2009 Elite Series Southern Open #2: Day One, On The Water

In this photo gallery, you'll find on-the-water images from Day One of the 2009 Southern Open #2 on Wheeler Lake, near Decatur, Alabama.

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Elite Series pro and his co-angler Kenneth Pfile start in an area near the launch ramp.
Elite Series pro and his co-angler Kenneth Pfile start in an area near the launch ramp.
Horton quickly boats a nice keeper after making a move across the lake to get away from boat pressure.
Horton quickly boats a nice keeper after making a move across the lake to get away from boat pressure.
It isn't long before more boat pressure finds Horton in his second hole of the morning.
It isn’t long before more boat pressure finds Horton in his second hole of the morning.
Pro David Purdue and his co-angler Stanley Chandler fish a cove just off the main river channel early on the first morning of the Southern Open #2 presented by Oakley.
Pro David Purdue and his co-angler Stanley Chandler fish a cove just off the main river channel early on the first morning of the Southern Open #2 presented by Oakley.
Paul Molan and his co-angler work a steep bank in the upper part of Wheeler Lake.
Paul Molan and his co-angler work a steep bank in the upper part of Wheeler Lake.
Rodney Allen and co-angler Alan Blondino work an area where Allen had just lost a nice keeper smallmouth.
Rodney Allen and co-angler Alan Blondino work an area where Allen had just lost a nice keeper smallmouth.
Nearby, Pro Darrin Schwenkbeck fights a bass to the boat as Shawn Meade goes for the net.
Nearby, Pro Darrin Schwenkbeck fights a bass to the boat as Shawn Meade goes for the net.
Darrin Schwenkbeck is able to cull up with this keeper bass. He has a limit early in the going on Day One.
Darrin Schwenkbeck is able to cull up with this keeper bass. He has a limit early in the going on Day One.
Schwenkbeck swings again and is able to trade up with this small mouth. He is concentrating on an area in the upper part of Wheeler Lake.
Schwenkbeck swings again and is able to trade up with this small mouth. He is concentrating on an area in the upper part of Wheeler Lake.
A quick shot for the camera and Schwenkbeck is off to the livewell to trade out another bass.
A quick shot for the camera and Schwenkbeck is off to the livewell to trade out another bass.
Pro Gary Cronin and his co-angler Arthur Carter patiently work a point on the upper end of Wheeler Lake.
Pro Gary Cronin and his co-angler Arthur Carter patiently work a point on the upper end of Wheeler Lake.
Elite Series Pro Mark Menendez sets the hook on a Wheeler Lake bass as his co-angler Michael Bass goes for the net.
Elite Series Pro Mark Menendez sets the hook on a Wheeler Lake bass as his co-angler Michael Bass goes for the net.
Elite Series angler Peter
Elite Series angler Peter “T” Thliveros heads up the lake later in the morning.
Elite Series Pro Mark Menendez dives into the rod locker to make a quick lure adjustment after culling a bass.
Elite Series Pro Mark Menendez dives into the rod locker to make a quick lure adjustment after culling a bass.
Menendez is getting dialed into the bite as he quickly boats another bass.
Menendez is getting dialed into the bite as he quickly boats another bass.
He would trade this smallmouth bass for smaller largemouth.
He would trade this smallmouth bass for smaller largemouth.
Without breaking stride he is back to the deck and casting back toward the targeted structure.
Without breaking stride he is back to the deck and casting back toward the targeted structure.
Calm waters ease the bite for Elite Series Pro Gerald Swindle as he fishes a creek arm in the upper end of Wheeler Lake.
Calm waters ease the bite for Elite Series Pro Gerald Swindle as he fishes a creek arm in the upper end of Wheeler Lake.
It is not long before Swindle and his co-angler are off to the back of the creek.
It is not long before Swindle and his co-angler are off to the back of the creek.
Elite Pro Casey Ashley makes a cast as his co-angler Tommy Swindle looks on.
Elite Pro Casey Ashley makes a cast as his co-angler Tommy Swindle looks on.
It isn't long before Casey Ashley is hooked up and fighting a bass to the bow of the boat. He is unable to cull up with this fish as it was smaller than the limit in the box.
It isn’t long before Casey Ashley is hooked up and fighting a bass to the bow of the boat. He is unable to cull up with this fish as it was smaller than the limit in the box.
Tommy Swindle answers back with a bass of his own.
Tommy Swindle answers back with a bass of his own.
“This is hard on an old man.” swindle tells Ashley as he celebrates the catch and culls up.
Bruce Estel and his co-angler Bruce Wagers work a ledge where the creek channel meets the bank.
Bruce Estel and his co-angler Bruce Wagers work a ledge where the creek channel meets the bank.
Greg Vinson and Jeffrey Childers take a different approach as they take on deeper water looking for the bite.
Greg Vinson and Jeffrey Childers take a different approach as they take on deeper water looking for the bite.
It isn't long before Vinson is hooked up and bringing a bass to the boat.
It isn’t long before Vinson is hooked up and bringing a bass to the boat.
WBT Pro Pam Martin Wells is one of few who took on the wind blowing into a point in deeper water.
WBT Pro Pam Martin Wells is one of few who took on the wind blowing into a point in deeper water.
Elite Series pro Jason Quinn also takes on the waves as he targets a windy point on Wheeler Lake.
Elite Series pro Jason Quinn also takes on the waves as he targets a windy point on Wheeler Lake.