Day One on the Grand Lake O' the Cherokees

Arkansas pro Mike McClelland makes a move early on Day One.

McClelland fights a keeper…

…around the trolling motor…

…until it’s finally his, where he shows it to his Marshal.

Here’s a better look!

McClelland’s brother, Shannon, and his dog Beretta came to watch Mike on Day One.

McClelland focused on rocky banks and…

…docks.

<p>The only baits that McClelland had on his deck were Spro McStick jerkbaits. The stickbait ace designed the baits for Spro to his exact specifications. The rods are Falcon, the reels are Quantum and if you're wondering, the boots are Merrell.</p>

The only baits that McClelland had on his deck were Spro McStick jerkbaits. The stickbait ace designed the baits for Spro to his exact specifications. The rods are Falcon, the reels are Quantum and if you’re wondering, the boots are Merrell.

Edwin Evers was working his stickbaits – likely Megabass 110s – noticeably faster than McClelland was. He also threw jigs and crankbaits.

Evers holds the fish up for the camera.

Though he struggled today, Brandon Card got in on the action.

Heavy favorite Jason Christie didn’t disappoint his horde of fans today. This fish got the business end of his Smithwick Rogue stickbait.

Kevin VanDam navigates his way through his crowd of observers.

Once he found his way through the crowd, he immediately hooked up.

He culled with that keeper.

Aboard Hank Cherry’s Skeeter was an assortment of Megabass jerkbaits as well as a tiny grub. The rods were Denali and the reels a hodgepodge.

Here are two keepers – one’s a brutish 6-pounder – who took up residency in Cherry’s livewell on Day One.

Of his Megabass jerkbaits Cherry reported, “If it wasn’t this color, it wasn’t getting bit.”

Mountain Dew: the drink of champions.

Cherry hooks up with a keeper in a small creek…

…and it bulldogged him all around his boat, even under it.

It was barely hooked!

<p>He welcomes it aboard. it would be his last fish - and last cast - of the day. He coted pain in his arms and hands from dipping his hands in water all day when the temperature barely rose above the freezing mark. "I'm going in after that!" he shouted.</p>

He welcomes it aboard. it would be his last fish – and last cast – of the day. He coted pain in his arms and hands from dipping his hands in water all day when the temperature barely rose above the freezing mark. “I’m going in after that!” he shouted.