Day One on the water II

No pro seemed empty-handed today on the Mississippi River, at least not in front of our photographers.

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<p>Bobby Lane started the morning fishing shallow willow bushes. </p>
Bobby Lane started the morning fishing shallow willow bushes. 
<p>Lane boats his first fish of the day. </p>
Lane boats his first fish of the day. 
<p>Charlie Hartley reaches for his flipping stick. </p>
Charlie Hartley reaches for his flipping stick. 
<p>Hartley pitches a bait to the exposed roots of a tree. </p>
Hartley pitches a bait to the exposed roots of a tree. 
<p>Hartley changed baits and immediately hooks up with a fish. </p>
Hartley changed baits and immediately hooks up with a fish. 
<p>Hartley kneels in an attempt to slowly wear the fish down. </p>
Hartley kneels in an attempt to slowly wear the fish down. 
<p>With this splash the fish was gone. </p>
With this splash the fish was gone. 
<p>Wisconsinis Green Bay Packer territory. </p>
Wisconsinis Green Bay Packer territory. 
<p>Dave Smith was fishing an area he had success in last year. </p>
Dave Smith was fishing an area he had success in last year. 
<p>Smith was fishing the piers supporting a railroad bridge. </p>
Smith was fishing the piers supporting a railroad bridge. 
<p>Brandon Palaniuk moves upstream against the strong current on the Mississippi River. </p>
Brandon Palaniuk moves upstream against the strong current on the Mississippi River. 
<p>After repositioning his boat, Palaniuk fires a cast with a crankbait. </p>
After repositioning his boat, Palaniuk fires a cast with a crankbait. 
<p>Palaniuk targets a tree that has drifted against an island point. </p>
Palaniuk targets a tree that has drifted against an island point. 
<p>His line goes limp as he loses a fish. </p>
His line goes limp as he loses a fish. 
<p>On the next cast he hooks up with another fish. </p>
On the next cast he hooks up with another fish. 
<p>Unfortunately, the fish was a drum. </p>
Unfortunately, the fish was a drum. 
<p>A huge barge makes its way upstream on the Mississippi River near Lacrosse, WI. </p>
A huge barge makes its way upstream on the Mississippi River near Lacrosse, WI. 
<p>Russ Lane makes a move past the barge on his way down river. </p>
Russ Lane makes a move past the barge on his way down river. 
<p>Paul Elias makes a cast to a dead willow tree. </p>
Paul Elias makes a cast to a dead willow tree. 
<p>We don’t know if Elias is indicating he has a five-fish limit, or just saying hello. </p>
We don’t know if Elias is indicating he has a five-fish limit, or just saying hello. 
<p>Scott Ashmore idles out of one of the huge grass flats in the backwaters of the Mississippi River. </p>
Scott Ashmore idles out of one of the huge grass flats in the backwaters of the Mississippi River. 
<p>Takahiro Omori fishes in sight of one of the tall bluffs that line the main river channel. </p>
Takahiro Omori fishes in sight of one of the tall bluffs that line the main river channel. 
<p>Fred Roumbanis was fishing in the slop on a grass flat. </p>
Fred Roumbanis was fishing in the slop on a grass flat. 
<p>Dean Rojas moves to the back of the boat to finish the fight with a fish. </p>
Dean Rojas moves to the back of the boat to finish the fight with a fish. 
<p>After a brief battle, Rojas begins to lift the fish from the water. </p>
After a brief battle, Rojas begins to lift the fish from the water. 
<p>Rojas lands a nice keeper largemouth.</p>
Rojas lands a nice keeper largemouth.
<p>Rojas places the fish in the livewell.</p>
Rojas places the fish in the livewell.
<p>After culling, Rojas was quickly fighting another fish to the boat.</p>
After culling, Rojas was quickly fighting another fish to the boat.
<p> Rojas pulls the fish along to the back of the boat.</p>
 Rojas pulls the fish along to the back of the boat.
<p>Rojas boats another fish.</p>
Rojas boats another fish.
<p>After a couple more casts, Rojas was hooked up again.</p>
After a couple more casts, Rojas was hooked up again.
<p>The fish manages to come free from the hooks and Rojas’ crankbait flies from the water.</p>
The fish manages to come free from the hooks and Rojas’ crankbait flies from the water.
<p>Bill Lowen fishes behind a wing dam off the main river channel.</p>
Bill Lowen fishes behind a wing dam off the main river channel.
<p>Lowen connects with a fish.</p>
Lowen connects with a fish.
<p>Lowen pulls the fish from the cover of a log along the shoreline.</p>
Lowen pulls the fish from the cover of a log along the shoreline.
<p>Lowen pulls the fish aboard his boat.</p>
Lowen pulls the fish aboard his boat.
<p>Lowen was quickly hooked back up with another bass.</p>
Lowen was quickly hooked back up with another bass.
<p>Lowen puts another fish in the boat.</p>
Lowen puts another fish in the boat.