JWC: On the water

Check out images from the Junior World Championship in Russellville, Ark.!

Clayton Childs, representing the Southern Division, puts one in the boat early Saturday.
Clayton Childs, representing the Southern Division, puts one in the boat early Saturday.
Clayton Childs and Ben Stone worked over an area where a small drainage empties into the Arkansas River.
Clayton Childs and Ben Stone worked over an area where a small drainage empties into the Arkansas River.
Although competition is fierce in the Junior World Championship, anglers still find time for a lighter moment on the water.
Although competition is fierce in the Junior World Championship, anglers still find time for a lighter moment on the water.
Ryan Appleby from the Mid-Atlantic Division hooks into a fish along a productive bank.
Ryan Appleby from the Mid-Atlantic Division hooks into a fish along a productive bank.
The fight is on.
The fight is on.
Appleby pulls him closer to the boat.
Appleby pulls him closer to the boat.
Ryan Appleby scores with a small fish early in the day.
Ryan Appleby scores with a small fish early in the day.
Rock structures that are designed to keep the river’s current in the main navigation channel are productive fishing spots on the Arkansas River.
Rock structures that are designed to keep the river’s current in the main navigation channel are productive fishing spots on the Arkansas River.
Henry Schomaker takes his turn fighting a fish.
Henry Schomaker takes his turn fighting a fish.
Schomaker stays calm while bringing in the fish.
Schomaker stays calm while bringing in the fish.
He’ll have to break out the board to see if this one makes 14 inches, which is the minimum legal length for largemouth bass on the Arkansas River.
He’ll have to break out the board to see if this one makes 14 inches, which is the minimum legal length for largemouth bass on the Arkansas River.
Chase Heaton strikes hard on a big one as Western Division teammate Ryan Wood gets the net.
Chase Heaton strikes hard on a big one as Western Division teammate Ryan Wood gets the net.
Wood reaches for the fish.
Wood reaches for the fish.
It’s a big one, but drum don’t count in the Bassmaster JWC.
It’s a big one, but drum don’t count in the Bassmaster JWC.
Wood was still cleaning off the drum slime when Heaton struck again.
Wood was still cleaning off the drum slime when Heaton struck again.
This one looks like it’s actually a bass.
This one looks like it’s actually a bass.
The fish breaks the surface as Wood waits with the net.
The fish breaks the surface as Wood waits with the net.
Heaton’s face tells you all you need to know about losing that fish.
Heaton’s face tells you all you need to know about losing that fish.
The Western Division team makes a move to another jetty tip just downstream.
The Western Division team makes a move to another jetty tip just downstream.
Heaton hooks up on his first cast at the new fishing spot.
Heaton hooks up on his first cast at the new fishing spot.
Wood, who had four in the well at this point, is getting a lot of practice as the net man.
Wood, who had four in the well at this point, is getting a lot of practice as the net man.
Wood puts the net beneath Heaton’s fish.
Wood puts the net beneath Heaton’s fish.
Heaton can breathe easier now.
Heaton can breathe easier now.
The fish wouldn’t measure up to Arkansas law, so Heaton sent it back home.
The fish wouldn’t measure up to Arkansas law, so Heaton sent it back home.
Wood gets in on the action, too.
Wood gets in on the action, too.
Brian Volkernick and Noah Winslow were working jetty tips as well as sandbars.
Brian Volkernick and Noah Winslow were working jetty tips as well as sandbars.
Volkernick hooks up with a small bass on crankbait.
Volkernick hooks up with a small bass on crankbait.
Winslow jumps into action as net man to close the deal.
Winslow jumps into action as net man to close the deal.
Volkernick and Winslow fish in the shadow of Petit Jean Mountain on Pool 9 of the Arkansas River.
Volkernick and Winslow fish in the shadow of Petit Jean Mountain on Pool 9 of the Arkansas River.
Volkernick sends a crankbait sailing in a small backwater pocket.
Volkernick sends a crankbait sailing in a small backwater pocket.
Remington Wagner and Trevor Yates did some damage along a jetty in a larger backwater area, a rare commodity on this pool of the river.
Remington Wagner and Trevor Yates did some damage along a jetty in a larger backwater area, a rare commodity on this pool of the river.
Cuts in jetties allow water to pass through, attracting both baitfish and bass.
Cuts in jetties allow water to pass through, attracting both baitfish and bass.
Wagner and Yates worked buzzbaits along the rock jetty.
Wagner and Yates worked buzzbaits along the rock jetty.
Daryk Eckert from the Northern Division shows off a good fish.
Daryk Eckert from the Northern Division shows off a good fish.
Eckert and teammate Roman Chapman fished the Petit Jean River, the Arkansas’s largest tributary in Pool 9.
Eckert and teammate Roman Chapman fished the Petit Jean River, the Arkansas’s largest tributary in Pool 9.
Chapman and Eckert work over a downed persimmon tree as boat captain David Wood relaxes.
Chapman and Eckert work over a downed persimmon tree as boat captain David Wood relaxes.