2008 Elite Series Bluegrass Brawl: Day One, Launch

In this photo gallery, you'll find images of the anglers as they prepare to launch on Day One of the 2008 Elite Series Bluegrass Brawl on Kentucky Lake, near Gilbertsville, Kentucky.

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A co-angler's gear waits patiently near a dock at the Kentucky Dam Marina where the Bluegrass Brawl will launch and weigh in this week.
A co-angler’s gear waits patiently near a dock at the Kentucky Dam Marina where the Bluegrass Brawl will launch and weigh in this week.
Rick Clunn and Guy Eaker visit early on Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl.
Rick Clunn and Guy Eaker visit early on Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl.
Gary Klein, Rick Clunn, and Jon Bondy discuss options for the upcoming Elite Series tournament in Iowa. The region where the River Rumble is to be held is in question due to high water on the Mississippi River.
Gary Klein, Rick Clunn, and Jon Bondy discuss options for the upcoming Elite Series tournament in Iowa. The region where the River Rumble is to be held is in question due to high water on the Mississippi River.
Michael Iaconelli makes final preparations as his boat is pulled to the launch ramp.
Michael Iaconelli makes final preparations as his boat is pulled to the launch ramp.
Dalton Shinn drove to Kentucky Lake with his family to see Michael Iaconelli. The two met five years ago at Grand Lake, Okla., and have become good friends.
Dalton Shinn drove to Kentucky Lake with his family to see Michael Iaconelli. The two met five years ago at Grand Lake, Okla., and have become good friends.
Pros wait for their flights to be called on Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl presented by DieHard Platinum Marine Batteries.
Pros wait for their flights to be called on Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl presented by DieHard Platinum Marine Batteries.
Rick Clunn prepares his gear as the time for launch draws near.
Rick Clunn prepares his gear as the time for launch draws near.
Gary Klein talks to pro Charlie Hartley as he makes his final lure choices for Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl.
Gary Klein talks to pro Charlie Hartley as he makes his final lure choices for Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl.
Gary Klein and Cliff Pace discuss lures that might make a difference in the Bluegrass Brawl.
Gary Klein and Cliff Pace discuss lures that might make a difference in the Bluegrass Brawl.
Pete Ponds launches his Ardent Reels Ranger early on Day One.
Pete Ponds launches his Ardent Reels Ranger early on Day One.
Grant Goldbeck cleans the glass on his electronics just prior to launching on Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl.
Grant Goldbeck cleans the glass on his electronics just prior to launching on Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl.
Mary Delgado approaches the launch with caution while towing fiancé Byron Velvick and his boat.
Mary Delgado approaches the launch with caution while towing fiancé Byron Velvick and his boat.
Kevin VanDam signs autographs as he makes his way to the ramp with his Toyota Tundra and Nitro bass boat.
Kevin VanDam signs autographs as he makes his way to the ramp with his Toyota Tundra and Nitro bass boat.
Shaw Grigsby makes adjustments to a bait as he prepares to do battle with the best bass anglers in the world.
Shaw Grigsby makes adjustments to a bait as he prepares to do battle with the best bass anglers in the world.
Fred Roumbanis (foreground) will fish with co-angler Alton Jones Jr. on Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl.
Fred Roumbanis (foreground) will fish with co-angler Alton Jones Jr. on Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl.
Charlie Hartley gives a lesson on jigs as his co-angler Rob Jones looks on.
Charlie Hartley gives a lesson on jigs as his co-angler Rob Jones looks on.
Kevin VanDam scans the bank for his co-angler on Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl presented by DieHard Platinum Marine Batteries.
Kevin VanDam scans the bank for his co-angler on Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl presented by DieHard Platinum Marine Batteries.
Guy Eaker, the senior of this Bassmaster Elite Series field, talks to other anglers on the dock just prior to take-off on Day One.
Guy Eaker, the senior of this Bassmaster Elite Series field, talks to other anglers on the dock just prior to take-off on Day One.
Kenyon Hill ties on final selections near the dock where livewell inspections will be performed.
Kenyon Hill ties on final selections near the dock where livewell inspections will be performed.
Jon Bondy makes final adjustments to his electronics as the time for take-off nears.
Jon Bondy makes final adjustments to his electronics as the time for take-off nears.
Pros pick up their co-anglers on the dock just prior to take-off on Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl presented by DieHard Platinum Marine Batteries.
Pros pick up their co-anglers on the dock just prior to take-off on Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl presented by DieHard Platinum Marine Batteries.
Boyd Duckett packs away tackle boxes as he is backed into Kentucky Lake at the Kentucky Dam Marina, site of the launch and weigh-in of the Bluegrass Brawl.
Boyd Duckett packs away tackle boxes as he is backed into Kentucky Lake at the Kentucky Dam Marina, site of the launch and weigh-in of the Bluegrass Brawl.
Aaron Martens shows off the
Aaron Martens shows off the “scrounger,” a very lifelike artificial bait he developed which closely resembles many baitfish bass use for forage.
Marty Robinson waits for the take-off near one of the docks at the Kentucky Dam Marina.
Marty Robinson waits for the take-off near one of the docks at the Kentucky Dam Marina.
Mike McClelland sports a new wrap and jersey for the Bluegrass Brawl, the first time a pro has had a one-time sponsor for a single tournament, which could open the door for other pros to follow suit.
Mike McClelland sports a new wrap and jersey for the Bluegrass Brawl, the first time a pro has had a one-time sponsor for a single tournament, which could open the door for other pros to follow suit.
Fred Roumbanis cranks new line onto one of the reels he will use to battle with Kentucky Lake bass on Day Two of the Bluegrass Brawl presented by DieHard Platinum Marine Batteries.
Fred Roumbanis cranks new line onto one of the reels he will use to battle with Kentucky Lake bass on Day Two of the Bluegrass Brawl presented by DieHard Platinum Marine Batteries.
Kevin Worth, a local favorite on Kentucky Lake, honors Old Glory as the national anthem rings throughout the marina.
Kevin Worth, a local favorite on Kentucky Lake, honors Old Glory as the national anthem rings throughout the marina.
The pros make their way past the inspection stages as they take off on Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl.
The pros make their way past the inspection stages as they take off on Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl.
Jeremy Starks, fresh off a win on Wheeler Lake in Alabama last week, waits for his turn to take off on Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl.
Jeremy Starks, fresh off a win on Wheeler Lake in Alabama last week, waits for his turn to take off on Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl.
Boats snake their way through the take-off inspection line at the Kentucky Dam Marina.
Boats snake their way through the take-off inspection line at the Kentucky Dam Marina.
The competitors make their way around the dock, the first of three stages in the inspection process, before idling out of the marina for take-off on Day One.
The competitors make their way around the dock, the first of three stages in the inspection process, before idling out of the marina for take-off on Day One.
Competitors loop their way through the cove to start Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl on Kentucky Lake. Today is forecast to be the hottest day of the week for the tournament.
Competitors loop their way through the cove to start Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl on Kentucky Lake. Today is forecast to be the hottest day of the week for the tournament.
Marty Stone gets rigged up for Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl.
Marty Stone gets rigged up for Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl.
Mike Iaconelli climbs aboard his boat before being backed down the boat ramp at Kentucky Dam Marina.
Mike Iaconelli climbs aboard his boat before being backed down the boat ramp at Kentucky Dam Marina.
John Crews straps his rod down for the run to his first fishing spot.
John Crews straps his rod down for the run to his first fishing spot.
Bassmaster photographer Gary Tramontina raises a camera high into the air to capture a different perspective of the launch area.
Bassmaster photographer Gary Tramontina raises a camera high into the air to capture a different perspective of the launch area.
BASS veteran Gary Klein makes some last-minute tackle changes before beginning Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl.
BASS veteran Gary Klein makes some last-minute tackle changes before beginning Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl.
Skeet Reese and Grant Goldbeck visit before the Day One launch.
Skeet Reese and Grant Goldbeck visit before the Day One launch.
Elite Series rookie Brian Clark said he had a good practice and hopes to move up in the Advance Auto Parts Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings.
Elite Series rookie Brian Clark said he had a good practice and hopes to move up in the Advance Auto Parts Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings.
BASS official Max Leatherwood gives Ish Monroe the thumbs-up as Monroe idles past the livewell check.
BASS official Max Leatherwood gives Ish Monroe the thumbs-up as Monroe idles past the livewell check.
Marty Stone gets loosened up for bass warfare.
Marty Stone gets loosened up for bass warfare.
Elite Series pros and their co-anglers stand for the national anthem.
Elite Series pros and their co-anglers stand for the national anthem.
Terry 'Big Show' Scroggins reaches for the check-in pill thrown by BASS officials.
Terry ‘Big Show’ Scroggins reaches for the check-in pill thrown by BASS officials.
John Murray leads a flight of boats towards the livewell check.
John Murray leads a flight of boats towards the livewell check.
Mike Iaconelli gives a thumbs-up to the crowd gathered to watch the morning launch of the Bluegrass Brawl.
Mike Iaconelli gives a thumbs-up to the crowd gathered to watch the morning launch of the Bluegrass Brawl.
Grant Goldbeck pulls his kill-switch while idling through the boat check.
Grant Goldbeck pulls his kill-switch while idling through the boat check.
A full field of Elite Series anglers and their co-anglers begin to idle from the no-wake zone in Kentucky Dam Marina.
A full field of Elite Series anglers and their co-anglers begin to idle from the no-wake zone in Kentucky Dam Marina.
Gerald Swindle and his co-angler are all smiles as they begin Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl.
Gerald Swindle and his co-angler are all smiles as they begin Day One of the Bluegrass Brawl.
Senior Tournament Manager Chuck Harbin directs traffic during the morning launch.
Senior Tournament Manager Chuck Harbin directs traffic during the morning launch.