2009 Elite Series Blue Ridge Brawl: Day Three, Launch

The sun rises on Day Three of the Advance Auto Parts Blue Ridge Brawl at Smith Mountain Lake.

Dean Rojas enters the day in sixth place and stops to ready tackle before the launch.

Matt Sphar displays a rather large swimbait that he has rigged up for the third day of competition.

Aaron Martens shows off his signature scrounger head while waiting around at the docks before the launch.

Steve Kennedy talks with BASS Tournament Director Trip Weldon as his Marshal, Scott Wiley, looks on.

Fans can follow the action on the water through BassTrakk on Bassmaster.com.

Rick Clunn and Byron Velvick talk strategy at the launch for Day Three on Smith Mountain Lake.

Takahiro Omori readies his electronics as he goes through boat check on Day Three.

Skeet Reese relaxes in the second flight as he waits for his boat number to be called.

Anglers bow their heads as the national anthem plays just prior to launch.

Kevin VanDam leads the field of 50 boats out onto Smith Mountain Lake to get Day Three started.

As KVD exits the no-wake area, he gets on pad signaling the start to the third day of competition.

Elite Series rookie Matt Herren stops to catch a check-in buoy just prior to leaving the docks.

Mark Tucker leaves the docks on Day Three with a cameraman as he is now in the running for the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year award.

Mike Iaconelli goes through boat check just before blasting off on Day Three.

Rick Clunn races away from the docks and out onto Smith Mountain Lake.

Gerald Swindle celebrates making the cut at the Advance Auto Parts Blue Ridge Brawl.

Skeet Reese takes off from the marina, but wouldn't get very far before setting the boat down to fish near the take-off.

Marty Stone leaves the docks starting the day in 44th place with a lot of ground to make up.