Day 1 with Combs

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Keith Combs fished against Brett Hite on Tuesday. He began just a half-mile from takeoff, where a kayaker came by to check him out.
Keith Combs fished against Brett Hite on Tuesday. He began just a half-mile from takeoff, where a kayaker came by to check him out.
Just 50 feet away, another angler stopped to fish.
Just 50 feet away, another angler stopped to fish.
Combs moved to a nearby marina and immediately hooked up.
Combs moved to a nearby marina and immediately hooked up.
But this one was a dink and he released it into the Niagara River without measuring it.
But this one was a dink and he released it into the Niagara River without measuring it.
He then moved carefully down the bank and fished near a drainage pipe.
He then moved carefully down the bank and fished near a drainage pipe.
Combs slowed down just long enough for a group of waterfowl to watch him fish.
Combs slowed down just long enough for a group of waterfowl to watch him fish.
Combs then hooks up with a fish that appeared to be a keeper.
Combs then hooks up with a fish that appeared to be a keeper.
This one battled him all the way to the boat.
This one battled him all the way to the boat.
Combs had been fishing for 90 minutes and was excited to hook up with a bigger bass.
Combs had been fishing for 90 minutes and was excited to hook up with a bigger bass.
Bassmaster official Alan Pierce tried to stay out of the way.
Bassmaster official Alan Pierce tried to stay out of the way.
They measured the bass in at 2 pounds, 5 ounces.
They measured the bass in at 2 pounds, 5 ounces.
Combs was glad to get his first bass of the day onto the leaderboard.
Combs was glad to get his first bass of the day onto the leaderboard.
Soon after he caught another dink.
Soon after he caught another dink.
And he decided it might be time for a different bait.
And he decided it might be time for a different bait.
Combs then fished close to the bank, weaving in and out of some low hanging branches.
Combs then fished close to the bank, weaving in and out of some low hanging branches.
He then moved back across the river and hooked up with his second keeper class bass.
He then moved back across the river and hooked up with his second keeper class bass.
He very carefully worked this one close to the boat.
He very carefully worked this one close to the boat.
And quickly flipped it into the boat.
And quickly flipped it into the boat.
In the Toyota Angler Of the Year race, Combs sits in second place. He clearly knows how to land a healthy smallmouth.
In the Toyota Angler Of the Year race, Combs sits in second place. He clearly knows how to land a healthy smallmouth.
He moved toward the Bassmaster official to weigh this beauty.
He moved toward the Bassmaster official to weigh this beauty.
But then noticed his boat drifting toward the seawall.
But then noticed his boat drifting toward the seawall.
Combs ran back to the front of the boat and trolled his way out of danger.
Combs ran back to the front of the boat and trolled his way out of danger.
Now let’s weigh the fish for real.
Now let’s weigh the fish for real.
Another nice smallmouth!
Another nice smallmouth!
Without wasting any time, Combs blasted off for his next spot.
Without wasting any time, Combs blasted off for his next spot.
He quickly caught another non-keeper.
He quickly caught another non-keeper.
And moved on down the bank, where a spectator watched his every move.
And moved on down the bank, where a spectator watched his every move.
A spectator of a different species tried to act like he wasn’t paying attention.
A spectator of a different species tried to act like he wasn’t paying attention.
Before long Combs connected with another healthy smallmouth.
Before long Combs connected with another healthy smallmouth.
Waves generated by a pleasure boater threatened get the angler wet, but Combs was focused on something else.
Waves generated by a pleasure boater threatened get the angler wet, but Combs was focused on something else.
Combs treated this bass with kid gloves, carefully working it toward the boat.
Combs treated this bass with kid gloves, carefully working it toward the boat.
He may have know this was his best bass of the day.
He may have know this was his best bass of the day.
Oh yeah, this one will measure.
Oh yeah, this one will measure.
He struggled for a minute to get work the bait free.
He struggled for a minute to get work the bait free.
This smallmouth weighed in at 3 pounds, 9 ounces. It was the big bass of the day.
This smallmouth weighed in at 3 pounds, 9 ounces. It was the big bass of the day.
A nearby spectator watched the drama unfold.
A nearby spectator watched the drama unfold.
Minutes later, time was up, and Combs headed to the house.
Minutes later, time was up, and Combs headed to the house.