From the air Day Three

The camera copter approaches Wolf Creek Park on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees for the final day launch of the 2013 Bassmaster Classic.

Another good crowd lines the boat ramps, getting as close to the action as they can.

The top 25 competitors’ boats are lined up at the new dock.

The boats are lined in order from one to 25 along the dock in preparation for launch.

As tournament leader, Cliff Pace has the position of honor at the far left.

The Classic began with 53 competitors and was cut for the final day.

Media are given a final chance to interview anglers before they head out.

B.A.S.S. officials, media and anglers’ support staff, including some family and friends, are on the dock waiting for the third and final day to begin.

Pace was positioned just under the raised stage for emcee Dave Mercer and tournament director Trip Weldon.

Mercer announces each angler’s name and credentials as they leave the dock.

The national anthem is played before every B.A.S.S. tournament.

A flag boat leads Cliff Pace out as they head out in order of the Day Two standings.

The anglers idle out in single order before blasting off.

Pace has a 7-pound lead as he seeks his first Classic title.

The race is one to get to their spots and begin fishing.

Pace said he slept well and is on a mission to win bass fishing’s biggest event.

Pace has ESPN TV’s Robbie Floyd and a cameraman in his boat.

With two bags of more than 21 pounds, Pace has built a comfortable lead but said he still had work to do.

Out of the cove, the field swings around toward Highway 59.

It’s known as the Sailboat Bridge, and anglers are required to idle within 150 feet on both sides.

The boats slow in the area, a popular spot for spectators to pick up and follow their favorite angler.

The boats take off again.

A local news helicopter follows the action.

One of the competitors who turned north at the bridge makes his way past a neighborhood.

Two other boats head north up the lake.

Skynews 6 was shooting video for its news reports.

Jason Christie continues his run down lake.

With extensive experience on Grand, Christie was among the home-state favorites to win.

Mike Iaconelli, who started the day in third, shuts down to fish his first spot.

Mike McClelland, another area favorite, and his cameramen acknowledge the chopper.

A poor second day hurt McClelland’s chances on a lake he has won on.

Shaw Grigsby, who is in eighth place, waves.

Marty Robinson gives a fist pump as the copter runs alongside him.

A competitor peels off into one of the many arms of Grand Lake.

Tracy Adams, who fell to ninth after a great start on Day One, fishes his first spot.

An angler turns off the main lake into a cove and shuts down.

Shaw Grigsby begins his day on the main lake channel.

Grigsby began the day in eighth place, but more than 13 pounds back.

Grigsby was casting toward a rocky shoreline.

Mike Iaconelli moved to a new spot, and the boats following him are just shutting down.

The fan favorite ducks behind some docks and the spectators jockey for position to watch.

Ike’s crowd seems very orderly.

Iaconelli began Day Three in third place, 8 pounds off of leader Cliff Pace.

Ike casts toward the dock.

After tying Pace for the first-day lead, Ike experienced technical issues on Day Two.

Ike fished a narrow cove.

Cliff Pace was also hitting docks early.

Pace’s first spot was in the main lake area.

While off the radar and fishing in solitude on the first two days, Pace, as the Classic leader, has a large following.

Pace was moving very slowly, working the docks hard.

He tries the outside edge.

Pace might not have even noticed the slide on the dock, he’s so focused on catching the winning fish.

Pace continues to work the same corner of the dock.

With two of the biggest fish this week, Pace has confidence in his tactics and sticks with it.

Pace moves just slightly down toward the next dock.

All along Grand Lake, there are rocky shores with some steep drops.

Grand Lake is highly developed, with some large homes overlooking bluffs near Shangri-la.

Jason Christie was slightly up lake from Pace.

The area Christie fished was in a protected area and dead still compared to others.

Christie was making long casts.

Brandon Palaniuk was up lake from Christie.

He said he was doing something different from many of the other anglers, and that is fishing comparatively shallow.

Palaniuk, who began the day in second place, works the trolling motor to stay in position.

Fans watch the rising star from shore.

Palaniuk stayed a ways from the shoreline and made long casts.

Spectators were able to drive onto the peninsula to watch Palaniuk.

There was some downed wood in the area.

Palaniuk, a second-year Elite angler, is a fan favorite.