Day 1 on the Ouachita

The Ouachita River opens to competition for Day 1 of the 2014 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.

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The Ouachita River opens to competition for Day 1 of the 2014 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship. After not seeing any boats all morning, we finally find one running through a field of stumps.
The Ouachita River opens to competition for Day 1 of the 2014 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship. After not seeing any boats all morning, we finally find one running through a field of stumps.
This angler's fishing for a living.
This angler’s fishing for a living.
Another boat in the distance.
Another boat in the distance.
John Soukup of Oklahoma works a bank along Bayou D'Arbonne.
John Soukup of Oklahoma works a bank along Bayou D’Arbonne.
Another peek at the mystery boat, still too far in the woods to make contact.
Another peek at the mystery boat, still too far in the woods to make contact.
A little fleur-de-lis love down in cajun country.
A little fleur-de-lis love down in cajun country.
Lots to fish around on the Ouachita River.
Lots to fish around on the Ouachita River.
Not only wood and rock in the river, but lots of docks in a few concentrated areas.
Not only wood and rock in the river, but lots of docks in a few concentrated areas.
Docks on poles move up and down with the rising and falling waters.
Docks on poles move up and down with the rising and falling waters.
No wake please.
No wake please.
The water has ripped through this area before.
The water has ripped through this area before.
More signs of swift current. These poles should have a dock between them. The dock may have been removed on purpose but could have been washed away.
More signs of swift current. These poles should have a dock between them. The dock may have been removed on purpose but could have been washed away.
More encouragement not to wake this place up.
More encouragement not to wake this place up.
Should also mention you shouldn't shoot at the sign...
Should also mention you shouldn’t shoot at the sign…
A watermark on these trees illustrates the height the river got to earlier in the year when we were here for the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Central Regional in the spring. The water was 9 feet higher then.
A watermark on these trees illustrates the height the river got to earlier in the year when we were here for the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Central Regional in the spring. The water was 9 feet higher then.
On the move in the Skeeter.
On the move in the Skeeter.
Russell Phillips of Connecticut works the main river with a couple fish to show for the day so far.
Russell Phillips of Connecticut works the main river with a couple fish to show for the day so far.
Phillips missed one and spun around to make another pitch or two.
Phillips missed one and spun around to make another pitch or two.
You don't skip anything on the Ouachita River, Phillips turns to make a pitch to some structure off the bank.
You don’t skip anything on the Ouachita River, Phillips turns to make a pitch to some structure off the bank.
Tim Johnston works some river wood.
Tim Johnston works some river wood.
Five in the box for Johnston.
Five in the box for Johnston.
Swing...
Swing…
.... and a miss.
…. and a miss.
“Took my pinchers.”
Time to hit the road.
Time to hit the road.
Another angler blows by as Tim Johnston waits his turn to jump in the channel.
Another angler blows by as Tim Johnston waits his turn to jump in the channel.
Away we go.
Away we go.