Day 1 on Chickamauga

Follow along with the pros as they take on Day 1 of Bassmaster BASSfest at Chickamauga Lake.

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The morning starts off fast for Cliff Prince.
The morning starts off fast for Cliff Prince.
He quickly boats a fish on the dark, cloudy morning.
He quickly boats a fish on the dark, cloudy morning.
The fish, though, is not big enough to keep.
The fish, though, is not big enough to keep.
Nearby, Open angler Skylar Hamilton works his bait across the same underwater island, as Keith Combs passes in the background.
Nearby, Open angler Skylar Hamilton works his bait across the same underwater island, as Keith Combs passes in the background.
Brandon Palaniuk watches the action.
Brandon Palaniuk watches the action.
And then has to reposition his trolling motor after his line blew into the shaft.
And then has to reposition his trolling motor after his line blew into the shaft.
Hamilton shares the area with several anglers. He stays there most of the day.
Hamilton shares the area with several anglers. He stays there most of the day.
As does Palaniuk, but several anglers came and went during the day.
As does Palaniuk, but several anglers came and went during the day.
Anglers like Matt Reed pop in, hit a key stretch, then move on.
Anglers like Matt Reed pop in, hit a key stretch, then move on.
Jamie Horton circles around a time or two.
Jamie Horton circles around a time or two.
Cliff Prince stays close all day.
Cliff Prince stays close all day.
Boats constantly pass, some of them getting a wave.
Boats constantly pass, some of them getting a wave.
But most of them are ignored,
But most of them are ignored,
as these anglers focus on making the perfect cast.
as these anglers focus on making the perfect cast.
Across the river, Kendall Newson makes a long cast.
Across the river, Kendall Newson makes a long cast.
And Alton Jones works an area not far from him.
And Alton Jones works an area not far from him.
A consistent backdrop for many of these anglers are the two nuclear reactors on the skyline.
A consistent backdrop for many of these anglers are the two nuclear reactors on the skyline.
Nate Wellman casts to a ledge.
Nate Wellman casts to a ledge.
And a few yards away, so does Chris Lane.
And a few yards away, so does Chris Lane.
Like most anglers, Lane struggles early in the day.
Like most anglers, Lane struggles early in the day.
But there are those who are getting bites.
But there are those who are getting bites.
Derek Remitz hooks up with a big one that splashes across the surface.
Derek Remitz hooks up with a big one that splashes across the surface.
The fish, though, came off at the side of the boat.
The fish, though, came off at the side of the boat.
Nearby, Matt Reed focuses on his cast as David Walker runs by him.
Nearby, Matt Reed focuses on his cast as David Walker runs by him.
Remitz continues working,
Remitz continues working,
but gets no more bites from this area.
but gets no more bites from this area.
Matt Reed uses sign language to relay how many fish are in his boat.
Matt Reed uses sign language to relay how many fish are in his boat.
A half a mile away, David Mullins casts.
A half a mile away, David Mullins casts.
50 yards from him, Jason Christie sets the hook.
50 yards from him, Jason Christie sets the hook.
The fish quickly got to the surface,
The fish quickly got to the surface,
making a big splash,
making a big splash,
before Christie can bring the non-keeper aboard.
before Christie can bring the non-keeper aboard.
Meanwhile, Mullins kept casting.
Meanwhile, Mullins kept casting.
At times, it looks as if his casts might be aimed at Christie.
At times, it looks as if his casts might be aimed at Christie.
Christie, though, is casting as well.
Christie, though, is casting as well.
He sets the hook, but comes up empty.
He sets the hook, but comes up empty.
About 400 yards away, Alton Jones works a different area.
About 400 yards away, Alton Jones works a different area.
The Texas pro spent much of his morning, like many of the anglers, moving from one piece of structure to the next.
The Texas pro spent much of his morning, like many of the anglers, moving from one piece of structure to the next.
And picking apart every piece of it.
And picking apart every piece of it.
As the rain began to fall, Britt Myers hooks up.
As the rain began to fall, Britt Myers hooks up.
The fish quickly takes him to the side of the boat,
The fish quickly takes him to the side of the boat,
forcing Myers to take a seat.
forcing Myers to take a seat.
Myers handles the 5-pound fish easily.
Myers handles the 5-pound fish easily.
And quickly gets back to fishing.
And quickly gets back to fishing.
Those not fishing ledges could cast to duck blinds.
Those not fishing ledges could cast to duck blinds.
Or cast to grass beds
Or cast to grass beds
Or river channels.
Or river channels.
Kevin VanDam casts to a little of all of it.
Kevin VanDam casts to a little of all of it.
The angler produces 20-plus pounds of fish over the course of the day.
The angler produces 20-plus pounds of fish over the course of the day.
The Michigan pro, like every one else, spends a lot of time casting.
The Michigan pro, like every one else, spends a lot of time casting.
And occasionally catching things like catfish,
And occasionally catching things like catfish,
as anglers like Mark Davis sped by.
as anglers like Mark Davis sped by.
VanDam, though, keeps working for bass.
VanDam, though, keeps working for bass.
Sometimes chewing a piece of line as he works.
Sometimes chewing a piece of line as he works.
Sometimes looking bored with the result.
Sometimes looking bored with the result.
But always focused.
But always focused.
And he is rewarded with a keeper.
And he is rewarded with a keeper.
This one quickly gets in the boat.
This one quickly gets in the boat.
Giving his captor a shower.
Giving his captor a shower.
VanDam assesses the fish,
VanDam assesses the fish,
And then tosses it back.
And then tosses it back.
Getting back to work
Getting back to work
and occasionally looking a little bored.
and occasionally looking a little bored.