Daily Limit: And away we go

Bradley Roy snaps a cool shot of the line of pros behind him in Sunday's boat check line.

It’s finally here, the 2017 Bassmaster Elite Series. The season gets under way at 7:15 a.m. Thursday, when the 110 anglers launch on Tennessee’s Cherokee Lake.

It’s different from years past when the GEICO Bassmaster Classic kicked off the season. The anglers will have two Elite events before heading to Houston and Lake Conroe for the big show. Time will tell how this might affect things.

Last year, the season got off to a dramatic start when Edwin Evers rallied to win the Classic on Grand Lake. Rick Clunn added emotion with his St. Johns win at age 69, and there was excitement and drama the rest of the way. The season really had it all, including Kevin VanDam’s resurgence after a five-year victory drought.

The Day 1 launch is the beginning of a dream for the newcomers, a continuation for the veterans, but it’s the sport’s most anticipated moment. Most of us can’t wait to see just how the 2017 season unfolds. 

BOAT CHECK IS FIRST OFFICIAL BUSINESS

The Elites actually had their first official meeting on Sunday afternoon in Dandridge, Tenn.

“We call it the boat check inspection,” senior tournament official Chuck Harbin said.

While it is more of a perfunctory practice, Harbin said B.A.S.S. wants to make sure all the signage on the pros boats and jerseys are up to standards. (Some even send in photos ahead of time for review.)

Dave Lefebre did a live Facebook video of Harbin looking over his boat and jersey, and then Harbin handed out B.A.S.S. and Toyota stickers that go on each boat.

“Welcome back,” Harbin said.

“Glad to be back,” Lefebre said.

Harbin said the check began at 2 p.m. and took nearly three hours. The Elites then had a brief rules meeting and were released about the time the Super Bowl started. They’ll have another get-together on Wednesday, when the Elites take part in the official registration and meeting for Cherokee Lake.

Brian Snowden’s new wrap stands out as one of the more brightly colored.

SPEAKING OF BOAT CHECKS

Check out the new wraps! That’s what many fans enjoy – seeing the new designs and colors of their favorite pro’s new boat. Many of the pros have new color schemes and new sponsors this year.

One trend the Daily Limit noticed while looking through the 104 images (the stragglers will be photographed later) in this boat wrap gallery, was that many sported larger signage from their sponsors, making them easier to see.   

ELITES MIGHT OPEN SEASON IN SNOW

Condolences to everyone at the ramp for Day 1 at Cherokee Lake. It will be near freezing with a 40 percent chance of snow.

After heavy fog Tuesday gave way to afternoon storms, the area was expected to experience more showers on Wednesday. The temps will drop from around 49 at midnight Wednesday to around 38 at Thursday’s launch, when a “few snow showers” are forecast. It should stay cloudy and only warm to 40, but overnight lows are expected to plummet near 21.

After a chilly start, Friday looks better as it should be mostly sunny with temps pushing into the low 50s. On Saturday, clouds return and temps climb near 60. There’s more clouds Sunday with temps topping out in the upper 60s.

Jerry McKinnis, Angie Thompson, Melissa and Rick Clunn pose for a shot during Clunn’s induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

CLUNN INDUCTED IN MISSOURI HALL OF FAME

They probably just didn’t get around to nominating him. Rick Clunn, he of four Classic titles, an AOY and the first pro bass angler to accumulate $1 million in earnings, was finally inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame this year.

Virgil Ward, Harold Ensley and Charlie Campbell are among the five fishing entries to proceed Clunn, who was inducted into both the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame and Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in 2001. Clunn was also voted the Greatest Bass Angler of All-Time in an ESPN fan poll in 2005.

“I’m one of those people who has always believed in the American dream and I’m living proof of it,” Clunn told the Missouri HOF folks. “I haven’t had what most people would call a real job.”

After winning the St. Johns event last year at 69 – the oldest to ever win a B.A.S.S. tournament – he also taught everyone to never think their best moments are behind them.

The big hall left for Clunn is the International Game Fish Association, and he’s probably not in it because he hasn’t been nominated.

AOY BACK AT MILLE LACS: BRACKET AT POKEGAMA

Mille Lacs Lake again will host the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship, Sept. 14-17, B.A.S.S. announced Monday, along with the site and date of the Classic Bracket tournament.

The first eight anglers out of the Classic berths, awarded via the AOY points (35th places plus double qualifiers), will travel about an hour and half north of Mille Lacs to Pokegama Lake near Grand Rapids, Minn. Over four days, Sept 19-22, the anglers will be winnowed down to the winner, who receives a spot in the Classic and the lion’s share of $50,000.

Last year’s event, won by Kevin VanDam on the Niagara River, provided tons of drama, despite no weigh-ins. Again, each fish will be weighed on the boat and released. We like to say it’s the only time BASSTrakk standings are official.

Interesting to note, on the day B.A.S.S. released this, Minnesota announced it was lowering the daily limit of bass on Mille Lacs from 4 to 3. All bass between 17 and 21 inches must be released immediately, and anglers may only keep one bass longer than 21 inches when bass season opens on May 27.

It was reported that DNR Fisheries Chief Don Pereira said dropping the bass possession limit was to help strike a balance between harvesting fish and preserving trophy-sized bass the lake is renowned for.

Davy Hite took this shot of his new boat before heading over to Cherokee Lake.

HITE READY TO GET AFTER IT ON LIVE

Davy Hite has joined the Bassmaster TV team and is itching to go. He’ll be on Cherokee Lake by Wednesday figuring out how the Elites have figured out the fish. (On a call Monday, he said he might already have the scoop on an unusual technique some pros are using there).

Watch for his reports during Bassmaster LIVE, which begins Friday at 7 a.m. ET. LIVE’s six hours of daily coverage is split this season, with the first segment running until 10 a.m. After a break, the coverage resumes from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET.

ZONA PICKS ELITE EVENT WINNERS, ROY, AOY

Bassmaster TV analyst Mark Zona, as he has the past several years, gave his predicted winners in each of the Elite Series events this season, as well as who he believes will win Rookie of the Year and the Toyota Angler of the Year. 

He didn’t go too far out on the limb – no rookies are picked to win – but selecting all of them before the season even begins is quite the tall task. Check out Zona’s 2017 Elite picks. Play along with your picks for bragging rights, and be sure to try your hand at Fantasy Fishing for real prizes. 

The B.A.S.S. jumbotron that travels to tournaments is tested by JM Associates technical director Howard Downs last week.