Classic: Day One on the water II

The first day of competition commences on Grand Lake O' the Cherokees.

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<p>Fans gather around Kevin VanDam, which is something he’s used to at the Bassmaster Classic. </p>
Fans gather around Kevin VanDam, which is something he’s used to at the Bassmaster Classic. 
<p>VanDam casts early on Day One of the Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake.</p>
VanDam casts early on Day One of the Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake.
<p>By the end of Day One, VanDam had 20 pounds, but that sack was built upon an early, smaller limit. The following three photos are of one of his early keepers.</p>
By the end of Day One, VanDam had 20 pounds, but that sack was built upon an early, smaller limit. The following three photos are of one of his early keepers.
<p>An early keeper for KVD on Day One.</p>
An early keeper for KVD on Day One.
<p>VanDam brings the keeper to his boat.</p>
VanDam brings the keeper to his boat.
<p>VanDam unhooks his keeper.</p>
VanDam unhooks his keeper.
<p>VanDam boats another early keeper.</p>
VanDam boats another early keeper.
<p>In case you didn’t believe us that it was cold, here is proof.</p>
In case you didn’t believe us that it was cold, here is proof.
<p>VanDam adds to his early limit, which came in at about 10 pounds.</p>
VanDam adds to his early limit, which came in at about 10 pounds.
<p>Gerald Swindle fishes a rock point early on Friday morning. </p>
Gerald Swindle fishes a rock point early on Friday morning. 
<p>Much to these fans’ dismay, Swindle did not have a good morning.</p>
Much to these fans’ dismay, Swindle did not have a good morning.
<p> </p> <p>Somewhere back there is Michael Iaconelli.</p>
 
Somewhere back there is Michael Iaconelli.
<p>Iaconelli and local Jason Christie were battling for the most fish and most spectators for most of the morning. </p>
Iaconelli and local Jason Christie were battling for the most fish and most spectators for most of the morning. 
<p> </p> <p>Iaconelli followed the signs to an early lead, catching all of his bass on docks before 10 a.m.</p>
 
Iaconelli followed the signs to an early lead, catching all of his bass on docks before 10 a.m.
<p>Iaconelli casts around a dock.</p>
Iaconelli casts around a dock.
<p>All of Iaconelli’s early limit came from the same group of docks.</p>
All of Iaconelli’s early limit came from the same group of docks.
<p>Iaconelli works his way between the dock and the shoreline. </p>
Iaconelli works his way between the dock and the shoreline. 
<p>Anglers fishing the Classic have to adjust to the media and spectator attention.</p>
Anglers fishing the Classic have to adjust to the media and spectator attention.
<p> </p> <p style=
 
 Iaconelli hooks up. The next three photos highlight that catch.
<p>Iaconelli hooks up with another bass. He had caught 10 by 10 a.m., but had trouble improving on his limit.</p>
Iaconelli hooks up with another bass. He had caught 10 by 10 a.m., but had trouble improving on his limit.
<p>ESPN cameramen were with Iaconelli all morning, gathering footage for the TV show March 2-3 on ESPN2.</p>
ESPN cameramen were with Iaconelli all morning, gathering footage for the TV show March 2-3 on ESPN2.
<p>The estimate on the number of boats following Jason Christie was somewhere between 40 and 50.<br />  </p>
The estimate on the number of boats following Jason Christie was somewhere between 40 and 50.
 
<p>Christie, like many of the anglers Friday morning, was fishing docks.</p>
Christie, like many of the anglers Friday morning, was fishing docks.
<p>Christie was moving frequently, which created quite a situation when you consider how many boats were following him.</p>
Christie was moving frequently, which created quite a situation when you consider how many boats were following him.
<p>Chrisite settles into a new spot. </p>
Chrisite settles into a new spot. 
<p>And so does Christie’s flotilla. </p>
And so does Christie’s flotilla. 
<p> </p> <p><span style=
 
 
Mike Iaconelli blows the ice gathered on the line in his reel. 
<p>Spectators boat surround local Oklahoma favorite Jason Christie. </p>
Spectators boat surround local Oklahoma favorite Jason Christie. 
<p>Christie makes a move and so do all his spectator boats. </p>
Christie makes a move and so do all his spectator boats. 
<p>Christie didn’t stay in one place very long. </p>
Christie didn’t stay in one place very long. 
<p>Christie makes a cast at his next stop.</p>
Christie makes a cast at his next stop.
<p>A few casts and Christie and his armada were on the move again.</p>
A few casts and Christie and his armada were on the move again.
<p>The double burner stove in this spectator boat had to feel good on a very cold Day One.</p>
The double burner stove in this spectator boat had to feel good on a very cold Day One.
<p>Christie makes a stop on a steep rocky point. </p>
Christie makes a stop on a steep rocky point. 
<p>Matt Lee was having a very tough Day One, with only one keeper in the live well late in the day.</p>
Matt Lee was having a very tough Day One, with only one keeper in the live well late in the day.
<p>Lee hooks up with his second fish of the day. </p>
Lee hooks up with his second fish of the day. 
<p>Lee gets a grip on the keeper.</p>
Lee gets a grip on the keeper.
<p>Lee safely brings the fish aboard his boat.</p>
Lee safely brings the fish aboard his boat.
<p>Brian Mason captures Lee’s fish catch for Bassmaster television. </p>
Brian Mason captures Lee’s fish catch for Bassmaster television. 
<p>Lee uses his pliers to free the hooks from the bass.</p>
Lee uses his pliers to free the hooks from the bass.
<p>Both the camera man and the fishermen were happy Lee boated another fish. </p>
Both the camera man and the fishermen were happy Lee boated another fish. 
<p>Lee picks up his rod and gets back to work.</p>
Lee picks up his rod and gets back to work.
<p>With less than an hour to fish and only two fish in the live well, Lee felt he could still catch a five fish limit.</p>
With less than an hour to fish and only two fish in the live well, Lee felt he could still catch a five fish limit.
<p>Lee’s boat is equipped with plenty of Lowrance electronics. </p>
Lee’s boat is equipped with plenty of Lowrance electronics. 
<p>Lee fires another cast with a jerkbait.</p>
Lee fires another cast with a jerkbait.
<p>Brian Mason keeps his camera pointed at Matt Lee.</p>
Brian Mason keeps his camera pointed at Matt Lee.
<p>Hank Cherry is pulled from the water after fishing Day One of his first Bassmaster Classic.</p>
Hank Cherry is pulled from the water after fishing Day One of his first Bassmaster Classic.
<p>The first flight of boats begins to return to the launch area.</p>
The first flight of boats begins to return to the launch area.
<p>Anglers begin to arrive at the boat ramp at the end of Day One.</p>
Anglers begin to arrive at the boat ramp at the end of Day One.
<p>Kevin VanDam loads his boat for the trip to Tulsa. </p>
Kevin VanDam loads his boat for the trip to Tulsa. 
<p>Edwin Evers and Russ Lane check in at the end of the day.</p>
Edwin Evers and Russ Lane check in at the end of the day.
<p>Kevin VanDam tells his driver to stop so he can sign a cap for a young fishing fan.</p>
Kevin VanDam tells his driver to stop so he can sign a cap for a young fishing fan.
<p>Mike Iaconelli, Brandon Palaniuk and Alton Jones take a few moments to work on their tackle before loading their boats.</p>
Mike Iaconelli, Brandon Palaniuk and Alton Jones take a few moments to work on their tackle before loading their boats.
<p>Ott Defoe stows his gear at the end of the day. </p>
Ott Defoe stows his gear at the end of the day. 
<p>A team of photographers from Japan followed Kevin VanDam early on Day One.</p>
A team of photographers from Japan followed Kevin VanDam early on Day One.
<p>VanDam dips his rod in the water to clear the ice from the guides on his rod.</p>
VanDam dips his rod in the water to clear the ice from the guides on his rod.
<p>VanDam had a five fish limit at 9:30 a.m. on Day One.</p>
VanDam had a five fish limit at 9:30 a.m. on Day One.
<p>Gerald Swindle fishes a riprap wall under a highway bridge.</p>
Gerald Swindle fishes a riprap wall under a highway bridge.
<p>Spectators kept a courteous distance from the pros they followed on Day One. </p>
Spectators kept a courteous distance from the pros they followed on Day One.