Day 1 on Hartwell

Go on the water with the Classic anglers in the early morning of Day 1 of the 2015 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.

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The morning scene at the launch from on the water.
The morning scene at the launch from on the water.
Casey Ashley speeds to his first fishing location…
Casey Ashley speeds to his first fishing location…
…followed closely by Andy Montgomery and another competitor.
…followed closely by Andy Montgomery and another competitor.
Brian Snowden speeds away from the launch site in his new Nitro Z21.
Brian Snowden speeds away from the launch site in his new Nitro Z21.
The water in Lake Hartwell begins to get churned up as boats take their hole shots.
The water in Lake Hartwell begins to get churned up as boats take their hole shots.
2012 Bassmaster Classic champion Chris Lane puts the hammer down.
2012 Bassmaster Classic champion Chris Lane puts the hammer down.
David Walker gets his boat up on pad.
David Walker gets his boat up on pad.
Chris Lane begins to hit waves from boats ahead of him…
Chris Lane begins to hit waves from boats ahead of him…
…sending out a shower of overspray.
…sending out a shower of overspray.
Lane comes out of the spray and gives thumbs up.
Lane comes out of the spray and gives thumbs up.
Andy Montgomery was on fish early.
Andy Montgomery was on fish early.
He quickly put fish No. 1 in the live well.
He quickly put fish No. 1 in the live well.
After handling his first fish, Montgomery blows on his hands in an effort to keep them warm.
After handling his first fish, Montgomery blows on his hands in an effort to keep them warm.
Montgomery looks down at his electronics to get back on his waypoint.
Montgomery looks down at his electronics to get back on his waypoint.
He re-locates fish on his sonar and instantly drops a bait.
He re-locates fish on his sonar and instantly drops a bait.
The fish were there and Montgomery sets the hook.
The fish were there and Montgomery sets the hook.
The fight is on.
The fight is on.
Montgomery looks down hoping he has the fish moving closer to the surface.
Montgomery looks down hoping he has the fish moving closer to the surface.
He is taking his time with this fish.
He is taking his time with this fish.
He begins to slowly pull the fish to the boat…
He begins to slowly pull the fish to the boat…
…then lift it from the water.
…then lift it from the water.
Please stay on.
Please stay on.
The fish thrashes as it begins to come over the side of the boat.
The fish thrashes as it begins to come over the side of the boat.
Montgomery is hoping he is hooked good and will stay on.
Montgomery is hoping he is hooked good and will stay on.
Looking good so far.
Looking good so far.
As he’s swinging the fish into the boat, Montgomery begins to reach for his line to gain control.
As he’s swinging the fish into the boat, Montgomery begins to reach for his line to gain control.
He now has the fish safely over the side of the boat…
He now has the fish safely over the side of the boat…
…just as his bait comes flying from the fishes’ mouth.
…just as his bait comes flying from the fishes’ mouth.
Luckily, the fish landed in the bottom of the boat and Montgomery has a nice keeper to show the camera.
Luckily, the fish landed in the bottom of the boat and Montgomery has a nice keeper to show the camera.
Montgomery weighs the fish before placing it in the live well.
Montgomery weighs the fish before placing it in the live well.
Time to get back to work.
Time to get back to work.
Montgomery had to constantly dip his rod into the water to clear ice building up in the guides.
Montgomery had to constantly dip his rod into the water to clear ice building up in the guides.
He reaches in his rod locker for another weapon.
He reaches in his rod locker for another weapon.
Where did that school of fish go?
Where did that school of fish go?
There’s another one.
There’s another one.
Montgomery fights the fish to the boat while his Day One Marshal fires away with a camera.
Montgomery fights the fish to the boat while his Day One Marshal fires away with a camera.
The fish comes up beside the boat.
The fish comes up beside the boat.
His marshal has a great view of the fish coming aboard.
His marshal has a great view of the fish coming aboard.
Another keeper in the boat for Montgomery.
Another keeper in the boat for Montgomery.
Montgomery fires another cast.
Montgomery fires another cast.
The folks from Yamaha were cruising the lake in style.
The folks from Yamaha were cruising the lake in style.