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Dean Rojas felt good about his practice coming into Day One of the Champion's Choice and was catching fish early throwing his SPRO Bronzeye Frog.
Photo: James Overstreet
The fish weren't the only things interested in watching 'Kermie' skip across the water on Day One.
Photo: James Overstreet
Rojas has a fish blow up on the frog and sets the hook.
Photo: James Overstreet
Rojas brings the fish alongside the boat.
Photo: James Overstreet
Rojas boated three fish in the first 30 minutes of the tournament. He was in first place after two days on Oneida Lake in last year's Memorial Major that shifted to Lake Onondaga for the semifinals and finals.
Photo: James Overstreet
Rojas was fishing with co-angler Howard Stephens, the all-time leading money-winner on the Bassmaster co-angler side with $143,128.92 in career winnings.
Photo: James Overstreet
Day One started calm and clear, but scattered thunderstorms were due to move in rapidly from the west later in the morning.
Photo: James Overstreet
Fred Roumbanis hooks a fish in the matted grass that dominates the shoreline of Oneida Lake.
Photo: James Overstreet
Roumbanis drags the fish — and a pile of matted grass — to the boat.
Photo: James Overstreet
After cleaning the grass away from his line, Roumbanis lips a solid keeper.
Photo: James Overstreet
Dave Wolak crouches to keep his balance from a large boat wake headed his way.
Photo: James Overstreet
Early on Day One, Brian Snowden was throwing a jerkbait on main lake points.
Photo: James Overstreet
Rick Clunn speeds west to avoid a thunderstorm enveloping the eastern end of Oneida Lake.
Photo: James Overstreet
Clunn seeks refuge under a bridge while a quick thundershower moves across Oneida Lake.
Photo: James Overstreet
Anglers on the western end of the lake were spared the worst of the thunderstorm, but heavy rains and frequent lightning hammered anglers to the east.
Photo: James Overstreet
While the storm passed, Clunn fished a riprap wall along the Interstate 81 Bridge that passes over the eastern end of Oneida Lake.
Photo: James Overstreet
Scott Rook was punching thick vegetation on Day One of the Champion's Choice.
Photo: James Overstreet
