Crunch time on Conroe

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Greg Vance of Iowa gets the day started near a marina. Today his goal is making the Top 10 cut.
Greg Vance of Iowa gets the day started near a marina. Today his goal is making the Top 10 cut.
He’s off to a good start, sort of. The minimum length limit for the tournament is 16 inches. That means this short bass goes back into Lake Conroe.
He’s off to a good start, sort of. The minimum length limit for the tournament is 16 inches. That means this short bass goes back into Lake Conroe.
Vance starts the day in second place. Should he make the cut he has one more goal.
Vance starts the day in second place. Should he make the cut he has one more goal.
That is to be the highest finisher among the state champions fishing in the tournament from the Central region of the B.A.S.S. Nation.
That is to be the highest finisher among the state champions fishing in the tournament from the Central region of the B.A.S.S. Nation.
Vance has a near miss as non-boater Mike Coleman of California looks on. He starts the day in fifth place.
Vance has a near miss as non-boater Mike Coleman of California looks on. He starts the day in fifth place.
Vance is working a shoreline that is lined with every type and shape of private boat docks imaginable.
Vance is working a shoreline that is lined with every type and shape of private boat docks imaginable.
Crouching down to skip baits beneath low docks is a must. Around here there is a surprise around every corner.
Crouching down to skip baits beneath low docks is a must. Around here there is a surprise around every corner.
These dogs don’t appear to be fans of Vance, or any other intruder coming around their home.
These dogs don’t appear to be fans of Vance, or any other intruder coming around their home.
Vance comments that every dog he’s encountered this week is a barker, just like this one.
Vance comments that every dog he’s encountered this week is a barker, just like this one.
Vance has enough of the dogs and neighborhood and moves on.
Vance has enough of the dogs and neighborhood and moves on.
Vance idles past a marina where Jason Vaughn is fishing.
Vance idles past a marina where Jason Vaughn is fishing.
The Delaware angler is 12th place going into Day 2.
The Delaware angler is 12th place going into Day 2.
Joining him is Stefan Adamchick of Mexico, that nation’s national non-boater champion.
Joining him is Stefan Adamchick of Mexico, that nation’s national non-boater champion.
At the entrance to the marina are Ron Mace of Washington and non-boater David Porter of Texas. Mace is 20th in the boater standings, while Porter is 18th in the non-boater standings.
At the entrance to the marina are Ron Mace of Washington and non-boater David Porter of Texas. Mace is 20th in the boater standings, while Porter is 18th in the non-boater standings.
Mace works a riprap shoreline along a bridge to coax strikes.
Mace works a riprap shoreline along a bridge to coax strikes.
Not far away are Mark Cavanaugh of Ontario and Bradley Riling of Georgia.
Not far away are Mark Cavanaugh of Ontario and Bradley Riling of Georgia.
Last May, Cavanaugh staged a come-from-behind win against long odds to win the eastern regional held on Douglas Lake in east Tennessee.
Last May, Cavanaugh staged a come-from-behind win against long odds to win the eastern regional held on Douglas Lake in east Tennessee.
The anglers are fishing docks, a popular strategy this week.
The anglers are fishing docks, a popular strategy this week.
Making precise, close lure presentations is key.
Making precise, close lure presentations is key.
Cavanaugh scores with a fish.
Cavanaugh scores with a fish.
“I’ve caught a limit of these already,” he says with a laugh.
“I’ve caught a limit of these already,” he says with a laugh.
The short bass goes back into the lake and Cavanaugh gets back to work.
The short bass goes back into the lake and Cavanaugh gets back to work.
Rick Hamer goes into Day 2 leading the non-boater division with 14 pounds, 7 ounces.
Rick Hamer goes into Day 2 leading the non-boater division with 14 pounds, 7 ounces.
Today he is fishing with Randy Campbell of New Mexico.
Today he is fishing with Randy Campbell of New Mexico.
Hamer puts on a dock fishing seminar with his up-close casting skills.
Hamer puts on a dock fishing seminar with his up-close casting skills.
Those skills are required when you are fishing so close to the targets.
Those skills are required when you are fishing so close to the targets.
On the flip side of the casting realm are Danny Grantham and Chris Brewer.
On the flip side of the casting realm are Danny Grantham and Chris Brewer.
Grantham goes into Day 2 in eighth place.
Grantham goes into Day 2 in eighth place.
Grantham, the Alabama boater champion, and Brewer, the Maine non-boater winner, are fishing offshore.
Grantham, the Alabama boater champion, and Brewer, the Maine non-boater winner, are fishing offshore.
Grantham has no luck in the deeper water.
Grantham has no luck in the deeper water.
So he and Brewer take off for better opportunities.
So he and Brewer take off for better opportunities.
Across the lake is Michael Boggs II.
Across the lake is Michael Boggs II.
He leads the boater side with 20-10.
He leads the boater side with 20-10.
He hopes to add a few precious ounces with this catch.
He hopes to add a few precious ounces with this catch.
But it’s outside the 16-inch minimum.
But it’s outside the 16-inch minimum.
Boggs, who lives in Portsmouth, Ohio, fishes for the Kentucky B.A.S.S. Nation.
Boggs, who lives in Portsmouth, Ohio, fishes for the Kentucky B.A.S.S. Nation.
As this picture is taken there is music playing in his boat.
As this picture is taken there is music playing in his boat.
Like a lot of folks with regular jobs, he likes listening to the radio at work, too.
Like a lot of folks with regular jobs, he likes listening to the radio at work, too.
No music is playing inside the boat occupied by Dave McCoy and Michael Lebsack.
No music is playing inside the boat occupied by Dave McCoy and Michael Lebsack.
Not far away is Scott Green of Vermont and non-boater Steven Conde of Rhode Island. Like many anglers, they are catching plenty of bass but most are too short.
Not far away is Scott Green of Vermont and non-boater Steven Conde of Rhode Island. Like many anglers, they are catching plenty of bass but most are too short.