Alabama River action

The Opens anglers fight the elements on a very wet Day 2 on the Alabama River.

Once again anglers were forced to start their fishing day wearing rain gear.
Once again anglers were forced to start their fishing day wearing rain gear.
Fishing in the rain is full of distractions and hard to keep out of your head…and your eyes.
Fishing in the rain is full of distractions and hard to keep out of your head…and your eyes.
But Kendall Newson has fished in the rain before and was firing away.
But Kendall Newson has fished in the rain before and was firing away.
Even the herons were scratching their head about all this Day 2 rainfall.
Even the herons were scratching their head about all this Day 2 rainfall.
Newson started the day with a lot of work to do. He finished the first day of fishing back in 137th place with 4 pounds, 11 ounces.
Newson started the day with a lot of work to do. He finished the first day of fishing back in 137th place with 4 pounds, 11 ounces.
Jim Dillard and his co-angler don’t look all that happy with the way the day started.
Jim Dillard and his co-angler don’t look all that happy with the way the day started.
But that didn’t deter them from their mission.
But that didn’t deter them from their mission.
Golf or fishing? Everybody has to have a passion.
Golf or fishing? Everybody has to have a passion.
The anatomy of a long cast with Stephen Browning. First you wind up…
The anatomy of a long cast with Stephen Browning. First you wind up…
…throw it as hard as you can…
…throw it as hard as you can…
…watch the bait fly through the air towards it’s intended target…
…watch the bait fly through the air towards it’s intended target…
…and fall slowly to the water.
…and fall slowly to the water.
Then repeat hundreds of times a day.
Then repeat hundreds of times a day.
On the opposite of the river from Browning was Jordan Lee.
On the opposite of the river from Browning was Jordan Lee.
And to Browning’s left he could see Shaw Grigsby.
And to Browning’s left he could see Shaw Grigsby.
Jordan Lee was fighting through all the heavy cover along this stretch of river bank.
Jordan Lee was fighting through all the heavy cover along this stretch of river bank.
Just break it off and snatch up another rod, and keep fishing.
Just break it off and snatch up another rod, and keep fishing.
Lee must have some fish in the live well early, he appears to be checking on them…
Lee must have some fish in the live well early, he appears to be checking on them…
…before making a move.
…before making a move.
A few hundred yards from where Jordan Lee was fishing, we found his brother Matt.
A few hundred yards from where Jordan Lee was fishing, we found his brother Matt.
Matt Jordan’s co-angler, Doug Davis hooks up with a fish.
Matt Jordan’s co-angler, Doug Davis hooks up with a fish.
Davis brings the fish around the motor…
Davis brings the fish around the motor…
…and swings it into the boat…
…and swings it into the boat…
…and quickly places the fish in the live well.
…and quickly places the fish in the live well.
We found David Walker grinding away on the opposite of the river from Matt Lee.
We found David Walker grinding away on the opposite of the river from Matt Lee.
And speeding upriver past Walker was…
And speeding upriver past Walker was…
…Elite Series pro David Williams.
…Elite Series pro David Williams.
Walker changes rods to try a different bait.
Walker changes rods to try a different bait.
Obviously a good call, he has a Coosa River spot flopping around on the deck of his boat.
Obviously a good call, he has a Coosa River spot flopping around on the deck of his boat.
And they are reputed to be some of the wildest bass a man will ever catch.
And they are reputed to be some of the wildest bass a man will ever catch.
This one was no different, Walker was having a heckuva time getting this fish under control.
This one was no different, Walker was having a heckuva time getting this fish under control.
Walker was like, come on man!
Walker was like, come on man!
This fish was just downright unruly.
This fish was just downright unruly.
But in the end Walker finally won the battle.
But in the end Walker finally won the battle.
This fish deserved a bit of solitary confinement…
This fish deserved a bit of solitary confinement…
…in Walker’s live well.
…in Walker’s live well.
Every time Walker reaches into his storage compartment he is reminded of his two sweet little girls back home.
Every time Walker reaches into his storage compartment he is reminded of his two sweet little girls back home.
Time to thread on a  new bug.
Time to thread on a new bug.
Casey Ashley was sneaking around off the main river, maybe trying to avoid those wild spotted bass and catch a largemouth.
Casey Ashley was sneaking around off the main river, maybe trying to avoid those wild spotted bass and catch a largemouth.
This was a nice little spot to avoid being spotted by his fellow competitors.
This was a nice little spot to avoid being spotted by his fellow competitors.
The 2014 Bassmaster Classic champion was fishing slow and methodically.
The 2014 Bassmaster Classic champion was fishing slow and methodically.
Just down river we found another previous Classic champion, Chris Lane.
Just down river we found another previous Classic champion, Chris Lane.
Lane said there should have been a spotted bass on this gravel bar. There wasn’t.
Lane said there should have been a spotted bass on this gravel bar. There wasn’t.
Chad Morgenthaler ran past Chris Lane…
Chad Morgenthaler ran past Chris Lane…
…followed closely by Casey Ashley.
…followed closely by Casey Ashley.
Good call on the motorcycle helmet, Casey. That rain stings your face running 70 miles per hour.
Good call on the motorcycle helmet, Casey. That rain stings your face running 70 miles per hour.
Lane decides to deep crank for a few minutes…
Lane decides to deep crank for a few minutes…
…but just a very few. He said the spotted bass weren’t biting and he was going largemouth fishing.
…but just a very few. He said the spotted bass weren’t biting and he was going largemouth fishing.
He moved to some backwater in a creek…
He moved to some backwater in a creek…
…and obviously made the right call. That’s why he’s a Classic champion and won the first Elite Series event on the Sabine River…by making the right decisions.
…and obviously made the right call. That’s why he’s a Classic champion and won the first Elite Series event on the Sabine River…by making the right decisions.