Elite preseason rules meeting

The 2014 Elite Series anglers gathered at Bainbridge High School, in Bainbridge, Ga., to review rules for the upcoming season. The first Elite tournament begins this coming Thursday on Lake Seminole. In the far left, you can make out B.A.S.S. Tournament Director Trip Weldon.

Byron Velvick (left) and Ish Monroe check out the rules before the meeting gets underway.

Dennis Tietje studies his copy of the 2014 rules.

Gerald Swindle (right) and Ott DeFoe listen carefully as Trip Weldon discusses the 2014 rules.

Big Dave Smith is back and eager to get the season started.

Michigan pro Chad Pipkens with his signature hair style.

Rookie Justin Lucas in his first Elite Series rules meeting.

Fletcher Shryock is loud and proud in his orange jersey.

Before and after the meeting, anglers gathered in the parking lot to catch up and work on their tackle. This is Chad Pipkens.

Nate Wellman

Justin Lucas

Josh Bertrand

James Elam is pulling his boat behind a brand new Tundra.

Greg Vinson

Bradley Roy

Rick Morris almost blends into his new truck wrap.

Veteran angler Davy Hite will be hosting the new âFirst Lookâ series on Bassmaster.com this year.

Kevin VanDam next to his signature Nitro. Up close you can see thousands of fans’ faces on the boat wrap.

Scott Rook showcasing his new sponsor Riceland.

David Walker is all smiles as the Elite season nears its kick-off.

Former Classic champ Takahiro Omori with his boat and RV.

Yusuke Miyazaki stands in front of his new wrap.

Dean Rojas finished 17th at the Classic and is ready for the 2014 season to get rolling.

Alton Jones makes sure everything on his boat wrap is perfect.

When Gerald Swindle pulled into the parking lot, he quickly realized he had a flat tire, likely from hitting a curb.

Swindle was also dealing with an injured thumb. He hurt it reaching into one of his storage lockers, and needed to visit the hospital to have slivers of fiberglass removed. You could say Gerald wasnât having a good day.

But then help arrived. Thatâs Aaron Martens (left) supervising, Terry Scroggins in the back, Britt Myers in red, and Chad Morgenthaler kneeling down.

Out came the toolsâ¦

Lots of moral support going on here.

Britt Myers helped get the flat tire off. By the way, when heâs not fishing, Myers customizes cars and trucks. And soon the G-man was off and rolling again.