Round 2 from Lake Erie

Anglers head out on Lake Erie for Day 2 of the final Northern Open of the 2015 season.
Anglers head out on Lake Erie for Day 2 of the final Northern Open of the 2015 season.
Sam George heads out for Day 2 on Lake Erie.
Sam George heads out for Day 2 on Lake Erie.
There have been some awesome sunrises here during takeoff this week.
There have been some awesome sunrises here during takeoff this week.
We headed out in search of the Day 1 leader, David Reault, but we found Adrian Avena during our search.
We headed out in search of the Day 1 leader, David Reault, but we found Adrian Avena during our search.
Avena and Al Farace were sharing water to start the morning.
Avena and Al Farace were sharing water to start the morning.
Avena watched his electronics until he saw fish on the graph to drop towards.
Avena watched his electronics until he saw fish on the graph to drop towards.
He flips out his dropshot.
He flips out his dropshot.
Avena hooked up with his fifth keeper of the morning just as we got there.
Avena hooked up with his fifth keeper of the morning just as we got there.
He was in talking distance of Al Farace for most of the day and they conversed during the fish catch.
He was in talking distance of Al Farace for most of the day and they conversed during the fish catch.
Avena heads to the driver seat to land his fish.
Avena heads to the driver seat to land his fish.
It was his smallest of the morning, but he knows every fish is crucial to his shot at an Elite Series invitation.
It was his smallest of the morning, but he knows every fish is crucial to his shot at an Elite Series invitation.
Got it!
Got it!
Smile for the camera Adrian!
Smile for the camera Adrian!
Back to fishing now.
Back to fishing now.
The two anglers talked as they fish around each other.
The two anglers talked as they fish around each other.
Back to fishing for Avena.
Back to fishing for Avena.
We left Avena and Farace to find the Day 1 leader.
We left Avena and Farace to find the Day 1 leader.
David Reault wasnt far away, but was still fishes this morning.
David Reault wasnt far away, but was still fishes this morning.
He battled waves at his area...
He battled waves at his area…
Before making a move.
Before making a move.
He hooked up with a possible first keeper.
He hooked up with a possible first keeper.
It jumped near the boat.
It jumped near the boat.
But it came unbuttoned near the boat.
But it came unbuttoned near the boat.
Reault headed out in search of number one still.
Reault headed out in search of number one still.
Adrian Avena races by.
Adrian Avena races by.
Reault pitches his dropshot to the depths of Lake Erie.
Reault pitches his dropshot to the depths of Lake Erie.
Reault said he could see the fish on his graph, but he definitely feels like he beat up his fish yesterday, so today could be much slower.
Reault said he could see the fish on his graph, but he definitely feels like he beat up his fish yesterday, so today could be much slower.
He knows that he will have to move around more today in hopes of boating enough fish to make the final day.
He knows that he will have to move around more today in hopes of boating enough fish to make the final day.
Time for a spot change.
Time for a spot change.
Reault not only battled fish, but also the waves on his areas.
Reault not only battled fish, but also the waves on his areas.
The battle continues...
The battle continues…
As waves come over the front of the Michigan anglers boat. We left him at 10:30 to search for others who could be catching some fish.
As waves come over the front of the Michigan anglers boat. We left him at 10:30 to search for others who could be catching some fish.
Greg Dipalma was hooked up as we approached.
Greg Dipalma was hooked up as we approached.
Dipalma caught 19-14 on Day 1 and had a good shot at a Top 12 if he could do it again.
Dipalma caught 19-14 on Day 1 and had a good shot at a Top 12 if he could do it again.
Time to meet the smallmouth he has been battling.
Time to meet the smallmouth he has been battling.
Dipalma brings aboard a good smallmouth.
Dipalma brings aboard a good smallmouth.
He had 19-14 after Day 1 yesterday and was flirting with the Top 20.
He had 19-14 after Day 1 yesterday and was flirting with the Top 20.
Dipalma was culling with that fish.
Dipalma was culling with that fish.
Dipalma was utilizing his electronics as well. He could see them on his spot and once he saw them, it seemed he could get bit on every other drop.
Dipalma was utilizing his electronics as well. He could see them on his spot and once he saw them, it seemed he could get bit on every other drop.
Hooked up again.
Hooked up again.
This one surfaces, but tries to head back to the depths.
This one surfaces, but tries to head back to the depths.
Here comes the interesting part.
Here comes the interesting part.
Fierce battle at the boat.
Fierce battle at the boat.
Although the smallmouth tries to evade him...
Although the smallmouth tries to evade him…
Dipalma stayed calm during the fight.
Dipalma stayed calm during the fight.
And it jumped again.
And it jumped again.
It is done fighting now.
It is done fighting now.
And Dipalma scoops it up.
And Dipalma scoops it up.
Time to get a weight on that fish.
Time to get a weight on that fish.
Dipalma began to weigh his fish to see which was the next to cull.
Dipalma began to weigh his fish to see which was the next to cull.
That is a thick smallmouth.
That is a thick smallmouth.
A big ferry is coming through.
A big ferry is coming through.
It was intimidating and it's horn salute told us that we may be in its path.
It was intimidating and it’s horn salute told us that we may be in its path.
It gets pretty close to Dipalma's area.
It gets pretty close to Dipalma’s area.
Hooked up again.
Hooked up again.
It was almost every other drop for the New Jersey angler.
It was almost every other drop for the New Jersey angler.
Rough seas on Lake Erie.
Rough seas on Lake Erie.
This one was a brute.
This one was a brute.
And it wouldn't give up the fight.
And it wouldn’t give up the fight.
This one splashed Dipalma in the face and he couldn't help but laugh after the fact.
This one splashed Dipalma in the face and he couldn’t help but laugh after the fact.
He reaches deep in the water.
He reaches deep in the water.
Scoop and score.
Scoop and score.
In the boat! Dipalma wrangled another good smallmouth.
In the boat! Dipalma wrangled another good smallmouth.
Adrian Avena pulls into his next area, which isn't far from Dipalma.
Adrian Avena pulls into his next area, which isn’t far from Dipalma.
Dipalma keeps at it.
Dipalma keeps at it.
Co-angler David Adams hooks up.
Co-angler David Adams hooks up.
This one jumps as well.
This one jumps as well.
Adams keeps the fish hooked up.
Adams keeps the fish hooked up.
Adams swings in the smallie. Dipalma left his area shortly after in search of a big kicker.
Adams swings in the smallie. Dipalma left his area shortly after in search of a big kicker.
So we check out Elite Series hopeful Adrian Avena.
So we check out Elite Series hopeful Adrian Avena.
He hooks up soon after.
He hooks up soon after.
And barely keeps the fish from vaulting out of the water.
And barely keeps the fish from vaulting out of the water.
Stay down!
Stay down!
Time to land the keeper.
Time to land the keeper.
Avena escorts the smallmouth calmly to the boat.
Avena escorts the smallmouth calmly to the boat.
In the boat.
In the boat.
Solid fish for Avena.
Solid fish for Avena.
Vast expanse of Lake Erie can take a toll on your body, equipment and your mind as it can be overwhelming if you can't locate fish.
Vast expanse of Lake Erie can take a toll on your body, equipment and your mind as it can be overwhelming if you can’t locate fish.
Robert Ramasci hooks up.
Robert Ramasci hooks up.
It's a good one!
It’s a good one!
Boom! Ramasci gives a shout as he boats it.
Boom! Ramasci gives a shout as he boats it.
High five!
High five!
Avena may have been more excited for his co-angler at the moment.
Avena may have been more excited for his co-angler at the moment.
Thats a tank!
Thats a tank!
Avena hooks up.
Avena hooks up.
The Rigid Industries pro heads to the back of the boat to keep fighting the fish.
The Rigid Industries pro heads to the back of the boat to keep fighting the fish.
He gets the fish close to the boat.
He gets the fish close to the boat.
Come here smallie!
Come here smallie!
Got him.
Got him.
He thought it was a big kicker, but it did help his bag.
He thought it was a big kicker, but it did help his bag.
Time to figure out which one he needs to cull.
Time to figure out which one he needs to cull.
Both anglers are having a good day and Avena certainly feels one fish closer to the Elite Series. He notched 20 pounds, 15 ounces to finish in 20th.
Both anglers are having a good day and Avena certainly feels one fish closer to the Elite Series. He notched 20 pounds, 15 ounces to finish in 20th.