2009 Bassmaster Classic: Practice Day, Skeet Reese

In this photo gallery, you'll find on-the-water images of Skeet Reese as he practices for the 2009 Bassmaster Classic on the Red River, near Shreveport, Louisiana.

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7:30 a.m. — ESPN cameras followed Skeet Reese on his last practice day on the Red River just two days before the start of the 2009 Bassmaster Classic.
7:30 a.m. — ESPN cameras followed Skeet Reese on his last practice day on the Red River just two days before the start of the 2009 Bassmaster Classic.
7:35 a.m. — Skeet Reese heads to an area of the Red River he hasn't seen in years. On board his boat is ESPN videographer Kevin Spivey.
7:35 a.m. — Skeet Reese heads to an area of the Red River he hasn’t seen in years. On board his boat is ESPN videographer Kevin Spivey.
7:40 a.m. — As Reese works his way back into this area full of underwater stumps, he is passed as Mike McClelland shows him an easier route through the mine field.
7:40 a.m. — As Reese works his way back into this area full of underwater stumps, he is passed as Mike McClelland shows him an easier route through the mine field.
Mike McClelland looks back at Skeet and the ESPN media boat as they continue in the opposite direction down the bank.
Mike McClelland looks back at Skeet and the ESPN media boat as they continue in the opposite direction down the bank.
8:00 a.m. — Skeet Reese begins to
8:00 a.m. — Skeet Reese begins to “grind it out” by working his way through the endless stumps and snags in the backwater area off the main river channel.
8:15 a.m. — Skeet Reese shakes off a bite early. Many of the BASS Elite Series pros will try to not hook fish on the final days of practice in case they want to re-visit an area during the tournament.
8:15 a.m. — Skeet Reese shakes off a bite early. Many of the BASS Elite Series pros will try to not hook fish on the final days of practice in case they want to re-visit an area during the tournament.
8:30 a.m. — Reese scans the backwater area for subtle signs that will lead him to bass.
8:30 a.m. — Reese scans the backwater area for subtle signs that will lead him to bass.
8:45 a.m. — Reese says,
8:45 a.m. — Reese says, “This may be the best area in the lake, but I don’t like it.” He pulls his trolling motor and makes a move, his second of the morning.
9:00 a.m. — Reese starts in another area he has never seen before and adjusts his BioSonix before dropping the trolling motor.
9:00 a.m. — Reese starts in another area he has never seen before and adjusts his BioSonix before dropping the trolling motor.
9:35 a.m. — Reese is making his fourth move of the morning and has covered a massive amount of water by mid-morning. The stumps raise the left side of his boat as he slowly motors out.
9:35 a.m. — Reese is making his fourth move of the morning and has covered a massive amount of water by mid-morning. The stumps raise the left side of his boat as he slowly motors out.
Long idles into the backwaters of the Red River are very important as the stumps are everywhere, wreaking havoc on boats, equipment, and anglers.
Long idles into the backwaters of the Red River are very important as the stumps are everywhere, wreaking havoc on boats, equipment, and anglers.
10:00 a.m. — Skeet Reese makes a run back up river toward new water.
10:00 a.m. — Skeet Reese makes a run back up river toward new water. “This place is going to fish small,” he said, referring to the number of anglers on the water holding fish.
Reese changes up tactics and water conditions to see if it makes a difference in the bite. The bite has been slow but consistent.
Reese changes up tactics and water conditions to see if it makes a difference in the bite. The bite has been slow but consistent.
10:10 a.m. — Skeet Reese talks to Peter
10:10 a.m. — Skeet Reese talks to Peter “T” Thliveros (background) as they pass each other in another area of the river. Reese “shakes” another bite.
10:30 a.m. — Skeet Reese slows down and concentrates on an area near a levee off the main river channel.
10:30 a.m. — Skeet Reese slows down and concentrates on an area near a levee off the main river channel.
10:45 a.m. — Reese checks a map of the river and says,
10:45 a.m. — Reese checks a map of the river and says, “The wind is going to change during the tournament, so what is blown today will be calm.” He makes another move.
Michael Iaconelli makes his way out of a backwater area and out onto the main river as Reese pulls into the same area.
Michael Iaconelli makes his way out of a backwater area and out onto the main river as Reese pulls into the same area.
12:00 p.m. — Reese pounds new water again, looking to find more fish to go with the places he already has scoped out, or eliminate an area all together.
12:00 p.m. — Reese pounds new water again, looking to find more fish to go with the places he already has scoped out, or eliminate an area all together.
12:43 p.m. — Reese uses the big motor to make a short move in a backwater area.
12:43 p.m. — Reese uses the big motor to make a short move in a backwater area.
1:35 p.m. — Reese is bit again as he eases through a small canal off the main river channel.
1:35 p.m. — Reese is bit again as he eases through a small canal off the main river channel.
1:55 p.m. — Reese looks at the map locating new water that resembles where he found fish in an earlier practice.
1:55 p.m. — Reese looks at the map locating new water that resembles where he found fish in an earlier practice.
Reese makes a run up river hard toward an area that looks promising.
Reese makes a run up river hard toward an area that looks promising.
After shaking off several fish, Reese gives in and sticks one for the camera.
After shaking off several fish, Reese gives in and sticks one for the camera.
Reese reels it to the boat as the bass jumps to shake the hook.
Reese reels it to the boat as the bass jumps to shake the hook.
A quick pose for the cameras and the fish is back in the river.
A quick pose for the cameras and the fish is back in the river.
A quick stop to retie and then back to the fish.
A quick stop to retie and then back to the fish.
Skeet Reese is famous for the color yellow, even the shoes that protect his feet every day on the water carry his colors like a waving flag.
Skeet Reese is famous for the color yellow, even the shoes that protect his feet every day on the water carry his colors like a waving flag.
After shaking several fish and having more chase the bait, Reese takes a look around and says,
After shaking several fish and having more chase the bait, Reese takes a look around and says, “I like this little spot.”
2:35 p.m. — One quick stop on the way in gives the ESPN guys the feeling that Reese would stay on the water until dark if it were allowed.
2:35 p.m. — One quick stop on the way in gives the ESPN guys the feeling that Reese would stay on the water until dark if it were allowed.
2:40 p.m. — Reese steps off the deck one last time before heading to the Red River Marina to work on his tackle in preparation for the biggest tournament in bass fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.
2:40 p.m. — Reese steps off the deck one last time before heading to the Red River Marina to work on his tackle in preparation for the biggest tournament in bass fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.