2008 Southern Challenge: Day Three Launch

Jimmy Sparks and Tommy Swindle talk with 2007 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year Skeet Reese in the parking lot of the launch area on Day Three of the Southern Challenge presented by Advance Auto Parts.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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Rick Clunn makes final adjustments to his electronics early on Day Three.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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BASS officials look over the details of the morning launch just prior to line-up.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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Terry Scroggins has held the pack at bay during the Southern Challenge, doubling his lead on Day Two.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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Jeremy Starks has his eye on the prize as well, fishing very conservative and still placing substantial pressure on Scroggins, the leader.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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Shaw Grigsby heads into Day Three in third place. He said the fish were choking themselves on the Strike King prototype bait that he is using.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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The field is led out onto the lake by Terry Scroggins, the tournament leader. Scroggins has maintained the lead since Day One.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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Scroggins takes his hole-shot while Alabama BASS fans (foreground) cheer on the pros as they leave the harbor.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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The water is slick as the dead calm causes the mercury rise early on Day Three.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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The field of pros will be cut to 12 at the end of today and the co-anglers will crown a champion.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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Grant Goldbeck is feeling confident on Day Three.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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The legendary Tommy Biffle heads out onto Wheeler Lake. He goes into Day Three in 37th place.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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BASS fans are doing back-flips over the Bassmaster Elite Series on its stop in beautiful Alabama on Wheeler Lake.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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Cliff Pace threads a hook through a monster sized worm early on Day Three.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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Shaw Grigsby puts the finishing touches on a spinnerbait as he makes final preparations early on Day Three.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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Daniel Casteel II and his father sit and watch Kevin VanDam launch his boat in the early morning hours of Day Three.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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Bill Lowen personalizes a jig before he heads out to battle for one of the top-12 positions to fish on Day Four.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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Kevin VanDam also makes final lure adjustments so that he will be ready when he reaches his first fishing spot of the day. He heads into Day Three in fourth place overall.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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BASS tournament director Trip Weldon talks with Texas-pro Todd Faircloth before line-up on Day Three.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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Alton Jones Jr. is fishing with pro Glenn Delong on Day Three. Alton said he hoped he could get two big bites today to climb higher in the standings.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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Scoot Rook (foreground) looks on as Gerald Swindle fights an invisible bass and tells a story about a Wheeler Lake bass.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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With the field cut to the top 50 anglers, the harbor is much less congested on Saturday.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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Steve Kennedy stows his gear before getting into the line-up for launch.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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Timmy Horton reflects as his tools for battle are splayed across the deck.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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Sunshine and humid, stagnant air greeted the anglers on Day Three.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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Fans in boats wait just outside the harbor as the pros leave the dock.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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Morizo Shimizu heads out onto Wheeler Lake in sixth place. The top-12 will go do battle on the Tennessee River impoundment on Sunday's final day.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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Jimmy Mize starts Day Three in 18th place, well within striking distance of the top-12.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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Todd Auten, from Lake Wylie, S.C., heads out onto Wheeler Lake. He starts the day in 22nd place.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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Peter Thliveros idles past the spectators on the launch of Day Three of the Southern Challenge.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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Mike McClelland tries to separate himself from the rest of the field in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings and secure a top-12 spot on Day Three.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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Brian Clark goes into Day Three in 43rd place. You can read about him in Don Barone's blog on Bassmaster.com.

Photo: Larry Towell/James Overstreet

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2008 Southern Challenge: Day Three Launch

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