 anglers that were forced to fish the second chance event on Nickajack.
Bernie Schultz fires a cast.
Bernie Schultz fires a cast.
Jared Miller was fishing a huge riprap wall near the dam.
Jared Miller was fishing a huge riprap wall near the dam.
Brandon Lester fishes an eddy below the dam.
Brandon Lester fishes an eddy below the dam.
Steve Kennedy hooks up with a fish.
Steve Kennedy hooks up with a fish.
He points his rod at the fish…
He points his rod at the fish…
…and begins to pull it into the boat.
…and begins to pull it into the boat.
This guy doesn’t have to worry about getting wet if it rains.
This guy doesn’t have to worry about getting wet if it rains.
Aaron Martens joined the large contingent fishing below the dam.
Aaron Martens joined the large contingent fishing below the dam.
One of the hazards of fishing below a dam is getting constantly hung in the rocks.
One of the hazards of fishing below a dam is getting constantly hung in the rocks.
Kelley Jaye hooks up with a fish.
Kelley Jaye hooks up with a fish.
He bends down and begins to pull the fish to the surface.
He bends down and begins to pull the fish to the surface.
This fish is long with teeth…wrong species.
This fish is long with teeth…wrong species.
Bernie Schultz idles upstream to find another fishing spot near the dam.
Bernie Schultz idles upstream to find another fishing spot near the dam.
Byron Velvick works a bait around a bridge pier.
Byron Velvick works a bait around a bridge pier.
Rich Howes fights a fish to the boat.
Rich Howes fights a fish to the boat.
He moves to the back of the boat to wear the fish down…
He moves to the back of the boat to wear the fish down…
…and then begins to swing a nice smallmouth into the boat.
…and then begins to swing a nice smallmouth into the boat.
Howes removes the hooks with his pliers…
Howes removes the hooks with his pliers…
…then reaches for his measuring board.
…then reaches for his measuring board.
Smallmouth must be a minimum of 18-inches long to keep. Howes indicates this one is about an inch short.
Smallmouth must be a minimum of 18-inches long to keep. Howes indicates this one is about an inch short.
This is going to hurt…
This is going to hurt…
…but the smallmouth had to be released.
…but the smallmouth had to be released.
Skylar Hamilton boats a spotted bass and now has a limit.
Skylar Hamilton boats a spotted bass and now has a limit.
Stephen Browning takes a closer look at his electronics.
Stephen Browning takes a closer look at his electronics.
Browning was fishing well below the dam early in the day.
Browning was fishing well below the dam early in the day.
Jonathon VanDam makes a move downstream.
Jonathon VanDam makes a move downstream.
Shaw Grigsby fires a cast.
Shaw Grigsby fires a cast.
Derek Fulps with a nice keeper smallmouth.
Derek Fulps with a nice keeper smallmouth.
Aaron Martens was moving around constantly.
Aaron Martens was moving around constantly.
Chris Zaldain speeds downstream.
Chris Zaldain speeds downstream.
Kenyon Hill fishes alongside a huge limestone wall.
Kenyon Hill fishes alongside a huge limestone wall.
Aaron Martens boats a keeper.
Aaron Martens boats a keeper.
Martens then leans into something heavy.
Martens then leans into something heavy.
That something heavy turned out to be a drum.
That something heavy turned out to be a drum.
Skylar Hamilton rigs up a plastic worm.
Skylar Hamilton rigs up a plastic worm.