Day One on Flaming Gorge

Take a look at the anglers on the water at the 2012 Cabela's B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Western Divisional from Flaming Gorge.

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<p> Western Divisional anglers took off at daybreak on the Flaming Gorge in Wyoming.</p>
Western Divisional anglers took off at daybreak on the Flaming Gorge in Wyoming.
<p> Some boats settled near Lucerne, while others raced farther south from the launch ramp at Buckboard.</p>
Some boats settled near Lucerne, while others raced farther south from the launch ramp at Buckboard.
<p> Alan Zamora of Nevada and Don Welch of California staked out a spot in Linwood Bay.</p>
Alan Zamora of Nevada and Don Welch of California staked out a spot in Linwood Bay.
<p> Clear skies and cool weather greeted the anglers in the morning.</p>
Clear skies and cool weather greeted the anglers in the morning.
<p> Lloyd Gilreath Jr. of Idaho and local Bubba O’Neill of Wyoming had three fish but no keepers less than two hours after launch.</p>
Lloyd Gilreath Jr. of Idaho and local Bubba O’Neill of Wyoming had three fish but no keepers less than two hours after launch.
<p> 2012 Bassmaster Classic qualifier Josh Polfer fished with Arizona’s Michael Zimmerman. Zimmerman had one keeper early in the morning.</p>
2012 Bassmaster Classic qualifier Josh Polfer fished with Arizona’s Michael Zimmerman. Zimmerman had one keeper early in the morning.
<p> Gerald Kimzey of Arizona had three in the boat by 7:30 a.m. His co-angler, Terry Day of Washington, had one.</p>
Gerald Kimzey of Arizona had three in the boat by 7:30 a.m. His co-angler, Terry Day of Washington, had one.
<p> Contenders flocked to the Grindstone area in the early morning hours.</p>
Contenders flocked to the Grindstone area in the early morning hours.
<p> Brent Shores of Idaho holds up his catch. Montana’s Mike Dominick continues to pry the waters looking for smallmouth.</p>
Brent Shores of Idaho holds up his catch. Montana’s Mike Dominick continues to pry the waters looking for smallmouth.
<p> Utah’s Mike Lavallee and California’s Allan Gillum said they were catching a lot of fish — but no good ones.</p>
Utah’s Mike Lavallee and California’s Allan Gillum said they were catching a lot of fish — but no good ones.
<p> The water was as shallow as 5 feet in some areas, but in other parts of the lake, it’s as deep as 350 feet.</p>
The water was as shallow as 5 feet in some areas, but in other parts of the lake, it’s as deep as 350 feet.
The State Line area, which marks the divide between Utah and Wyoming, lured several contenders.
The State Line area, which marks the divide between Utah and Wyoming, lured several contenders.
<p> As suspected, anglers reported catches of lake trout and rainbow trout far more often than catches of keeper smallmouth.</p>
As suspected, anglers reported catches of lake trout and rainbow trout far more often than catches of keeper smallmouth.
<p> Arizona’s Bret Nagelhout and Colorado’s Joe Conway had one in the boat before 8 a.m.</p>
Arizona’s Bret Nagelhout and Colorado’s Joe Conway had one in the boat before 8 a.m.
<p> Snow-capped mountains set a scenic backdrop for the Western Divisional. The red cliffs are what the Flaming Gorge is named for.</p>
Snow-capped mountains set a scenic backdrop for the Western Divisional. The red cliffs are what the Flaming Gorge is named for.
<p> Colorado’s Robert Crask and Arizona’s Jared Kummerer didn’t catch fish while in Grindstone, so they moved north to the State Line.</p>
Colorado’s Robert Crask and Arizona’s Jared Kummerer didn’t catch fish while in Grindstone, so they moved north to the State Line.
<p> Rocky Rochford of Wyoming and Paul Hemsley of Nevada had this cove all to themselves.</p>
Rocky Rochford of Wyoming and Paul Hemsley of Nevada had this cove all to themselves.
The aptly named Pipeline area only attracted a couple of contenders in the morning hours.
The aptly named Pipeline area only attracted a couple of contenders in the morning hours.
<p> Kory Ray of Oregon and Ed McCaw of Colorado had four fish in the boat early on, but they’d had a few trout bites too.</p>
Kory Ray of Oregon and Ed McCaw of Colorado had four fish in the boat early on, but they’d had a few trout bites too.
<p> The Anvil Draw area was popular among the contenders, including Seth Garrison of New Mexico and Frank Villa of Colorado.</p>
The Anvil Draw area was popular among the contenders, including Seth Garrison of New Mexico and Frank Villa of Colorado.
<p> Byron Chaves of Oregon moved to an area between Anvil Draw and Squaw Hollow after checking out parts farther south in Utah. He was fishing with Tim Rawlings of Utah.</p>
Byron Chaves of Oregon moved to an area between Anvil Draw and Squaw Hollow after checking out parts farther south in Utah. He was fishing with Tim Rawlings of Utah.
<p> California’s Steven Wilson picked apart an area just south of Squaw Hollow. He and his co-angler, Lee Thomas of Wyoming, had caught several rainbow trout.</p>
California’s Steven Wilson picked apart an area just south of Squaw Hollow. He and his co-angler, Lee Thomas of Wyoming, had caught several rainbow trout.
<p> A memorial atop a cliff pays homage to a family who went missing on this lake nearly two decades ago.</p>
A memorial atop a cliff pays homage to a family who went missing on this lake nearly two decades ago.
The winds picked up as the day moved on.
The winds picked up as the day moved on.
<p> Gabriel Rivera of New Mexico and Darrell Ocamica of Idaho fish an area in Squaw Hollow.</p>
Gabriel Rivera of New Mexico and Darrell Ocamica of Idaho fish an area in Squaw Hollow.
<p> Andy Bravence of Arizona and Anthony Crivelli of California were doing well in Squaw Hollow. The anglers had a limit in the boat by 9:30 a.m.</p>
Andy Bravence of Arizona and Anthony Crivelli of California were doing well in Squaw Hollow. The anglers had a limit in the boat by 9:30 a.m.
<p> The air temperature warmed up to the low 70s before check-in time.</p>
The air temperature warmed up to the low 70s before check-in time.