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.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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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.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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Hackney and Powroznik were fishing very close together and were working almost as a team to zero in on the fish.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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Hackney, Bobby Lane and Powroznik talking about how the fishing was significantly slower than the day before.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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Both Hackney and Jonathan VanDam kept their eyes on their electronics and were "video game" fishing for their next bite.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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Greg Hackney was staring downward, picking apart every bit of the submerged reef.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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As the camera man leans over to get the best shot, Hackney reaches down to scoop his fish.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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This smallmouth, however, was still in fight mode and was leaping out of the water repeatedly.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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Hackney quickly grabs the fish and hugs it against him as he brings it into the boat.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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With fish number one already in the livewell Hackney moves to the back of the boat to add fish number two.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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As Powroznik slides up next to Hackney and they both get back to focusing on their electronics.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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As the morning went on the wind picked up significantly. Hackney continued to fish hard and ride out the waves with ease.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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Powroznik untangling his line from his trolling motor after a large wave wrapped his line around the shaft.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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Did we mention that the anglers were not taking their eyes off their down imaging?
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In the back of the group of anglers Greg Hackney hooks up with fish number three.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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He brings the fish up quickly and goes to land it near the drivers seat.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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With a decent smallmouth in hand Hackney shows off his fish to the camera and puts it in the livewell.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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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!”
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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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.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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After landing the fish JVD moved back up to the head of the same drift, hoping for another good bite.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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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.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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As the fish came to the surface VanDam sits in the passenger seat and gets ready to land fish number three.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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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.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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With a big smile on his face and a little less pressure on his back Jonathan holds the fish up for the camera.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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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.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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With a look of concentration on his face JVD stays focused on fishing clean and getting this fish to the boat.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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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.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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With the tube hanging out of its mouth the walleye stops struggling and lets Jonathan grab hold of it.
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This healthy walleye shows how diverse and exciting it can be to fish on Sturgeon Bay.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
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