Day One on the Arkansas River

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The team from Radford University, Justin Witten and Travis Cox, started the day near the launch area on the Arkansas River.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Ryan Dunn and Gage Elder are fishing for Southern Illinois University.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Dunn and Gage started the morning fishing near the Murray Lock and Dam.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Justin Witten and Travis Cox made an early move to a rock jetty on the main river channel.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Southern Louisiana University is represented by Jonathan Byrd and Mason Taylor.

Photo: James Overstreet

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The sun begins to rise on the Arkansas River on Day One of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Arizona State’s Mark Walker is one of only four anglers in the field fishing without a partner.

Photo: James Overstreet

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The team from the University of Arkansas, Mook Miller and Kyle Billingsley.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Miller and Billingsley were using their local knowledge to run several fishing spots on the Arkansas River. 

Photo: James Overstreet

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The Arkansas State Capitol Building looms over teams fishing near downtown Little Rock. 

Photo: James Overstreet

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Western Illinois teammates fire casts on Day One. 

Photo: James Overstreet

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The Western Illinois team is comprised of Travis Wilson and Brian Lafferty.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Competitors on the Arkansas River began Day One long before commuters began making their way into Little Rock.

Photo: James Overstreet

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The team from the University of Tennessee, David Lambert and Jordan Burdette. 

Photo: James Overstreet

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Trent Newman makes a cast, as he and his partner Jacob Sepeda go to work on Day One. The team is representing Dallas Baptist University.

Photo: James Overstreet

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The team from Texas Tech, Flynn Chapman and Robert Hawthorne.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Chapman and Hawthorne were fishing a series of rock jetties along the main river channel.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Kyle Gates and Daniel Butler make synchronized casts. The team is from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Drew Comeaux pilots the boat for Louisiana State University.

Photo: James Overstreet

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The team from Clemson University makes a move early on Day One. The team is comprised of William Shipes and Alan Horwatt.

Photo: James Overstreet

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The team from Bethel University was catching fish early on Day One. 

Photo: James Overstreet

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Dewey Swims swings a fish, while Cody Ross mans a net that wasn’t needed.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Swims carefully measures the fish.

Photo: James Overstreet

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The fish was short and thrown back into the Arkansas River.

Photo: James Overstreet

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The team from Louisiana State University, comprised of Drew Comeaux and Jordan Bloodsworth, concentrates on the task at hand.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Bloodsworth fires another cast.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Clemson’s William Shipes sweeps his rod to bury the hooks into a fish.

Photo: James Overstreet

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The fish jumps near the bow of the boat.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Alan Horwatt reaches for the bass.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Shipes removes the hooks from the fish, while Horwatt gets back to work.

Photo: James Overstreet

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The team from Young Harris College fishes near one of the many bridges on the Arkansas River.

Photo: James Overstreet

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The team from Young Harris College is Brad Rutherford and Chandler White.  

Photo: James Overstreet

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Bryan Billeadeau makes an early morning cast, alongside his partner Michaela Anderson. The team represents University of St. Thomas.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Michaela Anderson is the only female participant in the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Anderson powers her team’s boat to the next fishing location.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Henderson State University teammates, Matt Harper and Will Reeder.

Photo: James Overstreet

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The team from North Carolina State, Josh Hooks and Stephen Lasher, had an early limit of fish.

Photo: James Overstreet

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With temperatures expected to reach 100 degrees, Hooks was drinking plenty of cold water.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Lasher connects with a fish and Hooks moves to grab the net.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Both teammates do their jobs and the fish is in the boat.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Lasher moves to the front of the boat to measure the fish.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Hooks looks on closely as the fish is carefully measured.

Photo: James Overstreet

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The fish didn’t reach the minimum length requirement, and Lasher releases it into the Arkansas River.

Photo: James Overstreet

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