BASSfest: Day 1 action

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Catch up with all the action on Lake Texoma Day 1 of the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster BASSfest presented by Choctaw Casino Resort.
Catch up with all the action on Lake Texoma Day 1 of the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster BASSfest presented by Choctaw Casino Resort.
Ott Defoe was fishing flooded willow trees when we found him...
Ott Defoe was fishing flooded willow trees when we found him…
...and had a fish hung in the trees.
…and had a fish hung in the trees.
After a bit of work the fish came free, and he was surprised...
After a bit of work the fish came free, and he was surprised…
...that it was a smallmouth.
…that it was a smallmouth.
He already had a limit of fish in the livewell, and released this fish immediately.
He already had a limit of fish in the livewell, and released this fish immediately.
More evidence of the high water on Lake Texoma.
More evidence of the high water on Lake Texoma.
Defoe worked his boat deep in the cover...
Defoe worked his boat deep in the cover…
...pivoting often to make another pitch.
…pivoting often to make another pitch.
Stephen Browning makes a pitch shallow along the shoreline...
Stephen Browning makes a pitch shallow along the shoreline…
...then moved out deeper to make another cast.
…then moved out deeper to make another cast.
With no bites coming from this spot, Browning moved along to his next fishing area.
With no bites coming from this spot, Browning moved along to his next fishing area.
James Niggemeyer makes a short move along the flooded bushes on Lake Texoma.
James Niggemeyer makes a short move along the flooded bushes on Lake Texoma.
He sped past Hank Cherry, who was fishing a long, flooded point.
He sped past Hank Cherry, who was fishing a long, flooded point.
Cherry is coming off a 6th place finish in the last Elite Series event held on Toledo Bend.
Cherry is coming off a 6th place finish in the last Elite Series event held on Toledo Bend.
Matt Lee speeds into an area he would share for awhile with...
Matt Lee speeds into an area he would share for awhile with…
...Jacob Powroznik.
…Jacob Powroznik.
And a pair of mallard ducks.
And a pair of mallard ducks.
Lee started fishing the area by flipping flooded willow trees...
Lee started fishing the area by flipping flooded willow trees…
...but got bit on the point leading away from the trees.
…but got bit on the point leading away from the trees.
He quickly boated the fish...
He quickly boated the fish…
...made sure it met the 14-inch length limit requirement...
…made sure it met the 14-inch length limit requirement…
...then placed the fish in his livewell.
…then placed the fish in his livewell.
Meanwhile, Powroznik decided to make a move while staying hydrated with a quick drink.
Meanwhile, Powroznik decided to make a move while staying hydrated with a quick drink.
Matt Lee hit one more willow tree...
Matt Lee hit one more willow tree…
...before making a move along the shoreline of Lake Texoma.
…before making a move along the shoreline of Lake Texoma.
We got a brief look at Morizo Shimizu making a move...
We got a brief look at Morizo Shimizu making a move…
...and Andy Montgomery, too.
…and Andy Montgomery, too.
Jay Brainard idles into one of the many marinas on Lake Texoma...
Jay Brainard idles into one of the many marinas on Lake Texoma…
...and stopped to fish a row of sailboats.
…and stopped to fish a row of sailboats.
Nearby we found Boyd Duckett...
Nearby we found Boyd Duckett…
...and David Williams, too.
…and David Williams, too.
Several anglers made their way into the marina as the first flight neared its check-in time.
Several anglers made their way into the marina as the first flight neared its check-in time.
But Randall Tharp was sticking with fishing flooded trees and bushes...
But Randall Tharp was sticking with fishing flooded trees and bushes…
...and was getting a few bites late in the day.
…and was getting a few bites late in the day.
Tharp caught a good limit earlier in the day...
Tharp caught a good limit earlier in the day…
...and knew this fish wouldn't help him cull.
…and knew this fish wouldn’t help him cull.
Tharp fished to the back of a flooded drain before spinning the trolling motor around and backing out.
Tharp fished to the back of a flooded drain before spinning the trolling motor around and backing out.
Scott Rook was grinding away in a group a willow trees near the end of his day.
Scott Rook was grinding away in a group a willow trees near the end of his day.