Day One launch on the Alabama

Elites leave Cooter's Pond to see what they can do on the Alabama River.

Posted on
<p>Dawn breaks over the Alabama River for Day One of the Alabama River Charge presented by Star brite.</p>
Dawn breaks over the Alabama River for Day One of the Alabama River Charge presented by Star brite.
<p>Anglers put in and wait for launch, enjoying the beautiful scene.</p>
Anglers put in and wait for launch, enjoying the beautiful scene.
<p>Boyd Duckett backs his boat in.</p>
Boyd Duckett backs his boat in.
<p>A good shot of how high the water is right now. No one will be enjoying a picnic here today.</p>
A good shot of how high the water is right now. No one will be enjoying a picnic here today.
<p>Ish Monroe is ready to go.</p>
Ish Monroe is ready to go.
<p>Derek Remitz checks his equpiment before launch.</p>
Derek Remitz checks his equpiment before launch.
<p>B.A.S.S. official Jon Stewart is playing traffic cop on the water with his bullhorn today, lining up anglers for launch.</p>
B.A.S.S. official Jon Stewart is playing traffic cop on the water with his bullhorn today, lining up anglers for launch.
<p>Yusuke Miyazaki relaxes before launch.</p>
Yusuke Miyazaki relaxes before launch.
<p>Randy Howell cleans his shades.</p>
Randy Howell cleans his shades.
<p>Time for the national anthem.</p>
Time for the national anthem.
<p>Everyone pauses. The microphone didn't work, but the man singing didn't need it. A wonderful, booming voice.</p>
Everyone pauses. The microphone didn’t work, but the man singing didn’t need it. A wonderful, booming voice.
<p>Lined up and ready to launch.</p>
Lined up and ready to launch.
<p>Skeet Reese is interviewed by a local television station.</p>
Skeet Reese is interviewed by a local television station.
<p>The mayors of Montgomery and Prattville are on hand to see the anglers off.</p>
The mayors of Montgomery and Prattville are on hand to see the anglers off.
<p>Brandon Palaniuk makes sure he has some coffee.</p>
Brandon Palaniuk makes sure he has some coffee.
<p>The fans are ready.</p>
The fans are ready.
<p>Dave Mercer and Max Leatherwood say "Let's go!"</p>
Dave Mercer and Max Leatherwood say “Let’s go!”
<p>Mike Iaconelli says bye.</p>
Mike Iaconelli says bye.
<p>Aaron Martens is focused on the job ahead.</p>
Aaron Martens is focused on the job ahead.
<p>The Elites are away for Day One of the Alabama River Charge presented by Star brite.</p>
The Elites are away for Day One of the Alabama River Charge presented by Star brite.