Day One on the Red River

Anglers see what they can find in the murky water of the Red River.

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<p> </p> <p>Anglers were met by a beautiful sunrise as they ran south on the Red River. </p>
 
Anglers were met by a beautiful sunrise as they ran south on the Red River. 
<p>The last flight of anglers take their hole shots to speed to their first fishing locations. </p>
The last flight of anglers take their hole shots to speed to their first fishing locations. 
<p> </p> <p>A long idle awaited anglers fishing the backwaters of the Red River. </p>
 
A long idle awaited anglers fishing the backwaters of the Red River. 
<p> </p> <p>Clark Wendlandt was catching fish before later flights of boats left the launch area. </p>
 
Clark Wendlandt was catching fish before later flights of boats left the launch area. 
<p> </p> <p>Wendlandt places a fish in the live well, while Elite Series angler Keith Poche speeds past him in an aluminum boat he had chosen to use for this tournament. </p>
 
Wendlandt places a fish in the live well, while Elite Series angler Keith Poche speeds past him in an aluminum boat he had chosen to use for this tournament. 
<p> </p> <p>Duck blinds are a common sight along the Red River. </p>
 
Duck blinds are a common sight along the Red River. 
<p> </p> <p>Elite Series angler Dennis Tietje was off to a fast start on Day One. </p>
 
Elite Series angler Dennis Tietje was off to a fast start on Day One. 
<p>The backwaters of the Red River is a maze of stumps and shallow cover. </p>
The backwaters of the Red River is a maze of stumps and shallow cover. 
<p>Tietje boats the keeper bass. </p>
Tietje boats the keeper bass. 
<p> </p> <p>Tietje swings another fish into the boat. </p>
 
Tietje swings another fish into the boat. 
<p> </p> <p>This one’s going in the live well. </p>
 
This one’s going in the live well. 
<p> </p> <p>A look at some of the fishing territory along the Red River. </p>
 
A look at some of the fishing territory along the Red River. 
<p> </p> <p>Tietje was quickly fighting another fish. </p>
 
Tietje was quickly fighting another fish. 
<p> </p> <p>The fish fights to the surface in an effort to throw the hooks. </p>
 
The fish fights to the surface in an effort to throw the hooks. 
<p> </p> <p>He swings the fish aboard…</p>
 
He swings the fish aboard…
<p>…and quickly gains control of the thrashing bass. </p>
…and quickly gains control of the thrashing bass. 
<p> </p> <p>On the next cast Tietje leans into another one. </p>
 
On the next cast Tietje leans into another one. 
<p> </p> <p>He fights the fish to the boat. </p>
 
He fights the fish to the boat. 
<p>Another fish in the boat for Tietje. </p>
Another fish in the boat for Tietje. 
<p> </p> <p>Tietje celebrates his early limit of bass. </p>
 
Tietje celebrates his early limit of bass. 
<p> </p> <p>Now that he has a limit of fish in the boat, Tietje said he was going where some bigger fished lived. </p>
 
Now that he has a limit of fish in the boat, Tietje said he was going where some bigger fished lived. 
<p>Clark Wendlandt fires a cast with a shallow running crankbait. </p>
Clark Wendlandt fires a cast with a shallow running crankbait. 
<p> </p> <p>Wendlandt hooks up and his co-angler readies the net. </p>
 
Wendlandt hooks up and his co-angler readies the net. 
<p> </p> <p>The fish turns from the net on the initial try. </p>
 
The fish turns from the net on the initial try. 
<p>Wendlandt wears the fish down.</p>
Wendlandt wears the fish down.
<p> </p> <p>The fish is now securely in the bottom of the net. </p>
 
The fish is now securely in the bottom of the net. 
<p> </p> <p>Wendlandt and his co-anglers look into the net to get a closer look at the fish. </p>
 
Wendlandt and his co-anglers look into the net to get a closer look at the fish. 
<p>One more look at the bass for the camera. </p>
One more look at the bass for the camera. 
<p>Clent Davis and his partner were fishing a long riprap wall. </p>
Clent Davis and his partner were fishing a long riprap wall. 
<p> </p> <p>A cat fishermen prepares to deploy his hoop nets. </p>
 
A cat fishermen prepares to deploy his hoop nets. 
<p>The backwaters of the Red River are shared by fishermen and critters alike. </p>
The backwaters of the Red River are shared by fishermen and critters alike. 
<p>Shallow canals are often the only access to some of the remote backwater areas. </p>
Shallow canals are often the only access to some of the remote backwater areas. 
<p>Clent Davis fishes around a duck blind. </p>
Clent Davis fishes around a duck blind. 
<p> </p> <p>Gene Eisenmann attempts to free a fish from a brush top for his co-angler.</p>
 
Gene Eisenmann attempts to free a fish from a brush top for his co-angler.
<p> </p> <p>Eisenmann and his partner were flipping and pitching shallow cover. </p>
 
Eisenmann and his partner were flipping and pitching shallow cover. 
<p>Anglers locking through lock #5 into pool #4.</p>
Anglers locking through lock #5 into pool #4.
<p>Anglers locking through lock #5 into pool #4.</p>
Anglers locking through lock #5 into pool #4.
<p>Anglers locking through lock #5 into pool #4.</p>
Anglers locking through lock #5 into pool #4.