Overstreet's top photos of 2015

The 2015 Bassmaster schedule was a true test of an Elite Series competitorâs versatility. Tournaments were contested from the west coast on the California Deltaâ¦

â¦to an oasis in the desert, named Lake Havasuâ¦

â¦from huge bodies of water up northâ¦

â¦to the swamps of Louisiana and Texas.

They shared those waters with huge vessels propelled by insane amounts of horsepowerâ¦

â¦to those requiring only simple man-power and a will to fish.

They ran their boats through the industrial landscapes of heavily populated areas in the northâ¦

…and sparsely populated, rural settings in the Deep South.

There were many upsâ¦

â¦and many downs in 2015. Every day a test of man and machinery.

Many days began and ended with perfect weatherâ¦

â¦but there were also aggravating fog delaysâ¦

â¦and days it rained so hardâ¦

â¦it could compel a man to throw up both hands and consider another line of work.

There were tournaments contested while fishing in a crowdâ¦

â¦and those where there was no other contender for miles.

Record crowds attended the morning launchesâ¦

â¦and weigh-ins, to witness bass fishingâs best bring their fish to the scalesâ¦

â¦and cheered as champions hoisted trophies overhead.

While others carried on with their everyday existence, on the bodies of water they called home.

On the final day of the 2015 Bassmaster Classic, Casey Ashley had to wait out an agonizing last few minutes to decide his fate.

In the end he would have enough weight to become a rare winner of a Bassmaster Classic in an anglerâs home state.

Casey Ashley was crowned the 2015 Bassmaster Classic champion.

The Sabine River was one of the more vast waterways fished during the 2015 Elite Series season. However, Bill Lowen and Stephen Browning ended up fishing side by side on one of the many remote canals that connected a huge maze of water.

Day 1 gets underway on Kentucky Lake.

Chris Lane fished near the large vessels moored in Sturgeon Bay during the last Elite Series event of the season.

Marty Robinson put together a very quick limit on the first day of Bass Fest on Kentucky Lake.

With lightning strikes in the area, Todd Faircloth fished from his knees to present a lower profile.

While running to the weigh in at Sturgeon Bay, Russ Lane had to battle strong wind and waves on Green Bay.

Jordan Lee found protection from the wind on Day Two at Sturgeon Bay.

Cameraman Rick Mason records the trip through a swamp with Shaw Grigsby, during the March event on the Sabine River.

Kelley Jaye heaves a cast with a giant spoon, similar to those used by several competitors while fishing on Kentucky Lake.

After a rare absence in the Bassmaster Classic, Kevin VanDam came charging back to form during the 2015 season.

The four-time Classic champion will be in contention for a record fifth winâ¦

â¦after qualifying for the 2016 Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake.

The Marshal program continued to be a huge success in 2015. Pictured here are Brent Ehrler and his Day 1 Marshal on Lake Guntersville.

An archaic rule in Wisconsin that dictates fish must be hooked inside the mouth, led to the demise of several anglers like Gerald Swindle, as they competed for final Classic berths at Sturgeon Bay.

Fish not hooked inside the mouth must be immediately released. Swindle would return to the scales one short of his limit and fail to make the Classic cut.

When the Elite Series reached Lake Guntersville, there were still a few fish on beds. Seth Feider targeted these fish early in the tournamentâ¦

â¦as did Kelly Jordon.

Rick Clunn battled for a record 33rd Bassmaster Classic appearance on the final day of Central Open #3 on Table Rock Lake.

In the âwin and youâre inâ format for qualified anglers that win a Bassmaster Open, Clunn would finish third to James Watson on Table Rock.

Mike Iaconelli led after Day One on Lake Guntersvilleâ¦

â¦and started the final day fishing near a charging Skeet Reese.

It was Ike that would strike first with Skeet looking on.

Skeet was up to the challenge and puts his first fish in the boat in sight of Iaconelli.

Along with Iaconelli and the remainder of the Top 12, Skeet dodged geeseâ¦

â¦camera men and dronesâ¦

â¦as he began to accumulate his winning weight.

He threw a 7-inch swimbait all dayâ¦

â¦securing his second win on Lake Guntersville. He also won an Elite Series event held there in 2010.

Reese a California native, now has eight victories in B.A.S.S. events.

Skeetâs winning weight in 2015 was 92.11 pounds. When he won in 2010 he was the only angler to break the century mark with 100.13 pounds.

Some of the more casual on-lookers during a morning launch on Lake Havasu.

David Walker battles a fish into the boat on the California Delta.

Chris Lane struggles to gain control of a smallmouth near the boat on Lake St. Clair.

Fish like this one helped compel Keith Combs to a Top 10 finish on the California Delta.

Chris Lane fires a cast while trying to defend his previous win on Lake St. Clair. Lane would finish the tournament in third place.

During a duel of west coast legends on Lake Havasu, Cliff Pirch would finish 2nd to Aaron Martens by 2 pounds.

Aaron Martens primarily targeting spawning fish during the event held on the Sacramento River.

Returning to an area where he began his tournament careerâ¦

â¦the âfurious hog snatcherâ began his run towards a Toyota Angler of the Year title.

Martens would finish second on the California Delta, but the plate was set for probably the most dominate performance in Elite Series history.

During the eight-tournament regular season schedule, Martens had only one finish below 15th place, with two wins.

Martens would go on to win 2015 events held on Lake Havasu and Chesapeake Bay. His winning margin in the AOY race was 112 points over second place finisher Justin Lucas.

After suffering a back injury on the Sacramento River, Byron Velvick struggled to fish the next event on Lake Havasu. Velvick eventually made the decision to withdraw from Elite Series competition.

Lake Havasu City, AZ., was the host city for the fourth stop on the 2015 Bassmaster Elite Series season.

Bodies of water that hold these âbrown fishâ are always some of the more popular stops for Elite Series anglers.

Chris Zaldain caught this yearâs largest bass during the event held on the California Delta, a bass weighing 12 pounds.

Two-time Elite Series winner Kevin Short announced his retirement at the end of the 2015 season.

Apparently one of the more popular places to fish on the Sabine River.

Thick fog plagued Day One of the Sabine River eventâ¦

…delaying the start of the tournament for some time.

Elite Series anglers like Cliff Pirch spent that time visiting with fans and signing autographs.

Fletcher Shryock spent time during the delay working on his marketing skillsâ¦

â¦Ken Iyobe slept.

Randy Howell kicked back in his boat and worked on tackle.

After several inches of rain, Aaron Martens showed up at the weigh in on the Sabine River barefoot.

The mud and water surrounding the venue didnât damper the crowdâs enthusiasm on the final day.

Day 1 begins on Lake Guntersville.

Brandon Lester had a couple Top 12 appearances this year, including here on Kentucky Lake.

The sun begins to rise on another start of an Elite Series event.

Boyd Duckett gets deep into the cover on the final day on the James River.

Freighters passing on the St. Lawrence River leave wakes that make riding in bass boats a bone-jarring proposition.

Kevin LeDoux had his best finish of the season on the St. Lawrence River, finishing eighth with 70 pounds, 2 ounces.

Anglers begin to pull away from the launch dock on Day 1 on Chesapeake Bay.

This yearâs Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell began with temperatures dipping near single digits.

Kevin VanDam didnât qualify to fish the 2015 Classic, and was jokingly removed from the pre-tournament anglers meeting by tournament officials.

Though he didnât fish, VanDam was a fixture at the Classic. He spent his days working with the Bassmaster Classic television crew and joined a live broadcast by the Weather Channel at the morning launch.

A scene from what many consider one of the best bass fishing lakes in America, Lake Guntersville.

The Bassmaster Classic is a true international event.

Anglers stage for the start of Day 1 of the Classic.

Kevin VanDam is chased by a small flotilla of spectator boats on Kentucky Lake.

Kevin Short idles to the morning launch area on Lake Havasu.

Young guns James Elamâ¦

â¦and Brandon Palaniuk battled for the lead on Day Two on Lake St. Clair. The pair was fishing the same point, just below the mouth of Lake Huron.

Palaniuk fished a drop shot along the point, before it ran out of fish and he made a moveâ¦

â¦to the shipping channel in Lake Huron.

James Watson secured a Bassmaster Classic berth by winning the Central Open held on Table Rock Lake.

Jason Christie speeds towards his first fishing spot. Christie will be a strong favorite after qualifying to fish the 2016 Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake, in his home state of Oklahoma.