Day 1 on Chilly Cherokee

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Day 1 of the Bassmaster Elite Series season started with frigid temperatures as 110 pros headed out on Cherokee Lake.
Day 1 of the Bassmaster Elite Series season started with frigid temperatures as 110 pros headed out on Cherokee Lake.
Stetson Blaylock is making his Elite Series debut and already had a keeper in the boat. After landing a drum he was hooked up with another smallmouth.
Stetson Blaylock is making his Elite Series debut and already had a keeper in the boat. After landing a drum he was hooked up with another smallmouth.
Blaylock fought the feisty smallmouth at the boat as he looked to land what looked like a good one.
Blaylock fought the feisty smallmouth at the boat as he looked to land what looked like a good one.
He landed the chunky smallmouth at the passenger seat.
He landed the chunky smallmouth at the passenger seat.
Blaylock was happy with the fast start to his Elite Series career.
Blaylock was happy with the fast start to his Elite Series career.
Off in the distance, Chad Morgenthaler and Jeff Kriet fish nearby.
Off in the distance, Chad Morgenthaler and Jeff Kriet fish nearby.
There are quite a few areas with big boulders for smallmouth to gather nearby.
There are quite a few areas with big boulders for smallmouth to gather nearby.
Fred Roumbanis was fishing some of the rocky terrain as a group of blue heron landed on the point.
Fred Roumbanis was fishing some of the rocky terrain as a group of blue heron landed on the point.
You can see the grooves in the rocks from years of wear.
You can see the grooves in the rocks from years of wear.
Minnesota angler Seth Feider was focused on his electronics as he fished vertically.
Minnesota angler Seth Feider was focused on his electronics as he fished vertically.
Todd Faircloth was fishing offshore as we passed by.
Todd Faircloth was fishing offshore as we passed by.
Chad Morgenthaler was changing areas as we settled on Faircloth.
Chad Morgenthaler was changing areas as we settled on Faircloth.
Faircloth was trying to stay warm as he fished a spinning rod vertically.
Faircloth was trying to stay warm as he fished a spinning rod vertically.
We found Brandon Palaniuk fishing some hard cover.
We found Brandon Palaniuk fishing some hard cover.
Tennessee angler Brandon Lester was on the move to his next spot.
Tennessee angler Brandon Lester was on the move to his next spot.
Palaniuk had a tough practice at Cherokee, but was on the way to filling his limit and was hooked up with his 3rd keeper.
Palaniuk had a tough practice at Cherokee, but was on the way to filling his limit and was hooked up with his 3rd keeper.
He took it to the side of the boat.
He took it to the side of the boat.
He reaches in the frigid water to grab the smallmouth by the back.
He reaches in the frigid water to grab the smallmouth by the back.
That’s a solid one for Palaniuk.
That’s a solid one for Palaniuk.
He was pumped to have this smallmouth in the boat.
He was pumped to have this smallmouth in the boat.
His 3rd keeper was one of his biggest so far.
His 3rd keeper was one of his biggest so far.
A bald eagle flew over us as Palaniuk fished.
A bald eagle flew over us as Palaniuk fished.
He hooked up another fish moments later.
He hooked up another fish moments later.
He took this one to the side of the boat and thought it was a big one.
He took this one to the side of the boat and thought it was a big one.
But it was a smaller fish that was fighting hard.
But it was a smaller fish that was fighting hard.
He swung the smallmouth aboard.
He swung the smallmouth aboard.
He tossed this one back as we headed out in search of another angler.
He tossed this one back as we headed out in search of another angler.
On the way to the next spot we saw a group of birds dive-bombing baitfish.
On the way to the next spot we saw a group of birds dive-bombing baitfish.
We found Tennessee angler Brandon Card who was struggling early on Day 1.
We found Tennessee angler Brandon Card who was struggling early on Day 1.
Card didn’t have a keeper yet, but was hooked up in front of us.
Card didn’t have a keeper yet, but was hooked up in front of us.
He landed his first smallmouth of the event, but he needed to measure it to make sure it’s a keeper.
He landed his first smallmouth of the event, but he needed to measure it to make sure it’s a keeper.
It was indeed a keeper and Brandon Card was on the board.
It was indeed a keeper and Brandon Card was on the board.
He said he had a couple areas that were loaded with bait and fish, but with the wind change it didn’t pan out this morning.
He said he had a couple areas that were loaded with bait and fish, but with the wind change it didn’t pan out this morning.
Cliff Prince drives by.
Cliff Prince drives by.
I was riding with Davy Hite and saw a fish on the left side of the screen underneath a small wad of bait.
I was riding with Davy Hite and saw a fish on the left side of the screen underneath a small wad of bait.
Adrian Avena stopped for a moment, but then he took off and headed to another spot.
Adrian Avena stopped for a moment, but then he took off and headed to another spot.
We found James Niggemeyer fishing in a concealed creek.
We found James Niggemeyer fishing in a concealed creek.
He is battling the flu this week and he didn’t have a full practice because he was sick.
He is battling the flu this week and he didn’t have a full practice because he was sick.
From the looks of the clouds hanging over Cherokee Lake, the snow may be on it’s way.
From the looks of the clouds hanging over Cherokee Lake, the snow may be on it’s way.
Davy Hite and Dave Mercer were watching Mark Menendez fish. Menendez had caught a good sack of fish early and was one of the top anglers.
Davy Hite and Dave Mercer were watching Mark Menendez fish. Menendez had caught a good sack of fish early and was one of the top anglers.
He was hooked up again…
He was hooked up again…
And he glanced around to make sure who was around. But moments later the fish came off.
And he glanced around to make sure who was around. But moments later the fish came off.
He got back on his spot and was back at it.
He got back on his spot and was back at it.
He hooked up again, just moments later.
He hooked up again, just moments later.
He took it to the side of the boat…
He took it to the side of the boat…
And landed it at the driver seat.
And landed it at the driver seat.
He added another solid smallmouth to the livewell as he stayed near the top of the leaderboard.
He added another solid smallmouth to the livewell as he stayed near the top of the leaderboard.
He unhooked the keeper and culled.
He unhooked the keeper and culled.
We left Menendez as he fished his group of smallmouth in hopes of moving up to the top.
We left Menendez as he fished his group of smallmouth in hopes of moving up to the top.