Day One on Bull Shoals

A postponed Day One is finally here for the Ramada Quest.

<p>Jeremy Starks keeps an eye on his electronics as he makes his way down the edge of a creek channel on Day One of the Ramada Quest.</p>
Jeremy Starks keeps an eye on his electronics as he makes his way down the edge of a creek channel on Day One of the Ramada Quest.
Greg Hackney makes an early move on Day One.
Greg Hackney makes an early move on Day One.
Jeremy Starks pulls his trolling motor from the water to make a short move in a creek.
Jeremy Starks pulls his trolling motor from the water to make a short move in a creek.
Several anglers were sight fishing, but Kurt Dove was covering water.
Several anglers were sight fishing, but Kurt Dove was covering water.
Strong northwest winds were blowing on Bull Shoals early in the day.
Strong northwest winds were blowing on Bull Shoals early in the day.
Kurt Dove hooks up with a bass.
Kurt Dove hooks up with a bass.
Dove flips a keeper smallmouth into the boat.
Dove flips a keeper smallmouth into the boat.
Dove was working on an early limit during the first hour of fishing, saying this would be his fourth keeper fish in the livewell.
Dove was working on an early limit during the first hour of fishing, saying this would be his fourth keeper fish in the livewell.
Scott Rook hurls a cast.
Scott Rook hurls a cast.
An osprey flies with a gizzard shad he pulled from Bull Shoals Lake.
An osprey flies with a gizzard shad he pulled from Bull Shoals Lake.
<p>Ott DeFoe was doing a combination of sight fishing and mixed techniques.</p>
Ott DeFoe was doing a combination of sight fishing and mixed techniques.
DeFoe spends a few minutes casting to a fish on a bed.
DeFoe spends a few minutes casting to a fish on a bed.
DeFoe failed to catch the spawning bass and moved along to his next spot.
DeFoe failed to catch the spawning bass and moved along to his next spot.
DeFoe and Scott Rook were sharing water in the back of the same creek.
DeFoe and Scott Rook were sharing water in the back of the same creek.
DeFoe finds another fish on a bed and changes baits.
DeFoe finds another fish on a bed and changes baits.
Rook decides to move along to another waypoint.
Rook decides to move along to another waypoint.
Greg Hackney spent time in the back of a cove sight fishing.
Greg Hackney spent time in the back of a cove sight fishing.
Hackney moves as far forward on his boat as he can to get a better view of the bedded fish.
Hackney moves as far forward on his boat as he can to get a better view of the bedded fish.
After several minutes, Hackney sets the hook.
After several minutes, Hackney sets the hook.
<p>The fish suddenly comes off, and Hackney can't believe his luck.</p>
The fish suddenly comes off, and Hackney can’t believe his luck.
Hackney removes another rod to try a different bait.
Hackney removes another rod to try a different bait.
The bait change works, and Hackney hooks up with another bass from a bed.
The bait change works, and Hackney hooks up with another bass from a bed.
<p>It's not as big as the bass he lost, but Hackney takes his time fighting the fish to the boat.</p>
It’s not as big as the bass he lost, but Hackney takes his time fighting the fish to the boat.
Hackney reaches to get a grip on the fish.
Hackney reaches to get a grip on the fish.
Hackney boats another keeper.
Hackney boats another keeper.
There were several fish on beds in the area, and Hackney quickly boated another fish.
There were several fish on beds in the area, and Hackney quickly boated another fish.
Hackney said he thought he could cull with this fish.
Hackney said he thought he could cull with this fish.
Hackney makes a nice cull, getting rid of a small spotted bass.
Hackney makes a nice cull, getting rid of a small spotted bass.
Windy banks like the one Chris Lane was fishing were not hard to find on Day One. The wind was steady at 20 miles per hour.
Windy banks like the one Chris Lane was fishing were not hard to find on Day One. The wind was steady at 20 miles per hour.
The sun started to come out late in the morning, giving anglers a bit of comfort from the cold early start.
The sun started to come out late in the morning, giving anglers a bit of comfort from the cold early start.
<p>Chris Lane boats a small fish that won't help his cause.</p>
Chris Lane boats a small fish that won’t help his cause.
Lane tosses the short fish back into the water.
Lane tosses the short fish back into the water.
Jeremy Starks makes a cast with a Carolina rig.
Jeremy Starks makes a cast with a Carolina rig.