Day 1 on scenic Atchafalaya

With hundreds of miles of fishing area available we started the day near the host city, Morgan City.
With hundreds of miles of fishing area available we started the day near the host city, Morgan City.
There is mile after mile of canals...
There is mile after mile of canals…
...much of it lined with Spanish moss hanging from cypress trees.
…much of it lined with Spanish moss hanging from cypress trees.
That's where we found Brian Clark and his partner fishing...
That’s where we found Brian Clark and his partner fishing…
...and occasionally getting hung in all the cypress knees around every tree.
…and occasionally getting hung in all the cypress knees around every tree.
Not everybody was bass fishing on the morning of Day 1, it was a good morning to run a trotline left out overnight.
Not everybody was bass fishing on the morning of Day 1, it was a good morning to run a trotline left out overnight.
The locals down here call these type places fish camps.
The locals down here call these type places fish camps.
Several larger lakes are scattered about here and there.
Several larger lakes are scattered about here and there.
For the most part it was clear and sunny, but there were a few areas fog formed early in the day.
For the most part it was clear and sunny, but there were a few areas fog formed early in the day.
The fog cast a strange, but beautiful light on the cypress trees along the lakes.
The fog cast a strange, but beautiful light on the cypress trees along the lakes.
We came upon former Bassmaster Classic champion Cliff Pace.
We came upon former Bassmaster Classic champion Cliff Pace.
But he only made a few casts...
But he only made a few casts…
...before moving along.
…before moving along.
Eagles sitting high atop the trees were a common sight, they would usually spook when we trolled past them.
Eagles sitting high atop the trees were a common sight, they would usually spook when we trolled past them.
Trait Crist decided to make her stand in one of the lakes.
Trait Crist decided to make her stand in one of the lakes.
She had yet to boat a keeper fish when we caught up with her, but it was still early in the day.
She had yet to boat a keeper fish when we caught up with her, but it was still early in the day.
Her co-angler Dane Lecaq had a bit of good luck while we were there...
Her co-angler Dane Lecaq had a bit of good luck while we were there…
...and boated his first keeper fish.
…and boated his first keeper fish.
Crist caught a fish a short while later, but you can probably tell from the look on her face this was not the size fish she was hoping for.
Crist caught a fish a short while later, but you can probably tell from the look on her face this was not the size fish she was hoping for.
However there was at least one more keeper fish nearby, Lecaq quickly caught his second keeper.
However there was at least one more keeper fish nearby, Lecaq quickly caught his second keeper.
Lecaq was quickly on his way to a three fish co-angler limit.
Lecaq was quickly on his way to a three fish co-angler limit.
When we caught up with Elite Series pro Brock Mosley, he already had a limit of fish in the boat.
When we caught up with Elite Series pro Brock Mosley, he already had a limit of fish in the boat.
And this would allow him to cull one of the smaller fish.
And this would allow him to cull one of the smaller fish.
It's close work getting them to the boat in the cypress trees.
It’s close work getting them to the boat in the cypress trees.
But Mosley had the upper hand with this fish...
But Mosley had the upper hand with this fish…
...the hooks on his crankbait stayed buttoned up in the fishes mouth...
…the hooks on his crankbait stayed buttoned up in the fishes mouth…
...as he reached to gain control of the bass.
…as he reached to gain control of the bass.
Mosley gave us a quick look at the fish...
Mosley gave us a quick look at the fish…
...then moved to his live well to cull.
…then moved to his live well to cull.
Before long the Bagley crankbait paid off again...
Before long the Bagley crankbait paid off again…
...with another fish biting close to a cypress tree.
…with another fish biting close to a cypress tree.
There wasn't much room for the fight between the boat and a stand of cypress knees.
There wasn’t much room for the fight between the boat and a stand of cypress knees.
But Mosely didn't give the fish much time to do any dirty work.
But Mosely didn’t give the fish much time to do any dirty work.
Not to mention this fish had both sets of treble hooks in it's mouth.
Not to mention this fish had both sets of treble hooks in it’s mouth.
Mosely would cull again with that bass...
Mosely would cull again with that bass…
...then continue to grind away in the trees.
…then continue to grind away in the trees.
The last pair of anglers we saw today was Elite Series pro Jay Brainard and his co-angler Todd Childs.
The last pair of anglers we saw today was Elite Series pro Jay Brainard and his co-angler Todd Childs.
There were all manner of boats hidden all over the place.
There were all manner of boats hidden all over the place.
Childs already had his limit when we caught up with he and Brainard, he describe his limit as one little one and two good ones. From the bend in his flipping stick this appeared to be another good one.
Childs already had his limit when we caught up with he and Brainard, he describe his limit as one little one and two good ones. From the bend in his flipping stick this appeared to be another good one.
Though not as big as we originally thought...
Though not as big as we originally thought…
...it turned out to be a really nice cull for Childs.
…it turned out to be a really nice cull for Childs.
Brainard flipped a few more trees along the main lake, then said he was going to go check on some fish he had found in a canal.
Brainard flipped a few more trees along the main lake, then said he was going to go check on some fish he had found in a canal.
When he left he spooked yet another mature bald eagle what was perched above his boat.
When he left he spooked yet another mature bald eagle what was perched above his boat.
Some of the more interesting vessels we saw while running around on the water today.
Some of the more interesting vessels we saw while running around on the water today.
And even more of the endless cypress trees.
And even more of the endless cypress trees.