College Bracket Day 1 on the water

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Day 1 of the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket began on Thursday at famed Kentucky Lake as the Top 4 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship teams split into eight individuals in a bracketed competition for one Bassmaster Classic spot.
Day 1 of the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket began on Thursday at famed Kentucky Lake as the Top 4 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship teams split into eight individuals in a bracketed competition for one Bassmaster Classic spot.
Brian Pahl of Bethel University was the first angler we saw after launching from Paris Landing State Park.
Brian Pahl of Bethel University was the first angler we saw after launching from Paris Landing State Park.
He and teammate John Garrett worked together during their practice period and as a result were sharing water early on during Round 1 of competition.
He and teammate John Garrett worked together during their practice period and as a result were sharing water early on during Round 1 of competition.
Garrett was using one of the Phoenix 921's provided to competitors during the bracket. He already had four quick keepers in the boat before Pahl arrived.
Garrett was using one of the Phoenix 921’s provided to competitors during the bracket. He already had four quick keepers in the boat before Pahl arrived.
The two Bethel anglers have the most experience on Kentucky Lake out of the 8 bracket competitors.
The two Bethel anglers have the most experience on Kentucky Lake out of the 8 bracket competitors.
After a slight drizzle just before takeoff, a rainbow formed over Kentucky Lake.
After a slight drizzle just before takeoff, a rainbow formed over Kentucky Lake.
Pahl and Garrett both had ESPNU cameramen with them today.
Pahl and Garrett both had ESPNU cameramen with them today.
Not to mention some drone action as well. Let's just say they were covered pretty well.
Not to mention some drone action as well. Let’s just say they were covered pretty well.
After the early cloud cover, the sun began to break through and blanket the day in some major heat.
After the early cloud cover, the sun began to break through and blanket the day in some major heat.
Pahl hooked up with a fish while I was nearby.
Pahl hooked up with a fish while I was nearby.
He battled it to the boat and prepared to swing it in.
He battled it to the boat and prepared to swing it in.
He eyeballs the fish to see if it may keep.
He eyeballs the fish to see if it may keep.
In the state of Tennessee bass have to measure 15 inches to be legal. This one was not 15 so Pahl threw it back.
In the state of Tennessee bass have to measure 15 inches to be legal. This one was not 15 so Pahl threw it back.
Pahl was still searching for his first keeper of the day.
Pahl was still searching for his first keeper of the day.
Meanwhile, Garrett was trying to boat his 5th.
Meanwhile, Garrett was trying to boat his 5th.
Garrett headed out to his second spot while Pahl probed their area.
Garrett headed out to his second spot while Pahl probed their area.
With storms throughout practice, the anglers didn't get the full 2 1/2 days of practice as lightening hindered their preparation.
With storms throughout practice, the anglers didn’t get the full 2 1/2 days of practice as lightening hindered their preparation.
So local knowledge from the Bethel anglers could help them.
So local knowledge from the Bethel anglers could help them.
Pahl decides to pack up and head out to his next spot.
Pahl decides to pack up and head out to his next spot.
It wasn't long before we found our next angler, which was Taylor Bivins of Kansas State.
It wasn’t long before we found our next angler, which was Taylor Bivins of Kansas State.
Bivins was half of the National Championship team that won on Green River Lake last week.
Bivins was half of the National Championship team that won on Green River Lake last week.
He opted between two different baits during the morning.
He opted between two different baits during the morning.
One was a reaction presentation on top while the other was a slower presentation when he wanted thoroughly work an area.
One was a reaction presentation on top while the other was a slower presentation when he wanted thoroughly work an area.
Sam Stone of Texas State drives by as he makes his way to the mouth of the creek.
Sam Stone of Texas State drives by as he makes his way to the mouth of the creek.
Bivins continued to work his area, but was surprised there were as many competitors in the creek as there were.
Bivins continued to work his area, but was surprised there were as many competitors in the creek as there were.
Stone was running and gunning shallow banks with a spinnerbait and had caught numerous short fish and one keeper early on.
Stone was running and gunning shallow banks with a spinnerbait and had caught numerous short fish and one keeper early on.
It didn't last long as he decided to head out.
It didn’t last long as he decided to head out.
Bivins had one small keeper early on and was hoping to take down Austin Handley is his matchup.
Bivins had one small keeper early on and was hoping to take down Austin Handley is his matchup.
He, too, decided to takeoff and head out.
He, too, decided to takeoff and head out.
Caleb Wozniak of Auburn was also in this creek to start the morning and had one small fish in the livewell.
Caleb Wozniak of Auburn was also in this creek to start the morning and had one small fish in the livewell.
He was working docks with a wacky rigged stick worm.
He was working docks with a wacky rigged stick worm.
And would also throw a frog around the dock floats and shallow cover.
And would also throw a frog around the dock floats and shallow cover.
Wozniak pulled up his trolling motor and decided to idle further in the creek to fish a small marina.
Wozniak pulled up his trolling motor and decided to idle further in the creek to fish a small marina.
Wozniak would finish his day with just one keeper and would get eliminated by Bivins.
Wozniak would finish his day with just one keeper and would get eliminated by Bivins.
At this point in the morning Bivins had boated two small fish and was looking for a better bite.
At this point in the morning Bivins had boated two small fish and was looking for a better bite.
He set the hook and battled a fish to the boat.
He set the hook and battled a fish to the boat.
It was fighting like a grown one as Bivins kept it hooked up.
It was fighting like a grown one as Bivins kept it hooked up.
When he tries to swing it in he realizes it was a smallmouth and that's why the battle was harder than normal.
When he tries to swing it in he realizes it was a smallmouth and that’s why the battle was harder than normal.
After landing the fish and giving it a quick measure he concludes it isn't a keeper and won't help the cause.
After landing the fish and giving it a quick measure he concludes it isn’t a keeper and won’t help the cause.
We head out and leave Bivins with two fish...he would later boat a third and win his matchup to advance to the semi-finals.
We head out and leave Bivins with two fish…he would later boat a third and win his matchup to advance to the semi-finals.
I found Bivins teammate Kyle Alsop who had three fish in the boat and was looking to add to that.
I found Bivins teammate Kyle Alsop who had three fish in the boat and was looking to add to that.
He cruises under a tall walkway as he makes his way down the bank.
He cruises under a tall walkway as he makes his way down the bank.
Alsop was running and gunning to nearby spots at a high frequency.
Alsop was running and gunning to nearby spots at a high frequency.
Alsop was mixing it up as he fished deeper with a slower presentation and would also flip shallow cover as well.
Alsop was mixing it up as he fished deeper with a slower presentation and would also flip shallow cover as well.
Alsop started the morning fast as he had three keepers within the first hour of the day, but had gone through a spell.
Alsop started the morning fast as he had three keepers within the first hour of the day, but had gone through a spell.
A beat-up gizzard shad cruises at the surface of the water.
A beat-up gizzard shad cruises at the surface of the water.
We headed out and saw Evan Coleman soon after, but he was on the move as well.
We headed out and saw Evan Coleman soon after, but he was on the move as well.
Before coming in for the day I found John Garrett who ended up advancing with a 12-pound limit, which was the biggest bag of the bracket in the first round.
Before coming in for the day I found John Garrett who ended up advancing with a 12-pound limit, which was the biggest bag of the bracket in the first round.
There were military choppers overhead for most of the day as they conduct maneuvers.
There were military choppers overhead for most of the day as they conduct maneuvers.