Bittersweet Experience photos

Andrew Upshaw has a trying day on the water Sunday going up against teammate Ryan Watkins to become the first College B.AS.S. to make the Classic.

The 24-year-old from Hemphill, Texas, said the entire experience was overwhelming.

After winning, he said, “I’m so proud I can represent my university and all the college anglers in the Bassmaster Classic.”

Upshaw, tying on a new lure Sunday, didn’t have a fish in the livewell until the final moments.

At one point, he said he had lost his composure, but he never gave up.

Both Upshaw and Watkins had difficulties figuring out the small reservoir that is managed for trophy fish.

Each tried a variety of techniques and lures to unlock what the fish wanted.

This was the fourth different fishery the two had fished in the as many day.

Upshaw’s uncle, Billy Limerick, records some of the action while Upshaw’s father, Larry, finds some relief from the heat in the shade.

Upshaw lands a small bass on a crankbait and the next five images show its fate.

Watkins caught his two fish around 9:30 a.m. and has difficulty finding exactly how the fish wanted baits presented.

Upshaw hooks up again.

Watkins keeps at it to no avail.

Watkins casts a crankbait. 

His two fish came on a bluegill-colored Strike King KVD 2.5 square-billed crankbait.

Watkins would come up only 11 ounces short of his teammate.

The two anglers pass one another moments before Upshaw would land his fish.

Upshaw said competing against Watkins was like going up against Kevin VanDam to him.

Upshaw’s winning fish both came in the last 12 minutes on a Norman Deep Little N crankbait.

On the format, Upshaw said, “When I first heard about this, I thought it was awesome. Now that I’ve won it, I feel humbled.”