2011 Dixie Duel: Day One On the Water

Check out these on-the-water photos from Day One of the 2011 Dixie Duel on Wheeler Lake.

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<p> Greg Vinson idles past a barge tied up on the main river channel. </p>
Greg Vinson idles past a barge tied up on the main river channel. 
<p> Kevin VanDam drew a crowd of spectator boats on Day One of the Dixie Duel. </p>
Kevin VanDam drew a crowd of spectator boats on Day One of the Dixie Duel. 
<p> Lack of current was evident as you boated past channel buoys.</p>
Lack of current was evident as you boated past channel buoys.
<p> Mike Iaconelli was fishing a channel ledge along the main river channel early in the day. </p>
Mike Iaconelli was fishing a channel ledge along the main river channel early in the day. 
<p> Popular channel drops quickly became crowded places to fish. </p>
Popular channel drops quickly became crowded places to fish. 
<p> Dean Rojas was away from the crowds casting his signature series Spro frog. </p>
Dean Rojas was away from the crowds casting his signature series Spro frog. 
<p> Chris Lane dropped to 13<sup>th</sup> place in the Toyota Tundra Angler of the Year points race after a 67<sup>th</sup> place finish last week on the Arkansas River. </p>
Chris Lane dropped to 13th place in the Toyota Tundra Angler of the Year points race after a 67th place finish last week on the Arkansas River. 
<p> Todd Faircloth was fishing a location where he caught several of his fish during the last Elite Series event on Lake Wheeler. </p>
Todd Faircloth was fishing a location where he caught several of his fish during the last Elite Series event on Lake Wheeler. 
<p> Greg Vinson fishes a ledge next to a barge. </p>
Greg Vinson fishes a ledge next to a barge. 
<p> Todd Faircloth speeds past a barge while making a move downriver. </p>
Todd Faircloth speeds past a barge while making a move downriver. 
<p> James Niggemeyer fishes near several barges tied off within sight of downtown Decatur. </p>
James Niggemeyer fishes near several barges tied off within sight of downtown Decatur. 
<p> Reports that the grass is no longer there, didn’t keep anglers from fishing a popular area known as the Decatur Flats. </p>
Reports that the grass is no longer there, didn’t keep anglers from fishing a popular area known as the Decatur Flats. 
<p> Dave Wolak makes a cast as his Day One Marshal takes in the day of fishing. </p>
Dave Wolak makes a cast as his Day One Marshal takes in the day of fishing. 
<p> Wolak takes a quick drink as he makes a move. </p>
Wolak takes a quick drink as he makes a move. 
<p> Kevin VanDam was culling fish early in the day. </p>
Kevin VanDam was culling fish early in the day. 
<p> VanDam fished near a discharge from a nearby plant. </p>
VanDam fished near a discharge from a nearby plant. 
<p> VanDam clips a culling bulb on a fish, while Wes Miller captures the action on a pole-mounted camera. </p>
VanDam clips a culling bulb on a fish, while Wes Miller captures the action on a pole-mounted camera. 
<p> VanDam gets back to work. </p>
VanDam gets back to work. 
<p> VanDam kneels to ease a fish to the boat that is barely hooked. </p>
VanDam kneels to ease a fish to the boat that is barely hooked. 
<p> VanDam pulls the fish slowly in by hand. </p>
VanDam pulls the fish slowly in by hand. 
<p> The tactic worked and VanDam boats another keeper. </p>
The tactic worked and VanDam boats another keeper. 
<p> Time for KVD to make some culling decisions. </p>
Time for KVD to make some culling decisions. 
<p> VanDam makes his choice and releases his smallest bass. </p>
VanDam makes his choice and releases his smallest bass. 
<p> VanDam had culled through 14 bass in only 45 minutes on the water. </p>
VanDam had culled through 14 bass in only 45 minutes on the water. 
<p> VanDam moved to a ledge occupied by Jason Williamson and Marty Robinson.</p>
VanDam moved to a ledge occupied by Jason Williamson and Marty Robinson.
<p> Dennis Tietje fires a cast with a crankbait. </p>
Dennis Tietje fires a cast with a crankbait. 
<p> Tietje was rewarded with a small keeper that came off a main river ledge. </p>
Tietje was rewarded with a small keeper that came off a main river ledge. 
<p> Keith Combs is trying to run down Ott Defoe for Rookie of the Year honors. </p>
Keith Combs is trying to run down Ott Defoe for Rookie of the Year honors. 
<p> J. Todd Tucker speeds around a large recreational boat on his way to another waypoint. </p>
J. Todd Tucker speeds around a large recreational boat on his way to another waypoint. 
<p> Scott Rook pulls up to a ledge just occupied by Greg Vinson. </p>
Scott Rook pulls up to a ledge just occupied by Greg Vinson. 
<p> Mike Iaconelli eases a fish over the side of the boat. </p>
Mike Iaconelli eases a fish over the side of the boat. 
<p> Iaconelli was culling early. </p>
Iaconelli was culling early. 
<p> Iaconelli quickly hung another short fish. </p>
Iaconelli quickly hung another short fish. 
<p> Bobby Lane was running short of the soft plastics he was fishing, but Matt Greenblatt agreed to help with the re-supply. </p>
Bobby Lane was running short of the soft plastics he was fishing, but Matt Greenblatt agreed to help with the re-supply. 
<p> Matt Greenblatt, Bobby Lane, Mike Iaconelli and Matt Herren were fishing just yards apart. </p>
Matt Greenblatt, Bobby Lane, Mike Iaconelli and Matt Herren were fishing just yards apart. 
<p> Iaconelli and Lane were visiting and had no issues while sharing the same water. </p>
Iaconelli and Lane were visiting and had no issues while sharing the same water. 
<p> Bobby Lane fires a long cast with a drop bait</p>
Bobby Lane fires a long cast with a drop bait
<p> B.A.S.S. emcee Dave Mercer did a BASSCam video with Bobby Lane that can be viewed on Bassmaster.com. </p>
B.A.S.S. emcee Dave Mercer did a BASSCam video with Bobby Lane that can be viewed on Bassmaster.com.