Howell’s second chance

See photos from the water as Randy Howell earns a second chance to fish on BASSfest Saturday.

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Mark Menendez started the Second Chance tournament on Lake Barkley at a Kuttawa Marina on the northern end of the lake.
Mark Menendez started the Second Chance tournament on Lake Barkley at a Kuttawa Marina on the northern end of the lake.
Randy Howell was there as well.
Randy Howell was there as well.
While Menendez fished in the interior of the marina.
While Menendez fished in the interior of the marina.
Howell fished on the outside.
Howell fished on the outside.
And he was catching fish.
And he was catching fish.
Fish that quickly built a decent limit.
Fish that quickly built a decent limit.
And put him at the top of the leaderboard,
And put him at the top of the leaderboard,
Of those anglers fighting for another opportunity to get back to Kentucky Lake.
Of those anglers fighting for another opportunity to get back to Kentucky Lake.
Howell boated a limit fairly early.
Howell boated a limit fairly early.
And was consistently setting the hook,
And was consistently setting the hook,
And bringing fish over the gunwales.
And bringing fish over the gunwales.
Some of them obviously making bringing a
Some of them obviously making bringing a “wow” to his lips.
It was like the word was stuck on his face.
It was like the word was stuck on his face.
And it was so good, we just had to make sure the whole sequence of photos,
And it was so good, we just had to make sure the whole sequence of photos,
Made their way to this gallery.
Made their way to this gallery.
With every fish, Howell would show it off to his Marshall.
With every fish, Howell would show it off to his Marshall.
And as the morning progressed, he would cull quickly.
And as the morning progressed, he would cull quickly.
Then get back to setting the hook.
Then get back to setting the hook.
And bringing in fish.
And bringing in fish.
Not too far away, Menendez would be catching fish as well.
Not too far away, Menendez would be catching fish as well.
But the quality would not match that of Howell.
But the quality would not match that of Howell.
Howell camped out on his spot, continually working the area.
Howell camped out on his spot, continually working the area.
And setting the hook.
And setting the hook.
And bringing in fish.
And bringing in fish.
Occasionally, he would do his trademark, rod in his crotch while unhooking a fish.
Occasionally, he would do his trademark, rod in his crotch while unhooking a fish.
During the day, he had barges come pushing past.
During the day, he had barges come pushing past.
And big aircraft re-fueling helicopters overhead.
And big aircraft re-fueling helicopters overhead.
He caught fish in the rain.
He caught fish in the rain.
And while Michael Iaconelli fished nearby and peeked over the bushes.
And while Michael Iaconelli fished nearby and peeked over the bushes.
And while he had flyovers from Fort Campbell in Kentucky.
And while he had flyovers from Fort Campbell in Kentucky.
He would continue to work, sometimes throwing a hair jig.
He would continue to work, sometimes throwing a hair jig.
Catching more than his share of fish.
Catching more than his share of fish.
While all of it getting captured by the Bassmaster
While all of it getting captured by the Bassmaster “Live” cameras.
He threw big spoons.
He threw big spoons.
And almost everything seemed to work.
And almost everything seemed to work.
The Kattawa Marina was the perfect place for Howell.
The Kattawa Marina was the perfect place for Howell.
It served up plenty of keepers.
It served up plenty of keepers.
One after the other.
One after the other.
Catching was constant for a time.
Catching was constant for a time.
A lot of it was caught from several angles with a cameraman on one end and drone on the other.
A lot of it was caught from several angles with a cameraman on one end and drone on the other.
Howell and the bass of Barkley had a love affair going.
Howell and the bass of Barkley had a love affair going.
And it brought a smile to Howell's face.
And it brought a smile to Howell’s face.
That didn't go away for most of the day.
That didn’t go away for most of the day.
Providing him a perfect day to fish another day.
Providing him a perfect day to fish another day.