Day One on the Mississippi

See on the water photos of Elite Series anglers as they load up their livewells on Day One of the Mississippi River Rumble out of La Crosse, Wis.

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<p> The vast backwaters of the Mississippi River attracted Elite Series anglers early on Day One of the Mississippi River Rumble. </p>
The vast backwaters of the Mississippi River attracted Elite Series anglers early on Day One of the Mississippi River Rumble. 
Kota Kiriyama fishes the outside edge of lily pads.
Kota Kiriyama fishes the outside edge of lily pads.
Terry Scroggins started Day One with a large backwater area to himself.
Terry Scroggins started Day One with a large backwater area to himself.
Brian Snowden fishes a rock jetty point. 
Brian Snowden fishes a rock jetty point. 
Gerald Swindle hooks up with his second bass of the day. 
Gerald Swindle hooks up with his second bass of the day. 
Swindle jerks a bass from thick vegetation.  
Swindle jerks a bass from thick vegetation.  
Grass flies free of the fish as Swindle pulls it aboard.
Grass flies free of the fish as Swindle pulls it aboard.
Swindle’s Day One Marshal takes evasive action as Swindle swings the fish.
Swindle’s Day One Marshal takes evasive action as Swindle swings the fish.
Rick Morris makes a long cast into shallow vegetation.
Rick Morris makes a long cast into shallow vegetation.
Morris fishes alongside a very busy railroad track.
Morris fishes alongside a very busy railroad track.
Morris and Swindle fish past one another and compare notes on how the morning is going.
Morris and Swindle fish past one another and compare notes on how the morning is going.
Swindle makes a short move to fish a gap in a rock jetty.
Swindle makes a short move to fish a gap in a rock jetty.
Cliff Prince moves south on the Mississippi River.
Cliff Prince moves south on the Mississippi River.
Bill Lowen swings a smallmouth aboard.
Bill Lowen swings a smallmouth aboard.
Lowen fights to get a grip on the bass.
Lowen fights to get a grip on the bass.
Lowen measures the fish and determines it won’t reach the 14-inch minimum length requirement. 
Lowen measures the fish and determines it won’t reach the 14-inch minimum length requirement. 
Chad Griffin is one of the few anglers fighting the strong current on the main river channel.
Chad Griffin is one of the few anglers fighting the strong current on the main river channel.
Brandon Card pitches a drop bait to a rocky outcropping alongside the main river channel. 
Brandon Card pitches a drop bait to a rocky outcropping alongside the main river channel. 
Travis Manson is the lone Elite Series anglers from Wisconsin. 
Travis Manson is the lone Elite Series anglers from Wisconsin. 
Early on Day One, Manson said he only had one keeper in the livewell. 
Early on Day One, Manson said he only had one keeper in the livewell. 
Manson said he knew where the fish lived, but has struggled to make them bite. 
Manson said he knew where the fish lived, but has struggled to make them bite. 
Manson moves to the upriver side of a rock jetty. 
Manson moves to the upriver side of a rock jetty. 
A local camera crew follows Manson on Day One.
A local camera crew follows Manson on Day One.
Manson trims his motor out of the water, in an effort to keep the current from pushing his boat into the rocks. 
Manson trims his motor out of the water, in an effort to keep the current from pushing his boat into the rocks. 
Manson accelerates the engine as he clears the rocks.
Manson accelerates the engine as he clears the rocks.
<p> Elite Series pro Casey Ashley works an area behind a group of barges in the early morning hours of Day One of the Mississippi River Rumble.</p>
Elite Series pro Casey Ashley works an area behind a group of barges in the early morning hours of Day One of the Mississippi River Rumble.
Brent Chapman hooks up soon after setting down on his second spot on Day One.
Brent Chapman hooks up soon after setting down on his second spot on Day One.
<p> Chapman hooks up with his first keeper on Day One of the Bassmaster Elite Series Mississippi Rumble out of La Crosse, Wis.</p>
Chapman hooks up with his first keeper on Day One of the Bassmaster Elite Series Mississippi Rumble out of La Crosse, Wis.
<p> Chapman swings his fish aboard.</p>
Chapman swings his fish aboard.
<p> The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year leader secures his catch.</p>
The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year leader secures his catch.
<p> John Murray flies toward the lock on Day One.</p>
John Murray flies toward the lock on Day One.
<p> Chapman hooks up again.</p>
Chapman hooks up again.
<p> Brent swings No. 2 over the rail of his Triton.</p>
Brent swings No. 2 over the rail of his Triton.
<p> A momentary pause to check out his electronics.</p>
A momentary pause to check out his electronics.
<p> An old life ring hangs on the rocks of the mighty Mississippi.</p>
An old life ring hangs on the rocks of the mighty Mississippi.
<p> Brent lands a small bass as his Marshal takes a video. </p>
Brent lands a small bass as his Marshal takes a video. 
<p>  </p> <p> Clark Reehm work downstream of one of the many navigational aids along the Mississippi.</p>
 

Clark Reehm work downstream of one of the many navigational aids along the Mississippi.

<p> Skeet Reese powers down the river on the morning of Day 1.</p>
Skeet Reese powers down the river on the morning of Day 1.
<p> Anglers grab a line and hold on in the locks today.</p>
Anglers grab a line and hold on in the locks today.
Pete Ponds works the grass in Pool 8.
Pete Ponds works the grass in Pool 8.
<p> Ponds fires his bait toward the shore.</p>
Ponds fires his bait toward the shore.
<p> Ponds lands his third fish of the day.</p>
Ponds lands his third fish of the day.
<p> Ponds hooks a pike in the grass.</p>
Ponds hooks a pike in the grass.
<p> He manages to keep his fingers clear of the pike's teeth.</p>
He manages to keep his fingers clear of the pike’s teeth.
<p> Pike love the grass.</p>
Pike love the grass.
<p> Pliers are needed.</p>
Pliers are needed.
<p> Ponds does a little work to his bait of choice.</p>
Ponds does a little work to his bait of choice.
<p> Gary Klein flips one over the rail on Day One of the Mississippi River Rumble.</p>
Gary Klein flips one over the rail on Day One of the Mississippi River Rumble.
<p> Klein is already doing some swapping early on Day One as his Marshal looks on.</p>
Klein is already doing some swapping early on Day One as his Marshal looks on.
<p> Klein lands a smallie in Pool 8.</p>
Klein lands a smallie in Pool 8.
<p> Gary Klein secures another keeper.</p>
Gary Klein secures another keeper.
<p> Klein loads the livewell with more keepers.</p>
Klein loads the livewell with more keepers.
<p> More culling!</p>
More culling!
<p> Klein moves up the river to revisit one of his areas.</p>
Klein moves up the river to revisit one of his areas.
<p> Rick Clunn makes a move down Pool 8 in the early hours of Day One.</p>
Rick Clunn makes a move down Pool 8 in the early hours of Day One.
<p> Todd Faircloth hooks up!</p>
Todd Faircloth hooks up!
<p> Faircloth pulls a nice fish out the grass.</p>
Faircloth pulls a nice fish out the grass.
<p> Bill Lowen works a bank of the Mississippi River on the morning of Day One.</p>
Bill Lowen works a bank of the Mississippi River on the morning of Day One.
<p> Bill Lowen works a bank of the Mississippi River on the morning of Day One.</p>
Bill Lowen works a bank of the Mississippi River on the morning of Day One.
<p> Lowen hooks up!</p>
Lowen hooks up!
<p> He lands a very nice keeper; the day looks promising for Lowen.</p>
He lands a very nice keeper; the day looks promising for Lowen.