AOY Day 2 on the Bay III

Several Toyota Angler of the Year Championship contenders fished the same area of Sturgeon Bay on Day 2, adding to the pressure on those still competing for Classic berths.

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2014 Toyota Bassmaster AOY champion Greg Hackney was fortunate enough to catch the biggest bag of Day 1, placing him in the lead and ready to hunt down another large bag on Day 2.
2014 Toyota Bassmaster AOY champion Greg Hackney was fortunate enough to catch the biggest bag of Day 1, placing him in the lead and ready to hunt down another large bag on Day 2.
Hackney, Jacob Powroznik, Bobby Lane, Jason Christie, Jonathan VanDam, and Boyd Duckett were all stretched along a large offshore reef/ridge and were using a combination of tactics to get the fish to bite.
Hackney, Jacob Powroznik, Bobby Lane, Jason Christie, Jonathan VanDam, and Boyd Duckett were all stretched along a large offshore reef/ridge and were using a combination of tactics to get the fish to bite.
Hackney and Powroznik were fishing very close together and were working almost as a team to zero in on the fish.
Hackney and Powroznik were fishing very close together and were working almost as a team to zero in on the fish.
Hackney, Bobby Lane and Powroznik talking about how the fishing was significantly slower than the day before.
Hackney, Bobby Lane and Powroznik talking about how the fishing was significantly slower than the day before.
Both Hackney and Jonathan VanDam kept their eyes on their electronics and were
Both Hackney and Jonathan VanDam kept their eyes on their electronics and were “video game” fishing for their next bite.
Greg Hackney was staring downward, picking apart every bit of the submerged reef.
Greg Hackney was staring downward, picking apart every bit of the submerged reef.
A short while later Hackney hooks up with a decent fish.
A short while later Hackney hooks up with a decent fish.
He fights the fish to the boat through the choppy water.
He fights the fish to the boat through the choppy water.
As the camera man leans over to get the best shot, Hackney reaches down to scoop his fish.
As the camera man leans over to get the best shot, Hackney reaches down to scoop his fish.
This smallmouth, however, was still in fight mode and was leaping out of the water repeatedly.
This smallmouth, however, was still in fight mode and was leaping out of the water repeatedly.
The fish makes one more large jump right next to Hackney.
The fish makes one more large jump right next to Hackney.
Hackney quickly grabs the fish and hugs it against him as he brings it into the boat.
Hackney quickly grabs the fish and hugs it against him as he brings it into the boat.
With fish number one already in the livewell Hackney moves to the back of the boat to add fish number two.
With fish number one already in the livewell Hackney moves to the back of the boat to add fish number two.
As Powroznik slides up next to Hackney and they both get back to focusing on their electronics.
As Powroznik slides up next to Hackney and they both get back to focusing on their electronics.
As the morning went on the wind picked up significantly. Hackney continued to fish hard and ride out the waves with ease.
As the morning went on the wind picked up significantly. Hackney continued to fish hard and ride out the waves with ease.
Several of the waves spilled right over the bow of his boat.
Several of the waves spilled right over the bow of his boat.
Powroznik untangling his line from his trolling motor after a large wave wrapped his line around the shaft.
Powroznik untangling his line from his trolling motor after a large wave wrapped his line around the shaft.
Did we mention that the anglers were not taking their eyes off their down imaging?
Did we mention that the anglers were not taking their eyes off their down imaging?
In the back of the group of anglers Greg Hackney hooks up with fish number three.
In the back of the group of anglers Greg Hackney hooks up with fish number three.
He brings the fish up quickly and goes to land it near the drivers seat.
He brings the fish up quickly and goes to land it near the drivers seat.
With a decent smallmouth in hand Hackney shows off his fish to the camera and puts it in the livewell.
With a decent smallmouth in hand Hackney shows off his fish to the camera and puts it in the livewell.
23. Bobby Lane and Jacob Powroznik were lined up and hoping for a bite while Hackney was adding fish three to his live well. Hackney fished a while longer and then made a run up the lake, frustrated with how slow the bite was. “The fish are much more spooky today!”
23. Bobby Lane and Jacob Powroznik were lined up and hoping for a bite while Hackney was adding fish three to his live well. Hackney fished a while longer and then made a run up the lake, frustrated with how slow the bite was. “The fish are much more spooky today!”
Down the reef a bit Jonathan VanDam was hooked up with a critical fish. JVD needed to catch a great bag to solidify his 2016 Bassmaster Classic spot.
Down the reef a bit Jonathan VanDam was hooked up with a critical fish. JVD needed to catch a great bag to solidify his 2016 Bassmaster Classic spot.
VanDam fights the lively fish to the boat as it jumped repeatedly.
VanDam fights the lively fish to the boat as it jumped repeatedly.
Jon wrangles the fish and brings it into the boat.
Jon wrangles the fish and brings it into the boat.
After landing the fish JVD moved back up to the head of the same drift, hoping for another good bite.
After landing the fish JVD moved back up to the head of the same drift, hoping for another good bite.
In the first few minutes of the next drift JVD hooked another fish. The pressure was on as thoughts of a Classic spot bounced around in the back of his head.
In the first few minutes of the next drift JVD hooked another fish. The pressure was on as thoughts of a Classic spot bounced around in the back of his head.
Through the rough water VanDam stays calm and lets the fish tire.
Through the rough water VanDam stays calm and lets the fish tire.
As the fish came to the surface VanDam sits in the passenger seat and gets ready to land fish number three.
As the fish came to the surface VanDam sits in the passenger seat and gets ready to land fish number three.
With a solid hold on the bottom lip of the fish JVD is well on his way to a successful Day 2 on Sturgeon Bay.
With a solid hold on the bottom lip of the fish JVD is well on his way to a successful Day 2 on Sturgeon Bay.
VanDam hoists the fish out of the lake.
VanDam hoists the fish out of the lake.
With a big smile on his face and a little less pressure on his back Jonathan holds the fish up for the camera.
With a big smile on his face and a little less pressure on his back Jonathan holds the fish up for the camera.
VanDam adds the fish to his livewell.
VanDam adds the fish to his livewell.
After the fish was safe in the live well VanDam made another move up to the head of his drift, launching off the rough water and putting his boat almost vertical in the air.
After the fish was safe in the live well VanDam made another move up to the head of his drift, launching off the rough water and putting his boat almost vertical in the air.
VanDam gets set up on his spot and sets the hook on fish number four.
VanDam gets set up on his spot and sets the hook on fish number four.
This one feels like a solid fish.
This one feels like a solid fish.
With a look of concentration on his face JVD stays focused on fishing clean and getting this fish to the boat.
With a look of concentration on his face JVD stays focused on fishing clean and getting this fish to the boat.
He reaches down and grabs his catch ...
He reaches down and grabs his catch …
... but the fish had other ideas and continued to fight.
… but the fish had other ideas and continued to fight.
VanDam finally grabs the fish and gets it under control.
VanDam finally grabs the fish and gets it under control.
“That’s four guys!”
Fish number four takes its spot in the livewell.
Fish number four takes its spot in the livewell.
A few minutes later JVD sets the hook again. He immediately got excited while the fish was fighting thinking that this could be the fish that ensures his spot in the 2016 Bassmaster Classic.
A few minutes later JVD sets the hook again. He immediately got excited while the fish was fighting thinking that this could be the fish that ensures his spot in the 2016 Bassmaster Classic.
Unfortunately it was a big walleye and not a giant smallmouth.
Unfortunately it was a big walleye and not a giant smallmouth.
JVD reaches down to grab the fish and unhook it.
JVD reaches down to grab the fish and unhook it.
With the tube hanging out of its mouth the walleye stops struggling and lets Jonathan grab hold of it.
With the tube hanging out of its mouth the walleye stops struggling and lets Jonathan grab hold of it.
VanDam lifts the fish into the boat.
VanDam lifts the fish into the boat.
This healthy walleye shows how diverse and exciting it can be to fish on Sturgeon Bay.
This healthy walleye shows how diverse and exciting it can be to fish on Sturgeon Bay.
VanDam picks up the trolling motor and moves up to the head of his drift again, this time hoping he can connect with fish number five.
VanDam picks up the trolling motor and moves up to the head of his drift again, this time hoping he can connect with fish number five.