Elite: Day 1 on Dardanelle

B.A.S.S. photographer James Overstreet catches up with the Elite Series anglers as they take on Lake Dardanelle.

Arkansas native Scott Rook has a storied tournament history on the Arkansas River.
Arkansas native Scott Rook has a storied tournament history on the Arkansas River.
Randy Howell said he had about 14 pounds in the livewell but was aggravated about just losing a 5-pounder.
Randy Howell said he had about 14 pounds in the livewell but was aggravated about just losing a 5-pounder.
Jeremy Starks makes a pitch into shallow grass.
Jeremy Starks makes a pitch into shallow grass.
On the resulting hookset, Starks broke off a fish he said was over 5 pounds.
On the resulting hookset, Starks broke off a fish he said was over 5 pounds.
Keith Poche was pitching and flipping shallow cover.
Keith Poche was pitching and flipping shallow cover.
Casey Scanlon fishes the back of a large flat.
Casey Scanlon fishes the back of a large flat.
Fletcher Shryock idles out of the shallows.
Fletcher Shryock idles out of the shallows.
Cliff Crotchet comes off plane to idle under one of the many bridges on Lake Dardanelle.
Cliff Crotchet comes off plane to idle under one of the many bridges on Lake Dardanelle.
Timmy Horton fishes in sight of the nuclear plant on Dardanelle.
Timmy Horton fishes in sight of the nuclear plant on Dardanelle.
Rick Morris makes a cast under the bridge. The next few photos show the fight with a fish that would ultimately never make it in the boat.
Rick Morris makes a cast under the bridge. The next few photos show the fight with a fish that would ultimately never make it in the boat.
David Walker speeds to his next fishing location.
David Walker speeds to his next fishing location.
Dean Rojas had a 2nd place finish the last time the Elite Series visited Lake Dardanelle.
Dean Rojas had a 2nd place finish the last time the Elite Series visited Lake Dardanelle.
Rojas was covering a lot of water.
Rojas was covering a lot of water.
Some of the more popular bridges became crowded with anglers.
Some of the more popular bridges became crowded with anglers.
David Walker makes a pitch with a drop bait.
David Walker makes a pitch with a drop bait.
Scott Ashmore hooks up with a bass.
Scott Ashmore hooks up with a bass.
Ashmore swings a small fish into the boat.
Ashmore swings a small fish into the boat.
David Walker picks a piece of cover apart.
David Walker picks a piece of cover apart.
Keith Combs makes a cast to a riprap wall.
Keith Combs makes a cast to a riprap wall.
Hank Cherry had photographers in the front and back of him at one point.
Hank Cherry had photographers in the front and back of him at one point.
Aaron Martens idles under a bridge to make a move.
Aaron Martens idles under a bridge to make a move.
Hank Cherry ducks down to troll under the same bridge.
Hank Cherry ducks down to troll under the same bridge.
Martens said some of the best spots were crowded with competitors.
Martens said some of the best spots were crowded with competitors.
Boyd Duckett won the 2007 Legends event held on Lake Dardanelle.
Boyd Duckett won the 2007 Legends event held on Lake Dardanelle.
Justin Lucas
Justin Lucas
Lucas fires a cast.
Lucas fires a cast.
Mark Davis said he had four small fish in the livewell early on Day 1.
Mark Davis said he had four small fish in the livewell early on Day 1.
Davis described his morning of fishing as ‘tough.’
Davis described his morning of fishing as ‘tough.’
Davis currently leads the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points race by 42 points over 2nd place contender Jared Lintner.
Davis currently leads the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points race by 42 points over 2nd place contender Jared Lintner.