Classic: Day 1 from the air

Day 1 of the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods began with some wind and a bit of cloud cover over Lake Conroe.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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Brett Hite was fishing towards the back of a creek and looking for his first fish of the day.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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From high above Hite.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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The wind was strong on the main lake, but significantly less in the creeks.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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There is lots of flooded habitat for big ones to live in.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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Photo: Garrick Dixon

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A look down on some of the flooded brush.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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Photo: Garrick Dixon

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Where would you flip?

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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Outside of the flooded brush was a bit deeper water with bits of wood and grass sticking up above the surface.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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Many of the long creeks have bridges over them.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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In a different creek we located Skylar Hamilton.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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He was fishing shallow and was trying to avoid being in the wind.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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Skylar working his way down the bank.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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Not far behind Skylar was Bill Lowen.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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Both anglers worked their way up and down the creek.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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Photo: Garrick Dixon

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As the anglers were about to cross paths Bill sets the hook, but the fish came unbuttoned and swam back down into the depths.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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A look back towards the lake from way up the creek.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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Lowen flips his way towards a small point.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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He sets the hook and this time connects.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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He flips the fish into the boat, but this one is too small to keep.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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He unhooks the fish and puts it back in the lake.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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He grabs another bait out of his locker.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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Then goes back to flippin’.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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I almost stepped on this as I was climbing up the bank to shoot more pictures of Bill.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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Lowen works his way into even skinnier water.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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He’s locked on a limb in the water.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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Flip, flip, flip.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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Lowen sets the hook, this fish looks like a good one!

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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He steers it towards the back deck of the boat.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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Then grabs it and brings it over the side. This one is close to 5 pounds.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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Lowen unhooks the fish.

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Bill heads back out to the main creek and continues to fish down the shoreline.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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Not far away we located Chris Zaldain who had a decent bag in the box and was hunting for a big bite.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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Photo: Garrick Dixon

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After fishing through an area Chris makes a few moves. He’s looking for big ones.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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Can you spot Zaldain way back in this picture?

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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Chris up close and personal with a dock.

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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A giant could literally come on any cast. With a couple more hours until weigh in will Chris be able to get that big girl in his live well to show you back in Houston?!

Photo: Garrick Dixon

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Classic: Day 1 from the air

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