2011 Elite Series Battle on the Bayou: Day One, On the Water

In this photo gallery, you'll find on-the-water images from Day One of the 2011 Elite Series Battle on the Bayou on Toledo Bend Reservoir, near Many, Louisiana.

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A line of cormorants flies over a shallow bay on Toledo Bend. The water is 10- to 12-feet low and places where fish normally would be are high and dry.
A line of cormorants flies over a shallow bay on Toledo Bend. The water is 10- to 12-feet low and places where fish normally would be are high and dry.
Casey Ashley works a shallow grass bed early on Day One.
Casey Ashley works a shallow grass bed early on Day One.
Bradley Roy boats his third keeper on Day One.
Bradley Roy boats his third keeper on Day One.
Soon after his third keeper, a fourth comes in from a shallow grass bed.
Soon after his third keeper, a fourth comes in from a shallow grass bed.
Terry Butcher motors around the stump fields on Toledo Bend.
Terry Butcher motors around the stump fields on Toledo Bend.
Gerald Swindle boats a small keeper...
Gerald Swindle boats a small keeper…
Then throws is back.
Then throws is back.
Swindle casts to shallow cover looking for a big bite. By 10 a.m. on Day One he had already boated 19 pounds.
Swindle casts to shallow cover looking for a big bite. By 10 a.m. on Day One he had already boated 19 pounds.
But the big bites were hard to come by as small fish continued to bite.
But the big bites were hard to come by as small fish continued to bite.
Swindle throws back yet another small bass.
Swindle throws back yet another small bass.
Swindle casts to targets in the shallow bay...
Swindle casts to targets in the shallow bay…
While the fish was a keeper...
While the fish was a keeper…
It wasn't big enough to make the cut.
It wasn’t big enough to make the cut.
Swindle unhooks a small keeper on Day One.
Swindle unhooks a small keeper on Day One.
And promptly hooks up with another.
And promptly hooks up with another.
With nothing but small fish hitting, Swindle changes rods and heads out to go sight fishing.
With nothing but small fish hitting, Swindle changes rods and heads out to go sight fishing.
The lake is so low that boat docks are 12 feet out of the water.
The lake is so low that boat docks are 12 feet out of the water.
Skeet Reese races through a stump field on Day One.
Skeet Reese races through a stump field on Day One.
Then turns and heads into a creek.
Then turns and heads into a creek.
Cliff Pace takes off from a main lake point.
Cliff Pace takes off from a main lake point.
Jonathon VanDam runs the edge of a stump field.
Jonathon VanDam runs the edge of a stump field.
Casey Ashley cases to shallow grass beds.
Casey Ashley cases to shallow grass beds.
Mike McClelland and David Walker fish within sight of each other on Day One of the Trokar Battle on the Bayou.
Mike McClelland and David Walker fish within sight of each other on Day One of the Trokar Battle on the Bayou.
Kevin VanDam cranks his way down a bank quickly Thursday.
Kevin VanDam cranks his way down a bank quickly Thursday.
VanDam swings a small bass into the boat, not the quality he was looking for on Toledo Bend.
VanDam swings a small bass into the boat, not the quality he was looking for on Toledo Bend.
Mike Iaconelli makes a cast near a flat bank early on the first day of competition.
Mike Iaconelli makes a cast near a flat bank early on the first day of competition.
Peter Thliveros works a bait slowly through the grass on Toledo Bend.
Peter Thliveros works a bait slowly through the grass on Toledo Bend.
After a top-10 finish at Pickwick, Keith Poche looks to have another good tournament in front of his home-state crowd.
After a top-10 finish at Pickwick, Keith Poche looks to have another good tournament in front of his home-state crowd.
Thliveros swings a good keeper into the boat on Thursday.
Thliveros swings a good keeper into the boat on Thursday.
After losing a few good fish on Day One, Thliveros added this 3-pounder to the livewell.
After losing a few good fish on Day One, Thliveros added this 3-pounder to the livewell.
Poche makes a long cast while trying to upgrade a small limit early Thursday.
Poche makes a long cast while trying to upgrade a small limit early Thursday.
Keith Poche changes rods on Day One of the Trokar Battle on the Bayou.
Keith Poche changes rods on Day One of the Trokar Battle on the Bayou.
Jami Fralick casts across a point on Toledo Bend.
Jami Fralick casts across a point on Toledo Bend.
Billy McCaghren changes locations after going a short time without a bite.
Billy McCaghren changes locations after going a short time without a bite.
Clark Reehm fishes offshore with a small limit in the boat already.
Clark Reehm fishes offshore with a small limit in the boat already.
Reehm sets the hook hard during Trokar Battle on the Bayou.
Reehm sets the hook hard during Trokar Battle on the Bayou.
Reehm was catching a lot of small fish from this spot.
Reehm was catching a lot of small fish from this spot.
After tossing the non-keeper back into the lake, Reehm talks about his morning of fishing.
After tossing the non-keeper back into the lake, Reehm talks about his morning of fishing.