Classic: Day One on the water II

Fans gather around Kevin VanDam, which is something he’s used to at the Bassmaster Classic. 

VanDam casts early on Day One of the Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake.

By the end of Day One, VanDam had 20 pounds, but that sack was built upon an early, smaller limit. The following three photos are of one of his early keepers.

An early keeper for KVD on Day One.

VanDam brings the keeper to his boat.

VanDam unhooks his keeper.

VanDam boats another early keeper.

In case you didn’t believe us that it was cold, here is proof.

VanDam adds to his early limit, which came in at about 10 pounds.

Gerald Swindle fishes a rock point early on Friday morning. 

Much to these fans’ dismay, Swindle did not have a good morning.

Somewhere back there is Michael Iaconelli.

Iaconelli and local Jason Christie were battling for the most fish and most spectators for most of the morning. 

Iaconelli followed the signs to an early lead, catching all of his bass on docks before 10 a.m.

Iaconelli casts around a dock.

All of Iaconelli’s early limit came from the same group of docks.

Iaconelli works his way between the dock and the shoreline. 

Anglers fishing the Classic have to adjust to the media and spectator attention.

 Iaconelli hooks up. The next three photos highlight that catch.

Iaconelli hooks up with another bass. He had caught 10 by 10 a.m., but had trouble improving on his limit.

ESPN cameramen were with Iaconelli all morning, gathering footage for the TV show March 2-3 on ESPN2.

The estimate on the number of boats following Jason Christie was somewhere between 40 and 50.
 

Christie, like many of the anglers Friday morning, was fishing docks.

Christie was moving frequently, which created quite a situation when you consider how many boats were following him.

Chrisite settles into a new spot. 

And so does Christie’s flotilla. 

Mike Iaconelli blows the ice gathered on the line in his reel. 

Spectators boat surround local Oklahoma favorite Jason Christie. 

Christie makes a move and so do all his spectator boats. 

Christie didn’t stay in one place very long. 

Christie makes a cast at his next stop.

A few casts and Christie and his armada were on the move again.

The double burner stove in this spectator boat had to feel good on a very cold Day One.

Christie makes a stop on a steep rocky point. 

Matt Lee was having a very tough Day One, with only one keeper in the live well late in the day.

Lee hooks up with his second fish of the day. 

Lee gets a grip on the keeper.

Lee safely brings the fish aboard his boat.

Brian Mason captures Lee’s fish catch for Bassmaster television. 

Lee uses his pliers to free the hooks from the bass.

Both the camera man and the fishermen were happy Lee boated another fish. 

Lee picks up his rod and gets back to work.

With less than an hour to fish and only two fish in the live well, Lee felt he could still catch a five fish limit.

Lee’s boat is equipped with plenty of Lowrance electronics. 

Lee fires another cast with a jerkbait.

Brian Mason keeps his camera pointed at Matt Lee.

Hank Cherry is pulled from the water after fishing Day One of his first Bassmaster Classic.

The first flight of boats begins to return to the launch area.

Anglers begin to arrive at the boat ramp at the end of Day One.

Kevin VanDam loads his boat for the trip to Tulsa. 

Edwin Evers and Russ Lane check in at the end of the day.

Kevin VanDam tells his driver to stop so he can sign a cap for a young fishing fan.

Mike Iaconelli, Brandon Palaniuk and Alton Jones take a few moments to work on their tackle before loading their boats.

Ott Defoe stows his gear at the end of the day. 

A team of photographers from Japan followed Kevin VanDam early on Day One.

VanDam dips his rod in the water to clear the ice from the guides on his rod.

VanDam had a five fish limit at 9:30 a.m. on Day One.

Gerald Swindle fishes a riprap wall under a highway bridge.

Spectators kept a courteous distance from the pros they followed on Day One.