Day One on Green Bay

Popular areas like Little Sturgeon Bay attracted most of the Elite Series field on Day One of the Green Bay Challenge.

Dave Smith looks for a place to fish in the crowd.

Jason Williamson fishes near one of the many resorts along the Green Bay shoreline.

Jonathon VanDam sets up on a bedding fish.

After a couple casts to the fish, VanDam hooks up.

VanDam slowly wears the smallmouth down.

VanDam scoops a nice keeper smallmouth into the boat.

VanDam gives the camera a better look at his fish.

Davy Hite makes a cast in the back of a shallow bay.

A recreational angler joins the fray.

David Walker does battle with a large fish.

Unfortunately for Walker, sheepshead cannot be weighed.

Jason Williamson and Bobby Lane fish past one another.

Anglers begin to crowd offshore structure near Little Sturgeon Bay.

Several Elite Series anglers were sharing water early on Day One of the Green Bay Challenge.

Matt Reed said he was having a tough time connecting with a keeper smallmouth, but was having an easy time catching rough fish.

Reed had a homemade bilge pump ready for use if needed.

Bill Lowen said he felt like a duck out of water on the big waters of Green Bay.

Edwin Evers fishes the shoreline near the northern boundary of fishable waters for the tournament.

Jami Fralick speeds to his next fishing location.

Jeremy Starks hooks up with a keeper smallmouth.

Starks reaches deep into the water in an attempt to land the fish.

Starks jerks a nice keeper fish aboard.

Timmy Horton rests his rod on his shoulder, while looking for cruising or bedding smallmouth.

Riley Bay attracted a crowd of anglers on Day One.

Aaron Martens has a pelican visit him.

Martens makes his first cast to one of his waypoints.

Martens is immediately rewarded with a bite and sets the hook.

Martens dips his rod as the fish tries to jump.

Martens belly lands a nice smallmouth.

Martens holds the fish up and hopes it will help his overall weight.

Martens has an early five-fish limit.

Martens sorts through the fish in the livewell as he begins to cull.

Martens sizes up one of his fish, thinking he now has 17 or 18 pounds.