Elite: Day 1 on the water

After a one hour and forty-five minute fog delay to start the morning, Day 1 started at 8:00 a.m. CT.
After a one hour and forty-five minute fog delay to start the morning, Day 1 started at 8:00 a.m. CT.
All 108 Elite Series anglers headed out on Lake Norfork to start the third Elite Series event of the season.
All 108 Elite Series anglers headed out on Lake Norfork to start the third Elite Series event of the season.
The first angler we found was Arkansas angler Mike McClelland.
The first angler we found was Arkansas angler Mike McClelland.
McClelland was running and gunning early on Day 1 as he tried numerous spots in the same creek.
McClelland was running and gunning early on Day 1 as he tried numerous spots in the same creek.
He also made numerous casts with multiple baits.
He also made numerous casts with multiple baits.
Dennis Tietje scoots by as he heads to his next area.
Dennis Tietje scoots by as he heads to his next area.
McClelland sneaks into the back of a shallow pocket.
McClelland sneaks into the back of a shallow pocket.
He hooks up with a spinning rod and tries to keep it from jumping, but the fish went crazy shortly after being hooked.
He hooks up with a spinning rod and tries to keep it from jumping, but the fish went crazy shortly after being hooked.
McClelland fights it to the side of the boat.
McClelland fights it to the side of the boat.
Then he swings aboard his first keeper of the day.
Then he swings aboard his first keeper of the day.
McClelland was for sure one of the popular pre-tournament favorites for this event.
McClelland was for sure one of the popular pre-tournament favorites for this event.
He gets hung up, but pulls on his line to gain leverage to spring his bait free.
He gets hung up, but pulls on his line to gain leverage to spring his bait free.
He makes another quick move across the creek.
He makes another quick move across the creek.
He probes some shoreline rock in hopes of hooking up with keeper number two.
He probes some shoreline rock in hopes of hooking up with keeper number two.
McClelland reties and then makes another move so we stopped by another angler to see how he was doing.
McClelland reties and then makes another move so we stopped by another angler to see how he was doing.
Randy Allen was positioned on a bed fish.
Randy Allen was positioned on a bed fish.
After a couple minutes with no luck, Allen put his hands on his hips as he watched the fish to see how it was reacting.
After a couple minutes with no luck, Allen put his hands on his hips as he watched the fish to see how it was reacting.
As Allen stayed determined, we left and found Chris Zaldain.
As Allen stayed determined, we left and found Chris Zaldain.
As soon as we arrived he hooked up and had the fish at the side of the boat.
As soon as we arrived he hooked up and had the fish at the side of the boat.
The fish thrashed at the side of the boat as Zaldain looked to swing his fourth keeper in the boat.
The fish thrashed at the side of the boat as Zaldain looked to swing his fourth keeper in the boat.
Get in the boat…
Get in the boat…
Zaldain deposits this keeper in the livewell.
Zaldain deposits this keeper in the livewell.
Justin Lucas flies by as he changes spots.
Justin Lucas flies by as he changes spots.
Zaldain keeps fishing along with a moving bait hoping to get a reaction bite.
Zaldain keeps fishing along with a moving bait hoping to get a reaction bite.
He packs up his rods and heads to another area.
He packs up his rods and heads to another area.
We found Paul Mueller fishing in the middle of a short creek.
We found Paul Mueller fishing in the middle of a short creek.
Lucas’ move from earlier landed him in this creek.
Lucas’ move from earlier landed him in this creek.
He was fishing down the shore and looked to be searching for any random bed fish while he fished through the area.
He was fishing down the shore and looked to be searching for any random bed fish while he fished through the area.
He makes a move as well. Anglers were rocking and rolling on Day 1 as they ran around Lake Norfork.
He makes a move as well. Anglers were rocking and rolling on Day 1 as they ran around Lake Norfork.
Mark Davis is another Arkansas angler and he was grinding away.
Mark Davis is another Arkansas angler and he was grinding away.
He went through a morning flurry as he caught fish every cast early in the day. Once the sun came up it slowed down, but that didn’t stop Davis from capitalizing.
He went through a morning flurry as he caught fish every cast early in the day. Once the sun came up it slowed down, but that didn’t stop Davis from capitalizing.
The fish jumps as he fights it back to the boat.
The fish jumps as he fights it back to the boat.
Davis stays calm as the fish goes wild near the boat.
Davis stays calm as the fish goes wild near the boat.
He tries to keep the fish from jumping once again, but the fish rockets out of the water.
He tries to keep the fish from jumping once again, but the fish rockets out of the water.
Then he swings it aboard.
Then he swings it aboard.
Davis takes a moment to show it off for the GoPro.
Davis takes a moment to show it off for the GoPro.
And he unhooks the fish and makes a cull. That cull gave him a half-pound boost.
And he unhooks the fish and makes a cull. That cull gave him a half-pound boost.
Some of the ESPN cameramen went up in a helicopter to get some unique shots on Day 1.
Some of the ESPN cameramen went up in a helicopter to get some unique shots on Day 1.
Davis continued to fish down the bank and was content with his weight at the moment.
Davis continued to fish down the bank and was content with his weight at the moment.
Randall Tharp blew up BASSTrakk midway through Day 1 and we were in the area so we went to check out the Honey Badger in action.
Randall Tharp blew up BASSTrakk midway through Day 1 and we were in the area so we went to check out the Honey Badger in action.
Tharp was in the process of flipping a fish into the boat as we pulled up.
Tharp was in the process of flipping a fish into the boat as we pulled up.
That’s a solid fish for the Florida pro.
That’s a solid fish for the Florida pro.
He compares the fish on a culling beam.
He compares the fish on a culling beam.
Moments later he hooked up again.
Moments later he hooked up again.
Tharp was catching plenty of fish on Day 1 at Norfork.
Tharp was catching plenty of fish on Day 1 at Norfork.
It didn’t help him so back into Norfork it goes.
It didn’t help him so back into Norfork it goes.
Tharp continues to pick apart the shoreline cover.
Tharp continues to pick apart the shoreline cover.
And he jacks another one.
And he jacks another one.
This one surges at the trolling motor and Tharp plays it to the side of the boat.
This one surges at the trolling motor and Tharp plays it to the side of the boat.
The Honey Badger gains some leverage as he prepares to swing it in the boat.
The Honey Badger gains some leverage as he prepares to swing it in the boat.
He puts this one on the culling beam as well. Every ounce counts in tournament fishing.
He puts this one on the culling beam as well. Every ounce counts in tournament fishing.
That helps ever so slightly.
That helps ever so slightly.
Tharp hooks up again. All of these fish catches happened in a five-minute span.
Tharp hooks up again. All of these fish catches happened in a five-minute span.
He swings this keeper aboard.
He swings this keeper aboard.
Bill Lowen was doing well on Day 1 too and he ran by Tharp.
Bill Lowen was doing well on Day 1 too and he ran by Tharp.
Tharp waves at some spectators as he changes spots and makes a short run.
Tharp waves at some spectators as he changes spots and makes a short run.
The Cajun Baby Cliff Crochet runs to the back of the creek.
The Cajun Baby Cliff Crochet runs to the back of the creek.
Tharp works his way down the Norfork cover.
Tharp works his way down the Norfork cover.
The stretch of bank looks very good and Tharp posts up.
The stretch of bank looks very good and Tharp posts up.
Then he jacks another fish.
Then he jacks another fish.
Fights it to the side of the boat…
Fights it to the side of the boat…
All smiles for Tharp as he has caught so many fish on Day 1 of this event.
All smiles for Tharp as he has caught so many fish on Day 1 of this event.
As Tharp said out loud… “Every ounce counts.”
As Tharp said out loud… “Every ounce counts.”
So he makes a slight cull.
So he makes a slight cull.
Honey Badger hooked up again.
Honey Badger hooked up again.
The fish jumps higher than the gunnel of the boat as Tharp tries to keep it buttoned up.
The fish jumps higher than the gunnel of the boat as Tharp tries to keep it buttoned up.
Then he gains leverage and slings it in.
Then he gains leverage and slings it in.
Tharp stays poised.
Tharp stays poised.
And keeps pitching and flipping to the shoreline.
And keeps pitching and flipping to the shoreline.
Hooked up!
Hooked up!
This could be a good one.
This could be a good one.
Tharp catches up to the fish as it thrashes and flares its gills.
Tharp catches up to the fish as it thrashes and flares its gills.
It didn’t cull for him, but he went back to work and hooked up again.
It didn’t cull for him, but he went back to work and hooked up again.
This fish digs at the boat and as he tries to reel fast enough to catch up the fish gets away when he swings it.
This fish digs at the boat and as he tries to reel fast enough to catch up the fish gets away when he swings it.
Tharp gets stuck and uses a cool trick to dislodge his bait.
Tharp gets stuck and uses a cool trick to dislodge his bait.
Tharp put himself in position after Day 1. He weighed 15-8 and is in 5th place going into Day 2.
Tharp put himself in position after Day 1. He weighed 15-8 and is in 5th place going into Day 2.