College: Day 1 on Mead

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Day 1 takeoff signals with daybreak as the Carhartt College Series Western Regional is underway at Lake Mead.
Day 1 takeoff signals with daybreak as the Carhartt College Series Western Regional is underway at Lake Mead.
Everyone gets into position for launch.
Everyone gets into position for launch.
The boats lineup in order for takeoff.
The boats lineup in order for takeoff.
But first, time for the national anthem.
But first, time for the national anthem.
The New Mexico State Aggies come out with guns blazing as they lead the field out of Callville Bay Marina.
The New Mexico State Aggies come out with guns blazing as they lead the field out of Callville Bay Marina.
The rest of the field falls into place for Day 1 launch.
The rest of the field falls into place for Day 1 launch.
The last and final boat idles out and now every team is ready to battle it out for the Conference Championship and the 10 available berths to the National Championship.
The last and final boat idles out and now every team is ready to battle it out for the Conference Championship and the 10 available berths to the National Championship.
The first boat we found was Cy Floyd and Kyle Sittman of Eastern Washington.
The first boat we found was Cy Floyd and Kyle Sittman of Eastern Washington.
These two anglers have been here before and have had success at the college level. Most recently Sittman and former EWU angler Laj Tripp took home the 2015 Western Conference title on Lake Folsom.
These two anglers have been here before and have had success at the college level. Most recently Sittman and former EWU angler Laj Tripp took home the 2015 Western Conference title on Lake Folsom.
Floyd yells out that it’s going to be a long day for these two as they never really got on a morning bite and that the afternoon would be key to their success.
Floyd yells out that it’s going to be a long day for these two as they never really got on a morning bite and that the afternoon would be key to their success.
But they keep casting and hoping to get the party started with an unexpected keeper.
But they keep casting and hoping to get the party started with an unexpected keeper.
After 20 minutes they pick up the trolling motor to head to spot number two.
After 20 minutes they pick up the trolling motor to head to spot number two.
They head over to a spot within the same creek arm.
They head over to a spot within the same creek arm.
In the background you can see a snow covered Mount Charleston, meanwhile the rest of the Las Vegas/Lake Mead area is desert-like.
In the background you can see a snow covered Mount Charleston, meanwhile the rest of the Las Vegas/Lake Mead area is desert-like.
Floyd hooks up soon after switching spots.
Floyd hooks up soon after switching spots.
Sittman is there with the net at the ready.
Sittman is there with the net at the ready.
The fish jumps near the boat, but Sittman nets it.
The fish jumps near the boat, but Sittman nets it.
Keeper number one for the duo.
Keeper number one for the duo.
They keep fishing along as they try to dial-in their area.
They keep fishing along as they try to dial-in their area.
Sittman flips to the shallow cover as Floyd throws a moving bait.
Sittman flips to the shallow cover as Floyd throws a moving bait.
They head out soon after. They make a move back to their original starting spot.
They head out soon after. They make a move back to their original starting spot.
They have numerous types of shoreline cover in their area, but they are positioning their boat to take advantage of the depth drop-off about 20 feet off the bank.
They have numerous types of shoreline cover in their area, but they are positioning their boat to take advantage of the depth drop-off about 20 feet off the bank.
They work their way around a point and then head off to another spot with just one keeper in the livewell.
They work their way around a point and then head off to another spot with just one keeper in the livewell.
The team of Zachary Martinez and Joseph Billmaier from Oregon State were on the move so we picked them up while they were en-route.
The team of Zachary Martinez and Joseph Billmaier from Oregon State were on the move so we picked them up while they were en-route.
Martinez and Billmaier said they had zero in the boat, but they were switching their gameplan to see if they could get something going. It’s only two hours into the day, but in fishing it’s important to fish the moment and always think about the next decision.
Martinez and Billmaier said they had zero in the boat, but they were switching their gameplan to see if they could get something going. It’s only two hours into the day, but in fishing it’s important to fish the moment and always think about the next decision.
There are some unique structures on Lake Mead.
There are some unique structures on Lake Mead.
It’s not often that tumbleweed can be considered a shoreline target for bass to hide around.
It’s not often that tumbleweed can be considered a shoreline target for bass to hide around.
Martinez and Billmaier fish on and try to put the pieces to the puzzle.
Martinez and Billmaier fish on and try to put the pieces to the puzzle.
There is certainly plenty of water for the bass to utilize.
There is certainly plenty of water for the bass to utilize.
We headed across the lake and found Cy Floyd and Kyle Sittman of Eastern Washington as they tried to probe Lake Mead for more keepers. You can’t get much more picturesque of a fishery than what Mead provides.
We headed across the lake and found Cy Floyd and Kyle Sittman of Eastern Washington as they tried to probe Lake Mead for more keepers. You can’t get much more picturesque of a fishery than what Mead provides.
Floyd and Sittman were focused in as they worked their way towards a limit.
Floyd and Sittman were focused in as they worked their way towards a limit.
They had two in the boat, but lost a good smallmouth moments before we arrived.
They had two in the boat, but lost a good smallmouth moments before we arrived.
A small wolfpack of Gizzard Shad swam along the shoreline.
A small wolfpack of Gizzard Shad swam along the shoreline.
An old Navy plane flies overhead. Las Vegas has a big military base nearby.
An old Navy plane flies overhead. Las Vegas has a big military base nearby.
On the east coast we call these cormorants, but I don’t know what the westerners refer to these birds as.
On the east coast we call these cormorants, but I don’t know what the westerners refer to these birds as.
Floyd and Sittman flip out their baits.
Floyd and Sittman flip out their baits.
And Sittman hooks up.
And Sittman hooks up.
The fight was on quickly as Sittman tried to win the battle.
The fight was on quickly as Sittman tried to win the battle.
But this time the fish comes unbuttoned before showing himself.
But this time the fish comes unbuttoned before showing himself.
A college team takes a different approach to Lake Mead as they fish much deeper than anyone we’ve seen today.
A college team takes a different approach to Lake Mead as they fish much deeper than anyone we’ve seen today.
We stumbled upon Jacob Wall who is fishing solo this week representing the University of Oregon.
We stumbled upon Jacob Wall who is fishing solo this week representing the University of Oregon.
A paddle boarder scoots by.
A paddle boarder scoots by.
Wall keeps fishing. He had mechanical issues about 45 seconds after launch this morning and just put his head down and kept fishing. He had a solid limit that he estimated in the 12 to 13 pound range.
Wall keeps fishing. He had mechanical issues about 45 seconds after launch this morning and just put his head down and kept fishing. He had a solid limit that he estimated in the 12 to 13 pound range.
Some of his relatives were watching him from the shoreline.
Some of his relatives were watching him from the shoreline.
Wall showed his relentless attitude as he is making a good day out of a lackluster start.
Wall showed his relentless attitude as he is making a good day out of a lackluster start.
Not to mention that he is fishing by himself this week in hopes of fulfilling a possible Bassmaster Classic dream.
Not to mention that he is fishing by himself this week in hopes of fulfilling a possible Bassmaster Classic dream.
But first he hopes to have a solid Day 1 and work his way into one of those Top 10 spots to clinch his berth.
But first he hopes to have a solid Day 1 and work his way into one of those Top 10 spots to clinch his berth.