2011 Dixie Duel: Day Four On the Water

Check out photos from Wheeler Lake on the final day of competition

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<p>  </p> <p> Spectator boats gather around Kevin VanDam on the final day of the Dixie Duel. </p>
 

Spectator boats gather around Kevin VanDam on the final day of the Dixie Duel. 

<p>  </p> <p> VanDam had cameras on him from the air and on the water. </p>
 

VanDam had cameras on him from the air and on the water. 

<p>  </p> <p> VanDam boats a solid keeper on a crankbait. </p>
 

VanDam boats a solid keeper on a crankbait. 

<p> VanDam pulls the hooks lose from the fish’s mouth. </p>
VanDam pulls the hooks lose from the fish’s mouth. 
<p> As on Day Three, VanDam was culling early. </p>
As on Day Three, VanDam was culling early. 
<p> VanDam releases a culled fish back into Wheeler Lake.</p>
VanDam releases a culled fish back into Wheeler Lake.
<p> KVD had a school of fish ignited early and fires another cast. </p>
KVD had a school of fish ignited early and fires another cast. 
<p>  </p> <p> Another fish falls victim to the Sexy Shad crankbait. </p>
 

Another fish falls victim to the Sexy Shad crankbait. 

<p> VanDam moves the boat away from the spot on the lake he calls "the juice." </p>
VanDam moves the boat away from the spot on the lake he calls “the juice.” 
<p>  </p> <p> VanDam was on a flurry and pulls another bass from the school. </p>
 

VanDam was on a flurry and pulls another bass from the school. 

<p>  </p> <p> Before making another cast, VanDam pitches the small bass away from the school. </p>
 

Before making another cast, VanDam pitches the small bass away from the school. 

<p>  </p> <p> Ott Defoe started the final day of the Dixie Duel in 4<sup>th</sup> place with 47 pounds, 2 ounces. </p>
 

Ott Defoe started the final day of the Dixie Duel in 4th place with 47 pounds, 2 ounces. 

<p>  </p> <p> Defoe was one of the few anglers that had an area to himself this week. </p>
 

Defoe was one of the few anglers that had an area to himself this week. 

<p>  </p> <p> Defoe was throwing a frog under overhanging limbs. </p>
 

Defoe was throwing a frog under overhanging limbs. 

<p>  </p> <p> Defoe boats a short fish on the frog. </p>
 

Defoe boats a short fish on the frog. 

<p>  </p> <p> Defoe quickly releases the fish. </p>
 

Defoe quickly releases the fish. 

<p>  </p> <p> Minutes later Defoe was hooked up on a keeper. </p>
 

Minutes later Defoe was hooked up on a keeper. 

<p>  </p> <p> Defoe quickly pulled the fish away from the cover on the bank and lifts it from the water. </p>
 

Defoe quickly pulled the fish away from the cover on the bank and lifts it from the water. 

<p>  </p> <p> Defoe will need more bass like this one to make a charge at the lead. </p>
 

Defoe will need more bass like this one to make a charge at the lead. 

<p>  </p> <p> Rick Mason records the action for Bassmaster television. </p>
 

Rick Mason records the action for Bassmaster television. 

<p>  </p> <p> Defoe now has a limit and pulls out the culling beam. </p>
 

Defoe now has a limit and pulls out the culling beam. 

<p>  </p> <p> Defoe puts the larger fish into the live well. </p>
 

Defoe puts the larger fish into the live well. 

<p>  </p> <p> Defoe concentrated his casts on the shady side of the shoreline. </p>
 

Defoe concentrated his casts on the shady side of the shoreline. 

<p>  </p> <p> Kevin VanDam dips his cranking rod to keep a fish from jumping. </p>
 

Kevin VanDam dips his cranking rod to keep a fish from jumping. 

<p>  </p> <p> VanDam carefully lips the bass to avoid the treble hooks on the crankbait. </p>
 

VanDam carefully lips the bass to avoid the treble hooks on the crankbait. 

<p>  </p> <p> Steve Bowman and Cary Barrett shoot still photos and video, from a helicopter for Bassmaster.com and Bassmaster television. </p>
 

Steve Bowman and Cary Barrett shoot still photos and video, from a helicopter for Bassmaster.com and Bassmaster television. 

<p>  </p> <p> Mark Zona and Brian Mason re-position, as KVD moves to the back of the boat to fight a fish. </p>
 

Mark Zona and Brian Mason re-position, as KVD moves to the back of the boat to fight a fish. 

<p>  </p> <p> Zona and Mason get their video, KVD lands his bass. </p>
 

Zona and Mason get their video, KVD lands his bass. 

<p>  </p> <p> VanDam was going through several fish early, but size was becoming an issue. </p>
 

VanDam was going through several fish early, but size was becoming an issue. 

<p>  </p> <p> VanDam boats yet another bass on the crankbait. </p>
 

VanDam boats yet another bass on the crankbait. 

<p>  </p> <p> VanDam continues to fish while Mark Zona does a BASSCam video of the baits VanDam has tied on. </p>
 

VanDam continues to fish while Mark Zona does a BASSCam video of the baits VanDam has tied on. 

<p> VanDam reaches for another keeper.</p>
VanDam reaches for another keeper.
<p>  </p> <p> VanDam is now culling ounces and has several fish to consider throwing back. </p>
 

VanDam is now culling ounces and has several fish to consider throwing back. 

<p>  </p> <p> VanDam realizes the strong wind is blowing on top of his waypoint, and moves to the front of the boat to check his GPS. </p>
 

VanDam realizes the strong wind is blowing on top of his waypoint, and moves to the front of the boat to check his GPS. 

<p>  </p> <p> VanDam utilizes his culling beam while standing on the trolling motor, to move away from where he’s been casting. </p>
 

VanDam utilizes his culling beam while standing on the trolling motor, to move away from where he’s been casting. 

<p>  </p> <p> With the culling duties complete, VanDam makes another cast. </p>
 

With the culling duties complete, VanDam makes another cast. 

<p>  </p> <p> Ott Defoe fights a fish to the boat in the back of a creek. </p>
 

Ott Defoe fights a fish to the boat in the back of a creek. 

<p>  </p> <p> Defoe reaches to get a grip on the thrashing bass. </p>
 

Defoe reaches to get a grip on the thrashing bass. 

<p>  </p> <p> Defoe has found several fish stacked in the creek and is hooked up again. </p>
 

Defoe has found several fish stacked in the creek and is hooked up again. 

<p>  </p> <p> Defoe boats his fourth keeper of the day. </p>
 

Defoe boats his fourth keeper of the day. 

<p>  </p> <p> Greg Hackney finally reveals the bait he has been using this week. </p>
 

Greg Hackney finally reveals the bait he has been using this week. 

<p>  </p> <p> Hackney was struggling early in the day and only had two fish in the livewell. </p>
 

Hackney was struggling early in the day and only had two fish in the livewell.