On board with the Elites at Cayuga

Climb aboard the Elite's boats as they take on Day 1 at Cayuga.

Andy Montgomery lands a small keeper early on.
Andy Montgomery lands a small keeper early on.
Fletcher Shryock works a popular grassbed in the first few hours.
Fletcher Shryock works a popular grassbed in the first few hours.
Shryock had an array of Abu Garcia rods and reels on deck.
Shryock had an array of Abu Garcia rods and reels on deck.
The unblinking eye of his GoPro captures all the action.
The unblinking eye of his GoPro captures all the action.
Shryock tenderly works his bait in the grass.
Shryock tenderly works his bait in the grass.
“Don’t make fun of my pants,” he said in jest.
He re-rigs after a pike bit his bait off.
He re-rigs after a pike bit his bait off.
Dennis Tietje eyes his graph as he works a grassbed.
Dennis Tietje eyes his graph as he works a grassbed.
Tietje's reminders are close at hand.
Tietje’s reminders are close at hand.
He lays into one!
He lays into one!
Unfortunately, it's the wrong kind.
Unfortunately, it’s the wrong kind.
Here's another hookset!
Here’s another hookset!
Again, it's a pike.
Again, it’s a pike.
Jeremy Starks is on to something...
Jeremy Starks is on to something…
...it's a good one, but it was a pike also.
…it’s a good one, but it was a pike also.
Starks is W.Va. proud.
Starks is W.Va. proud.
On board J Todd Tucker's boat are an assortment of Duckett Fishing rods and reels.
On board J Todd Tucker’s boat are an assortment of Duckett Fishing rods and reels.
Tucker and his Marshal prepare for the rainstorm that soaked Cayuga Lake.
Tucker and his Marshal prepare for the rainstorm that soaked Cayuga Lake.
On board Keith Combs' Ranger, a 250-horse Yamaha SHO provides motivation while Minn Kota Talons hold him steady in shallow water.
On board Keith Combs’ Ranger, a 250-horse Yamaha SHO provides motivation while Minn Kota Talons hold him steady in shallow water.
Guess what his check-in time was?
Guess what his check-in time was?
Combs buries his hook in a nice fish...
Combs buries his hook in a nice fish…
...it was giving him some trouble...
…it was giving him some trouble…
...he hoists it aboard with his flipping stick!
…he hoists it aboard with his flipping stick!
It was bigger than he thought and slides over the gunnel.
It was bigger than he thought and slides over the gunnel.
It just gets bigger and bigger!
It just gets bigger and bigger!
Combs is all smiles as he unhooks it.
Combs is all smiles as he unhooks it.
On board Matt Reed's Nitro Z9 are Johnny Morris Bass Pro Shops rods and reels.
On board Matt Reed’s Nitro Z9 are Johnny Morris Bass Pro Shops rods and reels.
Reed points to the spot he's targeting.
Reed points to the spot he’s targeting.
His boat accumulates baits as he travels all over the country fishing.
His boat accumulates baits as he travels all over the country fishing.
Reed's console.
Reed’s console.
Nearby, Scott Ashmore unhooks a nice pike.
Nearby, Scott Ashmore unhooks a nice pike.
Stephen Browning works a popular grassbed.
Stephen Browning works a popular grassbed.
Browning is all smiles.
Browning is all smiles.
He makes another pitch.
He makes another pitch.
Browning was patient and methodical in his approach.
Browning was patient and methodical in his approach.
Starks wrestles another one to the boat.
Starks wrestles another one to the boat.
It was a small keeper.
It was a small keeper.
Hank Cherry was dealing with pike constantly biting his baits off.
Hank Cherry was dealing with pike constantly biting his baits off.
Cherry's console.
Cherry’s console.
He's got one!
He’s got one!
But, when he realizes it's another pike, he's deflated.
But, when he realizes it’s another pike, he’s deflated.
Bobby Lane was working a good stretch of grass.
Bobby Lane was working a good stretch of grass.
His deck was covered with Abu Garcia rods and reels.
His deck was covered with Abu Garcia rods and reels.
Lane sticks one...
Lane sticks one…
...it's a good one...
…it’s a good one…
...he gets ready to swing it aboard...
…he gets ready to swing it aboard…
...and here it comes!
…and here it comes!
This one would help his limit.
This one would help his limit.
Which is bigger?
Which is bigger?
He sets on another one.
He sets on another one.
This one was feisty.
This one was feisty.
He swings it in.
He swings it in.
He didn't have any problems swinging fish in with his Spiderwire braid.
He didn’t have any problems swinging fish in with his Spiderwire braid.
This one would help, too.
This one would help, too.