2011 Diamond Drive Day Two On the Water II

The water had fallen a solid 4 to 5 inches overnight back in the Pine Bluff Harbor.

A barge was dredging up the back of the harbor early on Day Two of the Diamond Drive.

After leaving the lock, anglers race toward the Pine Bluff Harbor on Friday.

Terry Butcher made the turn around and into the Harbor.

Keith Poche fishes the Harbor point as boats race by him.

Keith Poche was looking to catch a few quick keepers while anglers were still coming down from the lock.

Kevin VanDam hits a big wave near the mouth of Pine Bluff Harbor on Day Two of the Diamond Drive.

Keith Poche catches a fish and fights big waves to keep from running up on the rocks.

Poche is hooked up with a fish and he keeps his rod tip down as he plays the fish toward the boat.

Poche lands the bass, but it is short of the 15-inch minimum length limit.

Keith Poche was frustrated by the lack of a good bite first thing on Friday morning.

Poche dumps the fish back into the lake.

Keith Poche got a quick limit yesterday, but the action wasn’t as hot on Day Two.

Spectator boats surround Kevin VanDam (second boat from the right) back in Pine Bluff Harbor.

VanDam makes a long cast as an ESPN cameraman films the action.

Kevin VanDam captured the lead in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year race after one day on the Arkansas River.

Tournament leader Denny Brauer hooks up with a good-sized fish on Friday.

Denny Brauer fights the bass towards the back of the boat.

The bass makes a surge near the boat, trying to shake Brauer’s hook.

Denny Brauer waits as the bass makes yet another jump and would eventually get this fish in the boat.

Fred Roumbanis fishes down a stretch of docks as a few people watch from the shade of their dock.

After blanking yesterday, Jonathon VanDam has turned things around, hooking up with his fifth fish of the morning.

The big bass makes a leap near Jonathon VanDam’s boat.

VanDam bellies the big fish into the boat on Day Two.

This 4-pound class fish would be a big boost as Jonathon VanDam makes a run at the top-50 cut.

Denny Brauer plays a big fish to the boat on Friday.

The bass splashes water everywhere as Brauer sits down to land it.

It looks like this bass is almost in hand.

But a last minute surge takes it out of reach.

Finally, Brauer grabs this 3-pounder and finishes his limit on Day Two.

Kevin VanDam casts to a spot that produced his biggest fish on Thursday.

Immediately, VanDam is hooked up as a camera films the action.

This small bass is no help to VanDam, who already has a limit.

On the very next cast, Kevin VanDam sets the hook on another bass.

This fish was a white bass and was tossed back into the Arkansas River.

Local favorite Billy McCaghren has a great day one, but was struggling with a tougher bite on Day Two.