Marshals: Classic Day 1

Crews is starting to heat up. He’s culled 3 times in last 45 minutes
Crews is starting to heat up. He’s culled 3 times in last 45 minutes
Upgrade time for Howell.
Upgrade time for Howell.
Good cull late in the game for Pirch.
Good cull late in the game for Pirch.
Martens on some big spots toward the end of the day.
Martens on some big spots toward the end of the day.
Wheeler culls a spot for a large jaw.
Wheeler culls a spot for a large jaw.
Big spot late in the day for Martens.
Big spot late in the day for Martens.
In the air...
In the air…
....and now in the live well, the cull continues for David Walker
….and now in the live well, the cull continues for David Walker
After many empty casts, Ryan Butler nailed this 4-pounder for a nice upgrade.
After many empty casts, Ryan Butler nailed this 4-pounder for a nice upgrade.
Foutz has been culling for a while and catching a bunch of small fish. We just had the feeling a big one was coming
Foutz has been culling for a while and catching a bunch of small fish. We just had the feeling a big one was coming
Luke Gritter gets a limit.
Luke Gritter gets a limit.
We’ve been out of cell coverage for a while and Jacob Foutz had filled his limit and culled twice. The bite has really picked up for him in the last 30 minutes or so.
We’ve been out of cell coverage for a while and Jacob Foutz had filled his limit and culled twice. The bite has really picked up for him in the last 30 minutes or so.
David Walker just keeps on culling.
David Walker just keeps on culling.
After a bit of a lull, Wheeler went looking for spots, but to his surprise ran into ole' Mr. Largemouth!
After a bit of a lull, Wheeler went looking for spots, but to his surprise ran into ole’ Mr. Largemouth!
Long and skinny!  “But goal #1 accomplished...get five at my first Bassmaster Classic.”  Ryan Butler is now digging for some upgrades.
Long and skinny! “But goal #1 accomplished…get five at my first Bassmaster Classic.” Ryan Butler is now digging for some upgrades.
Pirch culling a little one.
Pirch culling a little one.
Luke Clausen brings in a 3.5lber for No. 5. Now time to upgrade.
Luke Clausen brings in a 3.5lber for No. 5. Now time to upgrade.
Ryan Butler’s cheering section is a family affair including his son Luke, who keeps giving his dad the thumbs up but doesn’t understand why he can’t be in the boat with dad.
Ryan Butler’s cheering section is a family affair including his son Luke, who keeps giving his dad the thumbs up but doesn’t understand why he can’t be in the boat with dad.
Keith Combs has a small limit. He swings a spot into the boat but it won't help.
Keith Combs has a small limit. He swings a spot into the boat but it won’t help.
Ryan Butler’s smile is getting bigger as the bites are starting to come.
Ryan Butler’s smile is getting bigger as the bites are starting to come.
Aaron finally found a nice one this morning 4 plus pounder.
Aaron finally found a nice one this morning 4 plus pounder.
After a long drought, and losing one at the boat, Ryan Butler kept his head down and kept grinding...finally landing this small keeper.
After a long drought, and losing one at the boat, Ryan Butler kept his head down and kept grinding…finally landing this small keeper.
Mark Davis just caught his 7th keeper of the morning. These are better fish and allowing him to add more pounds to an already decent limit.
Mark Davis just caught his 7th keeper of the morning. These are better fish and allowing him to add more pounds to an already decent limit.
Mark Daniels Jr. is on another spot he's fished and had success before. 
He didn't fish here during practice, but he's caught two in short order; one he kept, it was a slight upgrade, the other, as soon as he landed it he set it free to grow up!
He just caught another and released it too. 
He's fishing with confidence, but he knows he needs to find bigger fish or his dreams will be fried?
Mark Daniels Jr. is on another spot he’s fished and had success before.
He didn’t fish here during practice, but he’s caught two in short order; one he kept, it was a slight upgrade, the other, as soon as he landed it he set it free to grow up!
He just caught another and released it too.
He’s fishing with confidence, but he knows he needs to find bigger fish or his dreams will be fried?
“A Classic bass will make you smile” David Walker
Pirch getting close to a limit but still looking for Big Mama!
Pirch getting close to a limit but still looking for Big Mama!
Elam culling early.
Elam culling early.
Cliff Pirch gaining confidence in his pattern with No. 3.
Cliff Pirch gaining confidence in his pattern with No. 3.
The long run pays off in the first couple of casts for Randy Howell.
The long run pays off in the first couple of casts for Randy Howell.
Matt Lee with his first cull. Largemouth replaced a spot.
Matt Lee with his first cull. Largemouth replaced a spot.
Caleb Sumrall with his 3rd fish.
Caleb Sumrall with his 3rd fish.
Wheeler with No. 3. They're starting to grow up!
Wheeler with No. 3. They’re starting to grow up!
That makes four for Connell
That makes four for Connell
Mark Davis just boated his 5th keeper. Not sure if he'll remain on this spot to begin culling or look for bigger fish elsewhere. Based on our conversation, he caught better fish here in practice. Might just be a matter of better fish moving up as the temps increase.
Mark Davis just boated his 5th keeper. Not sure if he’ll remain on this spot to begin culling or look for bigger fish elsewhere. Based on our conversation, he caught better fish here in practice. Might just be a matter of better fish moving up as the temps increase.
No.  2 and more the size Cliff Pirch is looking for.
No. 2 and more the size Cliff Pirch is looking for.
The fish are very active on Daniel's starting spot, he found it on the last official day of practice. He added a
The fish are very active on Daniel’s starting spot, he found it on the last official day of practice. He added a “quarter pounder” with a belly full of herring.

Luke Clausen is getting it going with No. 3 at 3.5 lbs.
Luke Clausen is getting it going with No. 3 at 3.5 lbs.
The latest addition to his tournament creel.
The latest addition to his tournament creel.

Hank Cherry with No. 3.
Hank Cherry with No. 3.
Mark Davis has caught his 4th keeper. It was a better fish, the kind he needs to build on for a good limit. He's fishing deep, slow, and methodical.
Mark Davis has caught his 4th keeper. It was a better fish, the kind he needs to build on for a good limit. He’s fishing deep, slow, and methodical.
No. 2 for Jacob Wheeler.
No. 2 for Jacob Wheeler.
Keith Combs first fish, ice broken!
Keith Combs first fish, ice broken!
Chunky spot early for Matt Lee.
Chunky spot early for Matt Lee.
Alton Jones catches another toad.
Alton Jones catches another toad.
One in the boat for Cliff Pirch.
One in the boat for Cliff Pirch.
Mark Davis just boated his 2nd keeper of the morning. He said he was going to start the morning on this deep spot and see how things go from here.
Mark Davis just boated his 2nd keeper of the morning. He said he was going to start the morning on this deep spot and see how things go from here.
Mark Davis just landed his 3rd keeper. This first deepwater area he has started on this morning may allow him to limit out pretty quickly.
Mark Davis just landed his 3rd keeper. This first deepwater area he has started on this morning may allow him to limit out pretty quickly.
Steve Kennedy's second fish.
Steve Kennedy’s second fish.
“What was I thinking!” Here’s a picture of it, he’s lucky. Daniel’s first fish.
Aaron and Jacob hanging out.
Aaron and Jacob hanging out.
Keeper No. 2, just a small fish. These are just starter fish. Foutz is waiting on the sun to get up some.
Keeper No. 2, just a small fish. These are just starter fish. Foutz is waiting on the sun to get up some.
Crews on the board.
Crews on the board.
Luke Gritter off to a good start with his first Bass of his first classic.
Luke Gritter off to a good start with his first Bass of his first classic.
Early morning view at the dock on Day 1 of the Classic.
Early morning view at the dock on Day 1 of the Classic.
Ryan Butler making last-minute checks moments before take-off. It's a bit of a madhouse at the docks.
Ryan Butler making last-minute checks moments before take-off. It’s a bit of a madhouse at the docks.
Dustin Connell with first fish at 4 1/2 lbs.
Dustin Connell with first fish at 4 1/2 lbs.
Caleb Sumrall's first fish is 2 1/4 lbs.
Caleb Sumrall’s first fish is 2 1/4 lbs.
Ryan Butler’s first fish in his first Classic appearance, helps calm the nerves.
Ryan Butler’s first fish in his first Classic appearance, helps calm the nerves.