Erie: Bronzeback bass bonanza

B.A.S.S. photographer James Overstreet takes us on the water with the Opens anglers for all of the ups and downs of the Day One action.

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Lake Erie is known for rollercoaster style rides for boaters that take on its rough water when the wind blows… Or you can fish near an actual rollercoaster in Sandusky, Ohio.
Photo: James Overstreet - Lake Erie is known for rollercoaster style rides for boaters that take on its rough water when the wind blows… Or you can fish near an actual rollercoaster in Sandusky, Ohio.
Anglers crowded some of the more popular places close to the morning launch.
Photo: James Overstreet - Anglers crowded some of the more popular places close to the morning launch.
Derek Remitz rides the waves on Lake Erie while keeping an eye on his electronics.
Photo: James Overstreet - Derek Remitz rides the waves on Lake Erie while keeping an eye on his electronics.
As C.J. Shaver can attest, on Lake Erie one minute you’re up…
Photo: James Overstreet - As C.J. Shaver can attest, on Lake Erie one minute you’re up…
…the next you’re down.
Photo: James Overstreet - …the next you’re down.
Anglers crowd one of the more popular shoals off Pelee Island.
Photo: James Overstreet - Anglers crowd one of the more popular shoals off Pelee Island.
The wind and waves began to build early on Day One.
Photo: James Overstreet - The wind and waves began to build early on Day One.
Co-angler Mark Babcock fights a fish to the boat while his Day One pro, Tim Macknair, waits with the net.
Photo: James Overstreet - Co-angler Mark Babcock fights a fish to the boat while his Day One pro, Tim Macknair, waits with the net.
Babcock has his first keeper fish of the day.
Photo: James Overstreet - Babcock has his first keeper fish of the day.
The wind puts a bow in Ken Golub’s line early on Day One.
Photo: James Overstreet - The wind puts a bow in Ken Golub’s line early on Day One.
Tim Macknair hooks up with a keeper smallmouth.
Photo: James Overstreet - Tim Macknair hooks up with a keeper smallmouth.
Mark Babcock waits to perform the net duties for Macknair.
Photo: James Overstreet - Mark Babcock waits to perform the net duties for Macknair.
The fish begins to surface…
Photo: James Overstreet - The fish begins to surface…
…then jumps at the boat.
Photo: James Overstreet - …then jumps at the boat.
Babcock flawlessly handled the duties as
Photo: James Overstreet - Babcock flawlessly handled the duties as "net man."
Anglers move about looking for a spot to fish on a busy shoal near Pelee Island.
Photo: James Overstreet - Anglers move about looking for a spot to fish on a busy shoal near Pelee Island.
Justin Lucas waits with the net while co-angler George Guerra fights a smallmouth to the boat.
Photo: James Overstreet - Justin Lucas waits with the net while co-angler George Guerra fights a smallmouth to the boat.
The big smallmouth jumps to avoid the net.
Photo: James Overstreet - The big smallmouth jumps to avoid the net.
Lucas expertly places the net under the jumping smallmouth…
Photo: James Overstreet - Lucas expertly places the net under the jumping smallmouth…
…and the fish falls safely to the bottom of the net.
Photo: James Overstreet - …and the fish falls safely to the bottom of the net.
Lucas and Guerra get a closer look at the kind of smallmouth bass Lake Erie is famous for.
Photo: James Overstreet - Lucas and Guerra get a closer look at the kind of smallmouth bass Lake Erie is famous for.
Ken Golub takes a wave over the bow while fighting a fish to the boat.
Photo: James Overstreet - Ken Golub takes a wave over the bow while fighting a fish to the boat.
Tim Macknair and Mark Babcock idle back upwind to make another drift.
Photo: James Overstreet - Tim Macknair and Mark Babcock idle back upwind to make another drift.
George Guerra readies the net for his Day One pro partner, Justin Lucas.
Photo: James Overstreet - George Guerra readies the net for his Day One pro partner, Justin Lucas.
Lucas with another keeper smallmouth in the boat.
Photo: James Overstreet - Lucas with another keeper smallmouth in the boat.
Lucas pulls the fish safely from the net.
Photo: James Overstreet - Lucas pulls the fish safely from the net.
Co-angler Mark Babcock fights a fish in a crowd.
Photo: James Overstreet - Co-angler Mark Babcock fights a fish in a crowd.
This fish fight took a while but everyone seemed to enjoy watching.
Photo: James Overstreet - This fish fight took a while but everyone seemed to enjoy watching.
The keeper smallmouth finally wore down and Tim Macknair gets a net under it.
Photo: James Overstreet - The keeper smallmouth finally wore down and Tim Macknair gets a net under it.
Babcock gives the camera a better look at his fish.
Photo: James Overstreet - Babcock gives the camera a better look at his fish.
David Cooke puts his best fish of the day in the boat.
Photo: James Overstreet - David Cooke puts his best fish of the day in the boat.
The fat smallmouth bass will look good in the weigh-in bag at the end of the day.
Photo: James Overstreet - The fat smallmouth bass will look good in the weigh-in bag at the end of the day.
Cooke puts his keeper in the livewell.
Photo: James Overstreet - Cooke puts his keeper in the livewell.