Day One on the water II

Photographer Seigo Saito follows the Elites on the Alabama River on Day One of the Evan Williams Bourbon All-Star Finals.

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	Mike Iaconelli works an area near the take-off in downtown Montgomery early on Friday.</p>
 

Mike Iaconelli works an area near the take-off in downtown Montgomery early on Friday.

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	Iaconelli rears back to set the hook as a cameraman films his day.</p>
 

Iaconelli rears back to set the hook as a cameraman films his day.

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	Spinning rod loading up, Mike Iaconelli makes another cast on Day One of the Evan Williams Bourbon All-Star Championship.</p>
 

Spinning rod loading up, Mike Iaconelli makes another cast on Day One of the Evan Williams Bourbon All-Star Championship.

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	A crowd gathered to watch the take-off and got to watch Mike Iaconelli in action.</p>
 

A crowd gathered to watch the take-off and got to watch Mike Iaconelli in action.

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	After catching most of his fish close to the downtown area two years ago, Iaconelli gave it a chance again on Friday.</p>
 

After catching most of his fish close to the downtown area two years ago, Iaconelli gave it a chance again on Friday.

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	Mike Iaconelli patiently works his finesse bait through the strike zone.</p>
 

Mike Iaconelli patiently works his finesse bait through the strike zone.

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	Iaconelli fishes some man-made structure on the Alabama River as a crowd of spectators watch from above.</p>
 

Iaconelli fishes some man-made structure on the Alabama River as a crowd of spectators watch from above.

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	Mike Iaconelli, matched up against Ott Defoe, is all focus early.</p>
 

Mike Iaconelli, matched up against Ott Defoe, is all focus early.

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	Top seeded Casey Ashley was working a backwater area successfully on Day One of the Evan Williams Bourbon All-Star Championship.</p>
 

Top seeded Casey Ashley was working a backwater area successfully on Day One of the Evan Williams Bourbon All-Star Championship.

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	Ashley makes a cast near some of the shoreline cover visible on the Alabama River.</p>
 

Ashley makes a cast near some of the shoreline cover visible on the Alabama River.

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	Ashley sets the hook on what appears to be a solid keeper.</p>
 

Ashley sets the hook on what appears to be a solid keeper.

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	Casey Ashley swings this keeper into the boat early on Friday morning.</p>
 

Casey Ashley swings this keeper into the boat early on Friday morning.

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	Terry Scroggins is working a bank down the river.</p>
 

Terry Scroggins is working a bank down the river.

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	Scroggins swings a keeper into the boat as he tries to best Gerald Swindle in their head-to-head matchup.</p>
 

Scroggins swings a keeper into the boat as he tries to best Gerald Swindle in their head-to-head matchup.

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	Terry Scroggins grabs the fish and moves back to his livewell as a camera films the action.</p>
Terry Scroggins grabs the fish and moves back to his livewell as a camera films the action.
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	Scroggins loads up his rod to bomb another cast out on the Alabama River.</p>
 

Scroggins loads up his rod to bomb another cast out on the Alabama River.

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	Scroggins fishes as Kevin VanDam commentates to Mark Zona.</p>
 

Scroggins fishes as Kevin VanDam commentates to Mark Zona.

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	Water flies off his reel as Scroggins makes another cast early on Friday.</p>
 

Water flies off his reel as Scroggins makes another cast early on Friday.

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	Edwin Evers fishes back in a scenic backwater on the Alabama River.</p>
 

Edwin Evers fishes back in a scenic backwater on the Alabama River.

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	Edwin Evers makes a pitch to shallow cover early on Day One of the Evan Williams Bourbon All-Star Championship.</p>
 

Edwin Evers makes a pitch to shallow cover early on Day One of the Evan Williams Bourbon All-Star Championship.

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	Evers methodically picks apart all the wood he can find.</p>
 

Evers methodically picks apart all the wood he can find.

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	His rod bends almost all the way around as Evers makes another cast.</p>
 

His rod bends almost all the way around as Evers makes another cast.

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	Edwin Evers fishes shallow cover as he tries to find enough bass to take down Alabama resident Aaron Martens in their match.</p>
 

Edwin Evers fishes shallow cover as he tries to find enough bass to take down Alabama resident Aaron Martens in their match.

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	Be careful when fishing around trees like this.</p>
 

Be careful when fishing around trees like this.

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	A horde of boats fish and watch anglers fish on the Alabama River.</p>
 

A horde of boats fish and watch anglers fish on the Alabama River.

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	Aaron Martens fishes under some big trees as a camerman films his day on the water.</p>
 

Aaron Martens fishes under some big trees as a camerman films his day on the water.

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	Martens skillfully pitches and flips to cover in this backwater area.</p>
 

Martens skillfully pitches and flips to cover in this backwater area.

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	Martens lowers his rod tip to execute another of the underhand casts.</p>
 

Martens lowers his rod tip to execute another of the underhand casts.

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	Aaron Martens flicks a cast up against the bank as he battles Edwin Evers to advance to the second round.</p>
 

Aaron Martens flicks a cast up against the bank as he battles Edwin Evers to advance to the second round.

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	Martens and his cameraman smile as competition continues in the Evan Williams Bourbon All-Star Championship.</p>
 

Martens and his cameraman smile as competition continues in the Evan Williams Bourbon All-Star Championship.

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	Gerald Swindle is partially obscured by the high reeds he fishes along.</p>
 

Gerald Swindle is partially obscured by the high reeds he fishes along.

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	Swindle tries his hand at shallow water fishing for a short time on Day One.</p>
 

Swindle tries his hand at shallow water fishing for a short time on Day One.

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	Swindle pitches at some shoreline grass.</p>
 

Swindle pitches at some shoreline grass.

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	Swindle sets the hook on some grass.</p>
 

Swindle sets the hook on some grass.

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	After a fruitless few minutes, Gerald Swindle pulls up the trolling motor to make a move.</p>
 

After a fruitless few minutes, Gerald Swindle pulls up the trolling motor to make a move.

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	Skeet Reese uses a lure retriever to get his bait back.</p>
 

Skeet Reese uses a lure retriever to get his bait back.

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	A cameraman watches as Reese bombs another cast out on the Alabama River.</p>
 

A cameraman watches as Reese bombs another cast out on the Alabama River.

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	A bass tries to jump free as Skeet Reese reels it carefully to the boat.</p>
A bass tries to jump free as Skeet Reese reels it carefully to the boat.
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	His rod loads up under the weight of his crankbait as Skeet Reese makes another cast.</p>
 

His rod loads up under the weight of his crankbait as Skeet Reese makes another cast.

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	He quickly hooks up with another fish.</p>
 

He quickly hooks up with another fish.

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	Reese and his cameraman both take time to drink some water on a steamy hot Alabama afternoon.</p>
 

Reese and his cameraman both take time to drink some water on a steamy hot Alabama afternoon.

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	A spectator boat lets out a cheer as they watch their favorite anglers at Toyota Trucks All-Star Week.</p>
 

A spectator boat lets out a cheer as they watch their favorite anglers at Toyota Trucks All-Star Week.

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	Cows line the shady shores of the Alabama River, seeking some relief from the summer heat.</p>
 

Cows line the shady shores of the Alabama River, seeking some relief from the summer heat.

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	A boat lies half sunken near the banks of the river, but the American flag still flies proudly from its rusty deck.</p>
 

A boat lies half sunken near the banks of the river, but the American flag still flies proudly from its rusty deck.