Mercury College B.A.S.S. West Super Regional Day One

Photos from Day One of the Mercury College B.A.S.S. West Super Regional Day One

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<p> The Frenette brothers load up their back compartment with ice on what was predicted to be a sweltering day.</p>
The Frenette brothers load up their back compartment with ice on what was predicted to be a sweltering day.
<p> Boats gather at the Lake Dardanelle State Park for the 2011 Mercury College Bass West Super Regional.</p>
Boats gather at the Lake Dardanelle State Park for the 2011 Mercury College Bass West Super Regional.
<p> Trevor Parks and Chase Edmiston wait as the first boat to leave the dock on Day One.</p>
Trevor Parks and Chase Edmiston wait as the first boat to leave the dock on Day One.
<p> Anglers stand along the line-up for boat check early on Thursday.</p>
Anglers stand along the line-up for boat check early on Thursday.
<p> In preparation for a hot and sunny day, anglers applied liberal amounts of sunscreen.</p>
In preparation for a hot and sunny day, anglers applied liberal amounts of sunscreen.
<p> The mayfly hatch was going strong at the take-off for Day One.</p>
The mayfly hatch was going strong at the take-off for Day One.
<p> The first boat takes off onto Lake Dardanelle to get the West Super Regional started.</p>
The first boat takes off onto Lake Dardanelle to get the West Super Regional started.
<p> Boats idle past inspection before blasting off to start their day.</p>
Boats idle past inspection before blasting off to start their day.
<p> On a college budget, push poles are a luxury, leading this team to fashion a stick for the same purpose.</p>
On a college budget, push poles are a luxury, leading this team to fashion a stick for the same purpose.
<p> The last few boats idle past the dock at the Lake Dardanelle State Park on Day One.</p>
The last few boats idle past the dock at the Lake Dardanelle State Park on Day One.
<p> Former National Champions at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Trent Gephardt and Brian Duckett make a cast early on Thursday.</p>
Former National Champions at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Trent Gephardt and Brian Duckett make a cast early on Thursday.
<p> A few small spotted bass made their way into the boat, but the morning was slow for Gephardt and Duckett.</p>
A few small spotted bass made their way into the boat, but the morning was slow for Gephardt and Duckett.
<p> The team from Southern Illinois University works under a bridge on Thursday.</p>
The team from Southern Illinois University works under a bridge on Thursday.
<p> Bryan Partak reacts as a fish jumps free from his bait.</p>
Bryan Partak reacts as a fish jumps free from his bait.
<p> Partak pulls up the trolling motor to make a move across the lake with two keepers in the well.</p>
Partak pulls up the trolling motor to make a move across the lake with two keepers in the well.
<p> Teams came from surrounding states to compete for a chance to qualify for the National Championship in July.</p>
Teams came from surrounding states to compete for a chance to qualify for the National Championship in July.
<p> A team fishes along one of the many bridges on Lake Dardanelle.</p>
A team fishes along one of the many bridges on Lake Dardanelle.
<p> Mook Miller and Kyle Billingsley from Arkansas had one keeper in the boat early on Thursday.</p>
Mook Miller and Kyle Billingsley from Arkansas had one keeper in the boat early on Thursday.
<p> Miller sets the hook, but nothing was there.</p>
Miller sets the hook, but nothing was there.
<p> Billingsley makes a cast during the early morning hours of Day One. </p>
Billingsley makes a cast during the early morning hours of Day One. 
<p> A team from Henderson State pulled up near the Arkansas boys and started fishing a bridge.</p>
A team from Henderson State pulled up near the Arkansas boys and started fishing a bridge.
<p> Miller swings a nice largemouth into the boat that he caught Thursday morning.</p>
Miller swings a nice largemouth into the boat that he caught Thursday morning.
<p> Miller grabs the bass and attempts to retrieve his bait.</p>
Miller grabs the bass and attempts to retrieve his bait.
<p> All largemouth must measure at least 15 inches in length to be considered a keeper.</p>
All largemouth must measure at least 15 inches in length to be considered a keeper.
<p> Unfortunately for the team from Arkansas, this fish was just a hair short of the line and had to be thrown back.</p>
Unfortunately for the team from Arkansas, this fish was just a hair short of the line and had to be thrown back.
<p> Cody Fuller works a bridge piling early on Day One of the West Super Regional.</p>
Cody Fuller works a bridge piling early on Day One of the West Super Regional.
<p> Fuller and Bechtel, from Oklahoma State University, work off the front deck in tandem to best cover water.</p>
Fuller and Bechtel, from Oklahoma State University, work off the front deck in tandem to best cover water.