Day One on the Red River

<p> </p> <p>Anglers were met by a beautiful sunrise as they ran south on the Red River. </p>

Photo: James Overstreet - 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>

Photo: James Overstreet - 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>

Photo: James Overstreet - 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>

Photo: James Overstreet - 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>

Photo: James Overstreet - 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>

Photo: James Overstreet - 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>

Photo: James Overstreet - 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>

Photo: James Overstreet - The backwaters of the Red River is a maze of stumps and shallow cover.

Photo: James Overstreet - Tietje boats the keeper bass.

<p> </p> <p>Tietje swings another fish into the boat. </p>

Photo: James Overstreet - Tietje swings another fish into the boat.

<p> </p> <p>This oneâs going in the live well. </p>

Photo: James Overstreet - This oneâs going in the live well.

<p> </p> <p>A look at some of the fishing territory along the Red River. </p>

Photo: James Overstreet - A look at some of the fishing territory along the Red River.

<p> </p> <p>Tietje was quickly fighting another fish. </p>

Photo: James Overstreet - Tietje was quickly fighting another fish.

<p> </p> <p>The fish fights to the surface in an effort to throw the hooks. </p>

Photo: James Overstreet - The fish fights to the surface in an effort to throw the hooks.

<p> </p> <p>He swings the fish aboardâ¦</p>

Photo: James Overstreet - He swings the fish aboardâ¦

<p>â¦and quickly gains control of the thrashing bass. </p>

Photo: James Overstreet - â¦and quickly gains control of the thrashing bass.

<p> </p> <p>On the next cast Tietje leans into another one. </p>

Photo: James Overstreet - On the next cast Tietje leans into another one.

<p> </p> <p>He fights the fish to the boat. </p>

Photo: James Overstreet - He fights the fish to the boat.

<p>Another fish in the boat for Tietje. </p>

Photo: James Overstreet - Another fish in the boat for Tietje.

<p> </p> <p>Tietje celebrates his early limit of bass. </p>

Photo: James Overstreet - 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>

Photo: James Overstreet - 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>

Photo: James Overstreet - Clark Wendlandt fires a cast with a shallow running crankbait.

<p> </p> <p>Wendlandt hooks up and his co-angler readies the net. </p>

Photo: James Overstreet - Wendlandt hooks up and his co-angler readies the net.

<p> </p> <p>The fish turns from the net on the initial try. </p>

Photo: James Overstreet - The fish turns from the net on the initial try.

Photo: James Overstreet - Wendlandt wears the fish down.

<p> </p> <p>The fish is now securely in the bottom of the net. </p>

Photo: James Overstreet - 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>

Photo: James Overstreet - 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>

Photo: James Overstreet - One more look at the bass for the camera.

<p>Clent Davis and his partner were fishing a long riprap wall. </p>

Photo: James Overstreet - Clent Davis and his partner were fishing a long riprap wall.

<p> </p> <p>A cat fishermen prepares to deploy his hoop nets. </p>

Photo: James Overstreet - A cat fishermen prepares to deploy his hoop nets.

<p>The backwaters of the Red River are shared by fishermen and critters alike. </p>

Photo: James Overstreet - 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>

Photo: James Overstreet - Shallow canals are often the only access to some of the remote backwater areas.

<p>Clent Davis fishes around a duck blind. </p>

Photo: James Overstreet - 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>

Photo: James Overstreet - 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>

Photo: James Overstreet - Eisenmann and his partner were flipping and pitching shallow cover.

<p>Anglers locking through lock #5 into pool #4.</p>

Photo: Melton Gregory - Anglers locking through lock #5 into pool #4.