2012 Classic: Practice on the Red River

Jeff Kriet launches his boat for the official practice day in the 2012 Bassmaster Classic.

Competitors wait for the sun rise Wednesday morning for the start of Practice Day.

Fred Roumbanis’ boat casts an eerie green glow as it goes through the launch line.

Not to be out done, Randy Howell’s truck and boat is under-carriage blue lights.

Ott DeFoe is all smiles for the start of his first Classic.

Aaron Martens takes delivery of biscuits and orange juice for breakfast while he waits to launch.

Competitors in the 2012 Bassmaster Classic line the dock waiting for the start of Practice Day.

Takahiro Omori listens to the tournament crew as he ties his boat to the dock Wednesday morning.

Dean Rojas watches as boats launch nearby.

Brandon Palaniuk visits with Yamaha technician David Ashcraft before the start of Pactice Day

Bassmaster Marshals wait in line to get in a boat with one of the competitors in this year’s Bassmaster Classic.

Kevin VanDam gives Mark Tucker a “good luck” handshake before the start of Practice Day.

Kevin VanDam (left) and Michael Iaconelli wait for the sun to rise on Practice Day.

Randy Howell’s boat cast around blue lights is easy to see in the darkness of Wednesday morning.

Not only is Howell’s truck and trailer lines in blue lights, so is the deck of his boat.

Boats line the dock as competitors get ready for the start of the day.

Stephen Browning ties his boat to the take-off dock.

Stephen Kennedy gets his tackle ready for Practice Day.

Max Leatherwood, Bassmaster tournament official, gets ready to push Matt Reed from the dock Wednesday morning.

Competitors leave Red River South Marina in a line Wednesday morning.

Brandon Palaniuk idles his way to the take-off line.