Nation: Day 1 on the Connecticut River

Competitors take on the Connecticut River in bluebird skies.

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Most of the competitors in the 2015 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Divisional started their day by idling underneath this bridge ...
Most of the competitors in the 2015 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Divisional started their day by idling underneath this bridge …
... out toward the big city of Hartford.
… out toward the big city of Hartford.
The first anglers we stumbled upon were Dino Moutgiannis of Connecticut and Brian Chadwick of Maine.
The first anglers we stumbled upon were Dino Moutgiannis of Connecticut and Brian Chadwick of Maine.
Moutgiannis had three fish in the livewell ...
Moutgiannis had three fish in the livewell …
... but Chadwick didn't have any to show.
… but Chadwick didn’t have any to show.
They had just gotten to this spot.
They had just gotten to this spot.
Chadwick had caught a couple of fish, but none were keepers.
Chadwick had caught a couple of fish, but none were keepers.
The Connecticut River is wide in places ...
The Connecticut River is wide in places …
... and Hartford's skyline looms in the background.
… and Hartford’s skyline looms in the background.
Bridges are all over this part of the river, keeping the city connected.
Bridges are all over this part of the river, keeping the city connected.
The banks are full of broken trees ...
The banks are full of broken trees …
... and laydowns.
… and laydowns.
Anyone's kid missing a toy truck? Found it!
Anyone’s kid missing a toy truck? Found it!
How about a boat? You really never know what you might see on the river, including ...
How about a boat? You really never know what you might see on the river, including …
... runners in extremely secluded areas ...
… runners in extremely secluded areas …
... barges pushing rock ...
… barges pushing rock …
... or random tables without chairs.
… or random tables without chairs.
Joe Holland's got a big one!
Joe Holland’s got a big one!
No, he's just kidding.
No, he’s just kidding.
That's just Joe Holland of Maine with his boat partner for the day, Juan Carlos Moreno of Spain.
That’s just Joe Holland of Maine with his boat partner for the day, Juan Carlos Moreno of Spain.
City traffic breezes by.
City traffic breezes by.
A barge gets a washing. The arm reaches into the river, scoops up the water ...
A barge gets a washing. The arm reaches into the river, scoops up the water …
... dumps it on the barge ...
… dumps it on the barge …
... and the sludge slides off the side.
… and the sludge slides off the side.
Jim Bianchi of New York and Ron Bestwick of Rhode Island cruise by.
Jim Bianchi of New York and Ron Bestwick of Rhode Island cruise by.
The river has several backwaters, some passable ...
The river has several backwaters, some passable …
... some not, depending on the tide.
… some not, depending on the tide.
George Barnes of Massachusetts ...
George Barnes of Massachusetts …
... and Larry MacPhail of Ontario found a good spot by accident.
… and Larry MacPhail of Ontario found a good spot by accident.
The pair stopped going south this morning when the fog got too thick.
The pair stopped going south this morning when the fog got too thick.
While they were waiting it out ...
While they were waiting it out …
... they made a few casts and caught a few fish.
… they made a few casts and caught a few fish.
It seemed like a good idea to stick around, fill their limits ...
It seemed like a good idea to stick around, fill their limits …
... and then go find something bigger.
… and then go find something bigger.
Meanwhile, other anglers keep passing them by.
Meanwhile, other anglers keep passing them by.
But they've got five in the boat by 11 a.m., so they're pretty satisfied.
But they’ve got five in the boat by 11 a.m., so they’re pretty satisfied.
Holland and Moreno pass by again ...
Holland and Moreno pass by again …
... so we catch up.
… so we catch up.
But Holland shows us we haven't missed anything.
But Holland shows us we haven’t missed anything.
We move along and find another Spanish angler, Carlos Zamorano. He's with John Lamour of Ontario.
We move along and find another Spanish angler, Carlos Zamorano. He’s with John Lamour of Ontario.
They're having a great time.
They’re having a great time.
They have a couple in the boat, but they're small.
They have a couple in the boat, but they’re small.
The two think it's pretty funny that they got a net sized perfectly for the
The two think it’s pretty funny that they got a net sized perfectly for the “Connecticut toads” they’re going to be catching.
Jutting up out of the water are some pretty serious trees.
Jutting up out of the water are some pretty serious trees.
Jim Lynch of Vermont found one that he's been attacking.
Jim Lynch of Vermont found one that he’s been attacking.
He's got a few in the boat, but his partner, Steve Castagnino of Massachusetts, has come up empty so far.
He’s got a few in the boat, but his partner, Steve Castagnino of Massachusetts, has come up empty so far.
The two keep plugging away.
The two keep plugging away.
Not too far down, we found James Knox of Vermont and Ronald Larivee of Rhode Island.
Not too far down, we found James Knox of Vermont and Ronald Larivee of Rhode Island.
Knox has three keepers. Larivee's still working on his first.
Knox has three keepers. Larivee’s still working on his first.
Heading back toward the ramp, the city is in full view ...
Heading back toward the ramp, the city is in full view …
... along with some of the city's more industrial scenery.
… along with some of the city’s more industrial scenery.
These trees got washed up here and stuck.
These trees got washed up here and stuck.
And now back to Hartford for the weigh-in!
And now back to Hartford for the weigh-in!