Elites on the bay

Day 1 on the water shots from the AOY Championships on Sturgeon Bay.

Marty Robinson blows through waves headed north on Green Bay on Day 1 of the AOY Championship at Sturgeon Bay.
Marty Robinson blows through waves headed north on Green Bay on Day 1 of the AOY Championship at Sturgeon Bay.
The wind wasn't strong early, but was still stout enough to create a bumpy ride.
The wind wasn’t strong early, but was still stout enough to create a bumpy ride.
Robinson would set up shop in one of the bays off of Green Bay, north of Sturgeon Bay.
Robinson would set up shop in one of the bays off of Green Bay, north of Sturgeon Bay.
Mostly cloudy skies highlighted the day.
Mostly cloudy skies highlighted the day.
And it didn't take long for Robinson to hook up.
And it didn’t take long for Robinson to hook up.
And get his first smallmouth keeper to the side of the boat.
And get his first smallmouth keeper to the side of the boat.
The hefty smallmouth would anchor Robinson's day.
The hefty smallmouth would anchor Robinson’s day.
This would be the first of three keepers that would give him 9 pounds, 11 ounces.
This would be the first of three keepers that would give him 9 pounds, 11 ounces.
And put him in 32nd place after Day 1 action.
And put him in 32nd place after Day 1 action.
It wasn't what he was hoping for, but it was enough to move him up two spots in the AOY standings from 37th to 35th.
It wasn’t what he was hoping for, but it was enough to move him up two spots in the AOY standings from 37th to 35th.
Nearby, Gerald Swindle would be working trying to move from the first man out of the Classic, into the standings.
Nearby, Gerald Swindle would be working trying to move from the first man out of the Classic, into the standings.
Swindle's demeanor was as a very determined angler.
Swindle’s demeanor was as a very determined angler.
He moved around a lot.
He moved around a lot.
Sometimes he was shallow.
Sometimes he was shallow.
Other times he went deep.
Other times he went deep.
He always wore a face of determination.
He always wore a face of determination.
While it took him longer to get bit.
While it took him longer to get bit.
He did catch his first keeper within the first two hours of the morning.
He did catch his first keeper within the first two hours of the morning.
This one would hit the scales at 2 pounds plus.
This one would hit the scales at 2 pounds plus.
And he would quickly get back to work.
And he would quickly get back to work.
Putting his back into casts at times.
Putting his back into casts at times.
Moving his bait in sprays of water.
Moving his bait in sprays of water.
And sending it on long casts.
And sending it on long casts.
His second keeper would come on one of those long casts.
His second keeper would come on one of those long casts.
A jump and a splash in front of the boat.
A jump and a splash in front of the boat.
And Swindle quickly got a handle on the 3-pound plus smallmouth.
And Swindle quickly got a handle on the 3-pound plus smallmouth.
This fish would be his second and give him almost 6 pounds.
This fish would be his second and give him almost 6 pounds.
After the catch, he felt like he was keyed into how to catch more.
After the catch, he felt like he was keyed into how to catch more.
But first he had to shed some clothes, making it look like he was covered up and lost.
But first he had to shed some clothes, making it look like he was covered up and lost.
But a quick head poke through his jersey.
But a quick head poke through his jersey.
And he was back up and casting again.
And he was back up and casting again.
The fish, though, wouldn't cooperate, and he had to move, passing Kevin VanDam in the process.
The fish, though, wouldn’t cooperate, and he had to move, passing Kevin VanDam in the process.
On his next stop, he explains to the
On his next stop, he explains to the “Bassmaster Live” audience what he thinks the fish are doing.
VanDam works quietly nearby and neither were catching anything.
VanDam works quietly nearby and neither were catching anything.
Swindle would move off shore.
Swindle would move off shore.
Working hard to cover as much water as he could.
Working hard to cover as much water as he could.
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...and making long casts.
…and making long casts.
One one of his moves, he moved near Skeet Reese.
One one of his moves, he moved near Skeet Reese.
The two commiserated on the tough conditions.
The two commiserated on the tough conditions.
Reese would continue down the bank, looking for smallmouth that had become very elusive.
Reese would continue down the bank, looking for smallmouth that had become very elusive.
Reese would finish the day with only one keeper. But his previous work has him locked into the Classic.
Reese would finish the day with only one keeper. But his previous work has him locked into the Classic.
Out in Green Bay, Brandon Coulter would be searching for bigger bites.
Out in Green Bay, Brandon Coulter would be searching for bigger bites.
He started the event in 39th in the AOY standings, and like the others was having trouble finding keepers.
He started the event in 39th in the AOY standings, and like the others was having trouble finding keepers.
By midday, the waves were building on the lake.
By midday, the waves were building on the lake.
The constant rollers would occasionally wash over the bow.
The constant rollers would occasionally wash over the bow.
Steve Kennedy would be working the bank.
Steve Kennedy would be working the bank.
Where a tattered flag was testament to the strong winds.
Where a tattered flag was testament to the strong winds.
Brandon Card would be searching for his first keeper. He finished the day with the only zero.
Brandon Card would be searching for his first keeper. He finished the day with the only zero.
And Alton Jones, who only needed to catch a single keeper to get in the Classic, caught it on his first cast of the morning. And had built a limit by midday.
And Alton Jones, who only needed to catch a single keeper to get in the Classic, caught it on his first cast of the morning. And had built a limit by midday.
After making a long run, Swindle returned to his early morning starting spot.
After making a long run, Swindle returned to his early morning starting spot.
He had not been able to add a third keeper. But continued to work.
He had not been able to add a third keeper. But continued to work.
And make adjustments.
And make adjustments.
Late in the day, he moved to a busy area.
Late in the day, he moved to a busy area.
Where boat wakes crashed against his boat.
Where boat wakes crashed against his boat.
He would add his third keeper in this area.
He would add his third keeper in this area.
It would give him more than 8 pounds total.
It would give him more than 8 pounds total.
With a renewed determination, he would continue to work.
With a renewed determination, he would continue to work.
By by the time he had to leave he was scratching his head. His catch dropped him from 41st place in the AOY standings to 44th, just five points from being into the Classic.
By by the time he had to leave he was scratching his head. His catch dropped him from 41st place in the AOY standings to 44th, just five points from being into the Classic.
Brandon Coulter would continue to work the area. He caught 8-11 on the day, but it dropped him from 39th to 40th in the AOY standings.
Brandon Coulter would continue to work the area. He caught 8-11 on the day, but it dropped him from 39th to 40th in the AOY standings.