AOY Day 2 on the Bay II

Day 2 on the water photos from the AOY Championship on Sturgeon Bay.

We drove north on the Door Peninsula to meet Elite Series anglers making the long run north on Green Bay. The first angler to arrive at our location was Ish Monroe.
We drove north on the Door Peninsula to meet Elite Series anglers making the long run north on Green Bay. The first angler to arrive at our location was Ish Monroe.
Just behind Monroe came Kevin VanDam.
Just behind Monroe came Kevin VanDam.
VanDam blew by us on the way to his first fishing location.
VanDam blew by us on the way to his first fishing location.
Next came Gerald Swindle.
Next came Gerald Swindle.
Swindle was on a mission to catch the fish that would move him up in the standings far enough to make the 2016 Bassmaster Classic.
Swindle was on a mission to catch the fish that would move him up in the standings far enough to make the 2016 Bassmaster Classic.
Jeff Kriet was trying to ease alone in the wind blowing across Green Bay. In the background was one of his competitors who chose the much rougher route to his west.
Jeff Kriet was trying to ease alone in the wind blowing across Green Bay. In the background was one of his competitors who chose the much rougher route to his west.
David Walker was trying the route closer to the shoreline …
David Walker was trying the route closer to the shoreline …
… but the waves managed to find him, too.
… but the waves managed to find him, too.
Marty Robinson was the first angler we saw who stopped to fish.
Marty Robinson was the first angler we saw who stopped to fish.
While Todd Faircloth moved along past him …
While Todd Faircloth moved along past him …
… crashing through the waves.
… crashing through the waves.
Faircloth has fought his way back into Classic contention with top finishes in the past two events, including a victory on Lake St. Clair.
Faircloth has fought his way back into Classic contention with top finishes in the past two events, including a victory on Lake St. Clair.
Gerald Swindle reaches for a rod on his deck …
Gerald Swindle reaches for a rod on his deck …
… and makes his first cast of the day.
… and makes his first cast of the day.
He wouldn’t stay long before making a move.
He wouldn’t stay long before making a move.
Swindle moved down to an area that Ish Monroe was fishing.
Swindle moved down to an area that Ish Monroe was fishing.
Swindle quickly hooked up with a fish …
Swindle quickly hooked up with a fish …
… and fought it to the boat.
… and fought it to the boat.
The fish surges near the boat …
The fish surges near the boat …
… but Swindle was reaching for his pliers.
… but Swindle was reaching for his pliers.
Turns out it was a toothy critter that he didn’t want in his boat.
Turns out it was a toothy critter that he didn’t want in his boat.
The Door Peninsula on Green Bay is one beautiful place to fish.
The Door Peninsula on Green Bay is one beautiful place to fish.
Ish Monroe got to hear the Swindle version of his battle with a Green Bay pike.
Ish Monroe got to hear the Swindle version of his battle with a Green Bay pike.
And of course he had to share it with our Bassmaster cameraman.
And of course he had to share it with our Bassmaster cameraman.
The longer the story spun, the more animated Swindle became.
The longer the story spun, the more animated Swindle became.
Jordan Lee was fishing nearby, and was missing one hilarious fish catch story.
Jordan Lee was fishing nearby, and was missing one hilarious fish catch story.
Swindle fished down the shoreline until he reached Jordan Lee …
Swindle fished down the shoreline until he reached Jordan Lee …
… then decided to make a move.
… then decided to make a move.
We stayed with Ish Monroe as he hooked up with his first fish.
We stayed with Ish Monroe as he hooked up with his first fish.
Monroe is in a fight this week to make the Bassmaster Classic …
Monroe is in a fight this week to make the Bassmaster Classic …
… and was able to get a fish in the boat early on Day Two.
… and was able to get a fish in the boat early on Day Two.
He quickly sizes up the fish …
He quickly sizes up the fish …
… moves to the back on his boat …
… moves to the back on his boat …
… and puts his first keeper in the livewell.
… and puts his first keeper in the livewell.
Ish made a short move up the shoreline …
Ish made a short move up the shoreline …
… decides to make a change to a spinnerbait …
… decides to make a change to a spinnerbait …
… and heaves a very long cast …
… and heaves a very long cast …
… downwind.
… downwind.
He decides to go back to a finesse approach …
He decides to go back to a finesse approach …
… and was quickly battling another fish and the wind buffeting his boat.
… and was quickly battling another fish and the wind buffeting his boat.
The fish puts up a bit of a scrap beside the boat …
The fish puts up a bit of a scrap beside the boat …
… as Monroe works his way to the back of the boat …
… as Monroe works his way to the back of the boat …
… in an attempt to finish the fight.
… in an attempt to finish the fight.
But in typical smallmouth fashion …
But in typical smallmouth fashion …
… this fish wasn’t done quite yet.
… this fish wasn’t done quite yet.
But in the end, Ish won the war …
But in the end, Ish won the war …
… and the fish went into his livewell.
… and the fish went into his livewell.
We caught back up with Gerald Swindle multi-tasking; Eating and fishing.
We caught back up with Gerald Swindle multi-tasking; Eating and fishing.
And obviously enjoying both.
And obviously enjoying both.
It was a nice afternoon for a hike or fishing.
It was a nice afternoon for a hike or fishing.
Swindle took a few minutes to re-tie some baits …
Swindle took a few minutes to re-tie some baits …
… then makes a short move.
… then makes a short move.
A move that paid off quickly.
A move that paid off quickly.
Swindle was hooked up with a solid keeper.
Swindle was hooked up with a solid keeper.
He eased the fish toward the back of the boat …
He eased the fish toward the back of the boat …
… slowly trying to wear it down.
… slowly trying to wear it down.
He pulls the fish slowly to the surface …
He pulls the fish slowly to the surface …
… and snatches it from the water.
… and snatches it from the water.
This fish is headed to the weigh-in.
This fish is headed to the weigh-in.
Swindle now has two in the boat …
Swindle now has two in the boat …
… tucked safely away in the livewell.
… tucked safely away in the livewell.
He then contemplated catching another one.
He then contemplated catching another one.
The sat down to re-tie.
The sat down to re-tie.
Mike Iaconelli pulls up on a waypoint, quickly moves to the front deck …
Mike Iaconelli pulls up on a waypoint, quickly moves to the front deck …
… and fires a cast.
… and fires a cast.
He left there without a bite, and takes a look at his electronics as he moves to the next waypoint.
He left there without a bite, and takes a look at his electronics as he moves to the next waypoint.
He makes sure he’s lined up perfectly on the next location …
He makes sure he’s lined up perfectly on the next location …
… obviously he was as he sets the hook on his first cast.
… obviously he was as he sets the hook on his first cast.
The fish put up a bit of a scrap …
The fish put up a bit of a scrap …
… but wouldn’t measure.
… but wouldn’t measure.
But it wasn’t long before he was hooked up again.
But it wasn’t long before he was hooked up again.
And from the looks of things may be a heavier fish.
And from the looks of things may be a heavier fish.
No doubt this is a keeper fish.
No doubt this is a keeper fish.
Iaconelli reaches to grasp the fish …
Iaconelli reaches to grasp the fish …
… and brings it aboard.
… and brings it aboard.
He gives us a better look at a beautiful smallmouth.
He gives us a better look at a beautiful smallmouth.
And so ends another beautiful day in Wisconsin.
And so ends another beautiful day in Wisconsin.