Up close: Day 2

Get up close with BASSfest anglers on the water on Day 2 at Chickamauga Lake.

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Jeremy Starks is hooked up! [Photographer's note: Apologies for the exposure (whiteness) of these next few images. In the melee, I accidentally switched a setting on my camera.]
Jeremy Starks is hooked up! [Photographer’s note: Apologies for the exposure (whiteness) of these next few images. In the melee, I accidentally switched a setting on my camera.]
Starks goes to flip the fish into his boat.
Starks goes to flip the fish into his boat.
It's home!
It’s home!
Another keeper
Another keeper
That's a good one! But his day would only get better.
That’s a good one! But his day would only get better.
He's hooked up again!
He’s hooked up again!
This bass was a touch larger.
This bass was a touch larger.
It had a lot of fight in it. Chris Lane looks on.
It had a lot of fight in it. Chris Lane looks on.
Bass are some amazingly acrobatic creatures.
Bass are some amazingly acrobatic creatures.
It's still going!
It’s still going!
Starks reaches for a
Starks reaches for a “come-hither” rod; in other words, a casting setup that has more power than a spinning outfit.
He's getting it closer, and doesn't seem to mind its jumping all that much.
He’s getting it closer, and doesn’t seem to mind its jumping all that much.
He's enjoying the show.
He’s enjoying the show.
A close-up of the bass' aerial display.
A close-up of the bass’ aerial display.
It's almost in his grasp...
It’s almost in his grasp…
...but it jumps again!
…but it jumps again!
It could get away this time...
It could get away this time…
...but he finally scoops it up.
…but he finally scoops it up.
It was another solid fish.
It was another solid fish.
Tommy Biffle boats his first keeper.
Tommy Biffle boats his first keeper.
Biffle is hooked up early.
Biffle is hooked up early.
Biffle makes another cast.
Biffle makes another cast.
Because of his Day 1 success, Biffle had an ESPN camera on him.
Because of his Day 1 success, Biffle had an ESPN camera on him.
Davy Hite was all smiles this morning.
Davy Hite was all smiles this morning.
Chris Lane watches on as the fish he hooked tries desperately to escape.
Chris Lane watches on as the fish he hooked tries desperately to escape.
The fish has more fight in it!
The fish has more fight in it!
It's a small fish, but it was feisty.
It’s a small fish, but it was feisty.
Lane unhooks it...
Lane unhooks it…
...and adds it to his livewell.
…and adds it to his livewell.
Lane had a number of rods on his deck early on.
Lane had a number of rods on his deck early on.
He was fishing in a group of anglers all working together. Next to him was Jeremy Starks, Boyd Duckett, Cliff Prince, and Jared Miller.
He was fishing in a group of anglers all working together. Next to him was Jeremy Starks, Boyd Duckett, Cliff Prince, and Jared Miller.
Here's his drop shot terminal tackle.
Here’s his drop shot terminal tackle.
Lane considers his next move.
Lane considers his next move.
Starks works his drop shot as Prince looks at his graph.
Starks works his drop shot as Prince looks at his graph.
Cliff Prince hooks up!
Cliff Prince hooks up!
It'll keep.
It’ll keep.
Lane still working the deep water.
Lane still working the deep water.
Starks is now hooked up!
Starks is now hooked up!
There were several schools of bass beneath the gaggle of pros.
There were several schools of bass beneath the gaggle of pros.
Lane hooks one on a Carolina rig.
Lane hooks one on a Carolina rig.
He flips it into the boat.
He flips it into the boat.
This one would keep, too.
This one would keep, too.
He makes mention of the cast he just made, which was perilously close to Starks' outboard.
He makes mention of the cast he just made, which was perilously close to Starks’ outboard.
Starks' spinning tackle.
Starks’ spinning tackle.
Nearby, Boyd Duckett wrestles a sure-enough bass.
Nearby, Boyd Duckett wrestles a sure-enough bass.
He whipped it in short order.
He whipped it in short order.
He unhooks it...
He unhooks it…
...and shows it off to the spectators.
…and shows it off to the spectators.
Starks and Lane were side by side for much of the day.
Starks and Lane were side by side for much of the day.
Boyd has another big one!
Boyd has another big one!
He scoops it up...
He scoops it up…
...and displays it proudly.
…and displays it proudly.
Duckett and Lane chat.
Duckett and Lane chat.
Starks is back at it!
Starks is back at it!
This one was frisky as well.
This one was frisky as well.
It gave Starks a fit.
It gave Starks a fit.
How cool are these fish!?
How cool are these fish!?
The bass fought as Starks led it to the back of the boat.
The bass fought as Starks led it to the back of the boat.
He eventually boat-flipped it.
He eventually boat-flipped it.
And he unhooks his prize.
And he unhooks his prize.
Into the well it goes!
Into the well it goes!
Starks had offered Cliff Prince a few of the jigheads that had landed him two fish, and Prince gladly accepted them. The teamwork and camaraderie of this group was amazing. Kudos go to all of them. What other sport's competitors offer each other so much help?
Starks had offered Cliff Prince a few of the jigheads that had landed him two fish, and Prince gladly accepted them. The teamwork and camaraderie of this group was amazing. Kudos go to all of them. What other sport’s competitors offer each other so much help?
Chris Lane lands another.
Chris Lane lands another.
Starks and Prince retrieve their baits close to each other.
Starks and Prince retrieve their baits close to each other.
Starks checks his livewell.
Starks checks his livewell.
See you all later!
See you all later!