Day 1 with Wheeler, Wiggins, Faircloth and others

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Everything is very green at Ross Barnett as spring in the deep south has fully set in. Beautiful!
Everything is very green at Ross Barnett as spring in the deep south has fully set in. Beautiful!
Ross Barnett is home to thousands of gators, which were stocked here some years ago. They are thriving in this Mississippi Reservoir.
Ross Barnett is home to thousands of gators, which were stocked here some years ago. They are thriving in this Mississippi Reservoir.
Jacob Wheeler found some solitude to work some mats.
Jacob Wheeler found some solitude to work some mats.
He worked some fishy looking areas with no results.
He worked some fishy looking areas with no results.
Time for a quick adjustment.
Time for a quick adjustment.
And location change, but he isn't going far with his trolling motor down.
And location change, but he isn’t going far with his trolling motor down.
As he was checking on his fish, he held up one of his keepers for us.
As he was checking on his fish, he held up one of his keepers for us.
Back to work.
Back to work.
Moving on, we found legendary angler David Fritts working a point.
Moving on, we found legendary angler David Fritts working a point.
Dean Rojas zooms behind Fritts looking for the next big bite.
Dean Rojas zooms behind Fritts looking for the next big bite.
Fritts sets the hook ...
Fritts sets the hook …
... But, the hooks didn't find their target.
… But, the hooks didn’t find their target.
He continues to work his spot as more boats fly by. In the background, Drew Benton runs past.
He continues to work his spot as more boats fly by. In the background, Drew Benton runs past.
Greg Vinson is also on the hunt.
Greg Vinson is also on the hunt.
So was Dustin Connell, who had a great first day at Ross Barnett.
So was Dustin Connell, who had a great first day at Ross Barnett.
With Jesse Wiggins looking on, Chad Morgenthaler fights a bass back to the boat.
With Jesse Wiggins looking on, Chad Morgenthaler fights a bass back to the boat.
The fish resists with Wiggins in sight.
The fish resists with Wiggins in sight.
Morgenthaler swings the fish inside his rig.
Morgenthaler swings the fish inside his rig.
And it's a keeper.
And it’s a keeper.
He quickly puts it into the livewell, and goes back to work.
He quickly puts it into the livewell, and goes back to work.
Wiggins is still working on upgrading, and he takes a moment to stretch as he moves on.
Wiggins is still working on upgrading, and he takes a moment to stretch as he moves on.
Meanwhile, Morgenthaler catches another fish ...
Meanwhile, Morgenthaler catches another fish …
... but it wasn't a keeper ...
… but it wasn’t a keeper …
... and he immediately releases it.
… and he immediately releases it.
Back in this bay, you can see lots of bait breaking on the surface.
Back in this bay, you can see lots of bait breaking on the surface.
Wiggins continues to work the vegetation.
Wiggins continues to work the vegetation.
Meanwhile, another gator ...
Meanwhile, another gator …
Todd Faircloth is in his element working the shallow grass.
Todd Faircloth is in his element working the shallow grass.
He sets the hook but misses. You can see his reaction clearly written on his face.
He sets the hook but misses. You can see his reaction clearly written on his face.
David Mullins is nearby working on his limit.
David Mullins is nearby working on his limit.
He briefly gets hung up, but pulls the Minn Kota and gets moving.
He briefly gets hung up, but pulls the Minn Kota and gets moving.