Day One on the Alabama River, II

Elite anglers were spread far and wide on the swollen Alabama River on Day One of the Alabama River Charge presented by Star brite.

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<p>B.A.S.S. photographer James Overstreet walks along the bank of Cooters Pond this morning just prior to the Alabama River Charge presented by Star brite take-off.  He is always looking for the special shot!</p>
B.A.S.S. photographer James Overstreet walks along the bank of Cooters Pond this morning just prior to the Alabama River Charge presented by Star brite take-off.  He is always looking for the special shot!
<p>Overstreet gets his “big lens” out for a shot overlooking all the anglers awaiting the takeoff.</p>
Overstreet gets his “big lens” out for a shot overlooking all the anglers awaiting the takeoff.
<p>Local anglers take time to watch Bill Lowen work near the Walter Bouldin Coosa River Dam this morning.</p>
Local anglers take time to watch Bill Lowen work near the Walter Bouldin Coosa River Dam this morning.
<p>Lowen pulls the cord and lifts his trolling motor.</p>
Lowen pulls the cord and lifts his trolling motor.
<p>Bill Lowen indicates that he is going that way!  His Marshall is straining to hear him.</p>
Bill Lowen indicates that he is going that way!  His Marshall is straining to hear him.
<p>Lowen makes his move as indicated and gets up close and personal with the dam.  Lowen loves fishing river systems.</p>
Lowen makes his move as indicated and gets up close and personal with the dam.  Lowen loves fishing river systems.
<p>He's got one!</p>
He’s got one!
<p>He puts it back!</p>
He puts it back!
<p>Danger Sign at the Walter Bouldin Dam.</p>
Danger Sign at the Walter Bouldin Dam.
<p>Local anglers are doing off the shore/dam fishing today.  The water is way up and you can see the current is incredible.</p>
Local anglers are doing off the shore/dam fishing today.  The water is way up and you can see the current is incredible.
<p>Lowen is hooked up.  At this time of the morning he has 4 fish in the well. </p>
Lowen is hooked up.  At this time of the morning he has 4 fish in the well. 
<p>Another non-keeper this morning. </p>
Another non-keeper this morning. 
<p>Kotaro Kiriyama works near the Dam this morning. </p>
Kotaro Kiriyama works near the Dam this morning. 
<p>Randy Howell is in the area and works up stream in the Coosa River.</p>
Randy Howell is in the area and works up stream in the Coosa River.
<p>Edwin Evers has his target in sight.  Edwin is the current AOY leader with 330 points with Kevin VanDam right behind with 324.</p>
Edwin Evers has his target in sight.  Edwin is the current AOY leader with 330 points with Kevin VanDam right behind with 324.
<p>The target did hold a small non-keeper fish.</p>
The target did hold a small non-keeper fish.
<p>Evers has found a hot spot it seems this morning.</p>
Evers has found a hot spot it seems this morning.
<p>Evers is having a little trouble gaining control of this good fish.</p>
Evers is having a little trouble gaining control of this good fish.
<p>Edwin Evers' Marshal is taking it all in. </p>
Edwin Evers’ Marshal is taking it all in. 
<p>He is adding to his nice collection this morning. </p>
He is adding to his nice collection this morning. 
<p>Edwin his is reloading his high successful bait of choice.</p>
Edwin his is reloading his high successful bait of choice.
<p>Randy Howell just hooked up in the very heavy current.</p>
Randy Howell just hooked up in the very heavy current.
<p>Howell prepares himself to get into the “Elite Series” landing position.</p>
Howell prepares himself to get into the “Elite Series” landing position.
<p>He makes a grab for it.</p>
He makes a grab for it.
<p>This fish is not ready yet.</p>
This fish is not ready yet.
<p>Howell looks to his toward his Marshal as he fails to secure the fish.</p>
Howell looks to his toward his Marshal as he fails to secure the fish.
<p>River fish are always great fighters.</p>
River fish are always great fighters.
<p>He got it!</p>
He got it!
<p>Randy’s Marshal offers a congratulatory hand as he lands the fish.</p>
Randy’s Marshal offers a congratulatory hand as he lands the fish.
<p> Howell always offer great athletic fish landings.</p>
 Howell always offer great athletic fish landings.
<p>It's time to upgrade!</p>
It’s time to upgrade!
<p>His little fish not is back in the river.</p>
His little fish not is back in the river.
<p>Howell has another fish on.</p>
Howell has another fish on.
<p>More upgrading for Howell.</p>
More upgrading for Howell.
<p>Chad Pipkens works the flooded trees on the main river this morning.</p>
Chad Pipkens works the flooded trees on the main river this morning.
<p>Casey Scanlon works the heavy current and his making very long cast with his spinning gear.</p>
Casey Scanlon works the heavy current and his making very long cast with his spinning gear.
<p>“Big Fish” Bobby Lane just landed a small fish.</p>
“Big Fish” Bobby Lane just landed a small fish.
<p>Bobby Lane loads up his rod of choice today as a group of workers take a moment to watch Lane work.</p>
Bobby Lane loads up his rod of choice today as a group of workers take a moment to watch Lane work.
<p>“Big” Dave Smith is moving!</p>
“Big” Dave Smith is moving!
<p>Shaw Grigsby is taking to get more tools out this morning. </p>
Shaw Grigsby is taking to get more tools out this morning. 
<p>I think Shaw is hung up in the flooded trees?</p>
I think Shaw is hung up in the flooded trees?
<p>The river will take no prisoners.</p>
The river will take no prisoners.
<p>Bobby Lane is up and running the main river and you can see from the rooster tail in the back ground others are moving as well.</p>
Bobby Lane is up and running the main river and you can see from the rooster tail in the back ground others are moving as well.
<p>Paul Elias and Bernie Schultz are sharing some water this morning.</p>
Paul Elias and Bernie Schultz are sharing some water this morning.
<p>Schultz makes his way closer to the bank.</p>
Schultz makes his way closer to the bank.
<p>Mike McClelland loads up his rod for a long cast.</p>
Mike McClelland loads up his rod for a long cast.
<p>Cliff Pirch makes his way to the trolling motor as he secured a new bait.  The current is taking control of his rig.</p>
Cliff Pirch makes his way to the trolling motor as he secured a new bait.  The current is taking control of his rig.
<p>Casey Scanlon makes his way down the main river.</p>
Casey Scanlon makes his way down the main river.
<p>Pirch makes his way up river and is always looking for floating debris coming down the river.</p>
Pirch makes his way up river and is always looking for floating debris coming down the river.
<p>This is such a great atmosphere for this event.</p>
This is such a great atmosphere for this event.
<p>Dean Rojas is heading down river with great speed on the morning of Day One.</p>
Dean Rojas is heading down river with great speed on the morning of Day One.