Team: Day 1 on Kentucky Lake

Day 1 of the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship on Kentucky Lake started Wednesday as 186 teams sought for an elusive Geico Bassmaster Classic spot.
Day 1 of the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship on Kentucky Lake started Wednesday as 186 teams sought for an elusive Geico Bassmaster Classic spot.
There were multiple boats congregated on a specific area at my first stop of the day.
There were multiple boats congregated on a specific area at my first stop of the day.
With water temperatures in the low 50's anglers looked for any active fish they could find.
With water temperatures in the low 50’s anglers looked for any active fish they could find.
Jonathan Spivey and Derick Livingston of North Carolina were among the crowd as they looked for a couple early bites.
Jonathan Spivey and Derick Livingston of North Carolina were among the crowd as they looked for a couple early bites.
Another team added to the crowd as they came around the corner.
Another team added to the crowd as they came around the corner.
A Virginia team hooks up, but loses it mid fight.
A Virginia team hooks up, but loses it mid fight.
Cole Hyder and Joel Saunders of South Carolina were fishing more off-shore than most teams I had saw earlier.
Cole Hyder and Joel Saunders of South Carolina were fishing more off-shore than most teams I had saw earlier.
Hyder and Saunders were struggling, but that is the way fall fishing can be. It can be tough all day, but then lights out at another time.
Hyder and Saunders were struggling, but that is the way fall fishing can be. It can be tough all day, but then lights out at another time.
Hyder heaves his bait.
Hyder heaves his bait.
Saunders does the same. They were dragging slow moving baits.
Saunders does the same. They were dragging slow moving baits.
Nicholas Bodsford and Richard Owens cruise by.
Nicholas Bodsford and Richard Owens cruise by.
As does Alabama anglers Brent Crow and Rex Chambers.
As does Alabama anglers Brent Crow and Rex Chambers.
I followed Crow and Chambers to their next spot.
I followed Crow and Chambers to their next spot.
Crow hooked up with one and was hoping it would be their third keeper of the day.
Crow hooked up with one and was hoping it would be their third keeper of the day.
He swings it in the boat and it looks like it will be a line-burner for the 15-inch Tennessee length limit.
He swings it in the boat and it looks like it will be a line-burner for the 15-inch Tennessee length limit.
It had a chunky belly on it, but Crow eyeballs it as he decides to measure it.
It had a chunky belly on it, but Crow eyeballs it as he decides to measure it.
Crow puts it on the measuring board...
Crow puts it on the measuring board…
And has to throw it back as it narrowly misses the length limit.
And has to throw it back as it narrowly misses the length limit.
They continue to fish down the rocky shoreline that is now exposed due to Kentucky Lake being roughly 6-feet low.
They continue to fish down the rocky shoreline that is now exposed due to Kentucky Lake being roughly 6-feet low.
Dell Metten Jr. and Justin Harris of Kansas run to their next spot.
Dell Metten Jr. and Justin Harris of Kansas run to their next spot.
Crow's partner, Rex Chambers slings a cast out.
Crow’s partner, Rex Chambers slings a cast out.
After having no luck they decide to make a move.
After having no luck they decide to make a move.
Crow heads out and checks out his next spot on his electronics.
Crow heads out and checks out his next spot on his electronics.
After they left I found the team of Michael Milton and Paul Sharp of Tennessee as they were vertically fishing using their electronics.
After they left I found the team of Michael Milton and Paul Sharp of Tennessee as they were vertically fishing using their electronics.
They were using spinning tackle trying to entice the group of bass below them to bite.
They were using spinning tackle trying to entice the group of bass below them to bite.
A team blows by as the driver has a helmet on and the passenger was trying to cover up while they ran.
A team blows by as the driver has a helmet on and the passenger was trying to cover up while they ran.
Terry Reich and Dustin Hill of Texas had a hopeful start to their day as they caught a couple active fish early and they already had four in the boat.
Terry Reich and Dustin Hill of Texas had a hopeful start to their day as they caught a couple active fish early and they already had four in the boat.
They were looking for their 5th fish as they rounded a rocky point.
They were looking for their 5th fish as they rounded a rocky point.
Hill heaves out a moving bait in hopes of hooking up.
Hill heaves out a moving bait in hopes of hooking up.
As I headed back towards the ramp I found the Nevada team of Joe Raftery and Tom Martin fished down some riprap.
As I headed back towards the ramp I found the Nevada team of Joe Raftery and Tom Martin fished down some riprap.
Raftery makes a cast and tells a story about fishing Lake Mead back home.
Raftery makes a cast and tells a story about fishing Lake Mead back home.
They also fished the B.A.S.S. Nation event held on Lake Mead back in April.
They also fished the B.A.S.S. Nation event held on Lake Mead back in April.
They took off in search of their final fish to fill their limit.
They took off in search of their final fish to fill their limit.
Keith Baird and Michael Thompson of Indiana also fished down the riprap, but their day wasn't going as well as they had hoped.
Keith Baird and Michael Thompson of Indiana also fished down the riprap, but their day wasn’t going as well as they had hoped.
Baird checks his electronics as he fishes a crankbait. They had only caught some non-keeper bass earlier in the day.
Baird checks his electronics as he fishes a crankbait. They had only caught some non-keeper bass earlier in the day.
His GoPro was catching all of the action from his Day 1.
His GoPro was catching all of the action from his Day 1.