College: Day 1 on Rayburn

Day 1 of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Central Regional presented by Bass Pro Shops on Sam Rayburn started Thursday morning as 115 teams launched onto the famous fishery in hopes of qualifying for the 2017 National Championship.
Day 1 of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Central Regional presented by Bass Pro Shops on Sam Rayburn started Thursday morning as 115 teams launched onto the famous fishery in hopes of qualifying for the 2017 National Championship.
Teams were on the move often after hitting their first spot of the day.
Teams were on the move often after hitting their first spot of the day.
Scott McClellan and Adam Forrester of Louisiana Tech were running moving baits on a shallow flat when I found them.
Scott McClellan and Adam Forrester of Louisiana Tech were running moving baits on a shallow flat when I found them.
They had one keeper in the boat and one that they lost at the boat.
They had one keeper in the boat and one that they lost at the boat.
They, too, were on the move after a brief time fishing this area.
They, too, were on the move after a brief time fishing this area.
I made a short move to the nearest pocket and found two teams negotiating for water.
I made a short move to the nearest pocket and found two teams negotiating for water.
One team was flipping a slower presentation...
One team was flipping a slower presentation…
While the other covered water with reaction baits so there wasn't any issue. Both teams fished the area and then took off...
While the other covered water with reaction baits so there wasn’t any issue. Both teams fished the area and then took off…
But not before another team came into the area.
But not before another team came into the area.
Ryan Gunter and Samuel Meaders of the University of Arkansas already had a small limit and they were hooked up with another here.
Ryan Gunter and Samuel Meaders of the University of Arkansas already had a small limit and they were hooked up with another here.
Unfortunately, this fish thrashed a little too hard and they lost it at the boat.
Unfortunately, this fish thrashed a little too hard and they lost it at the boat.
Alex Murray and Trent Manuel of Louisiana were fishing the outside edges of a secondary point when I found the cajun duo.
Alex Murray and Trent Manuel of Louisiana were fishing the outside edges of a secondary point when I found the cajun duo.
They said they already had 15 to 16 pounds and were happy at this point early in the day.
They said they already had 15 to 16 pounds and were happy at this point early in the day.
They went to the livewell to show me on of their best of the morning. Not too shabby for the team.
They went to the livewell to show me on of their best of the morning. Not too shabby for the team.
They both threw moving baits, but two different lures to make sure their bases were covered.
They both threw moving baits, but two different lures to make sure their bases were covered.
After a length of time they decided to pack it up and move on.
After a length of time they decided to pack it up and move on.
But as they looked towards the horizon, the main lake was getting rougher as the North wind was blowing at a constant rate.
But as they looked towards the horizon, the main lake was getting rougher as the North wind was blowing at a constant rate.
I was just a second or two late as I showed up on Justin Tatum and Blake Bauer who had just landed a pretty good fish.
I was just a second or two late as I showed up on Justin Tatum and Blake Bauer who had just landed a pretty good fish.
It was a good start to their morning as that was their first fish in the livewell.
It was a good start to their morning as that was their first fish in the livewell.
They had a good strategy as one fish ultra slow, while the other made as many casts with a moving bait as possible.
They had a good strategy as one fish ultra slow, while the other made as many casts with a moving bait as possible.
They were one of the last teams to leave the dock this morning so they don't have to come back until 4 p.m.
They were one of the last teams to leave the dock this morning so they don’t have to come back until 4 p.m.
One of the East Texas Baptist University teams screams by in their wrapped Skeeter.
One of the East Texas Baptist University teams screams by in their wrapped Skeeter.
After they passed, I took off and pull into another creek. This one also contained an ETBU team.
After they passed, I took off and pull into another creek. This one also contained an ETBU team.
Colby Simmons and Brandon Barber were hooked up with a fish.
Colby Simmons and Brandon Barber were hooked up with a fish.
This one came in the boat and added to their five-fish limit.
This one came in the boat and added to their five-fish limit.
It gave them their 5th keeper and now it was time to upgrade for Simmons and Barber.
It gave them their 5th keeper and now it was time to upgrade for Simmons and Barber.
Sam Rayburn has ample cover and vegetation. Simmons was getting some hydrilla off of his lipless crankbait.
Sam Rayburn has ample cover and vegetation. Simmons was getting some hydrilla off of his lipless crankbait.
Meanwhile Barber hooked up from the back.
Meanwhile Barber hooked up from the back.
Simmons got the net near the fish...
Simmons got the net near the fish…
And they successfully landed it.
And they successfully landed it.
But it didn't help them upgrade so back it went into Rayburn.
But it didn’t help them upgrade so back it went into Rayburn.
I took a ride north as I looked for fresh water and I found a new team.
I took a ride north as I looked for fresh water and I found a new team.
It was a duo from Central Oklahoma...and they were hooked up.
It was a duo from Central Oklahoma…and they were hooked up.
So they got the net, but after the hard-fighting fish got to the boat they realized it wasn't a bass.
So they got the net, but after the hard-fighting fish got to the boat they realized it wasn’t a bass.
But rather a white bass hooked in the back.
But rather a white bass hooked in the back.
Teams driving by were checking out the action.
Teams driving by were checking out the action.
They kept fishing their area with multiple baits...
They kept fishing their area with multiple baits…
Meanwhile a team off in the distance was making some noise, which normally means a fish catch.
Meanwhile a team off in the distance was making some noise, which normally means a fish catch.
The two anglers negotiated the net successfully and they had a fish in the boat.
The two anglers negotiated the net successfully and they had a fish in the boat.
It was a solid keeper to say the least.
It was a solid keeper to say the least.
Unphased, Central Oklahoma kept plugging away.
Unphased, Central Oklahoma kept plugging away.