Nation Championship: Day 1 on the water

Get a look at the first day on the Ouachita River as the anglers kick off the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.

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Alec Williams of Namibia works a cypress stand looking for his first fish of the day.
Alec Williams of Namibia works a cypress stand looking for his first fish of the day.
He is fishing a backwater off a main bayou that shoots north from the Ouachita River.
He is fishing a backwater off a main bayou that shoots north from the Ouachita River.
The scenery is simply amazing here. A lone cypress stands with the morning sun shining down, and one can only wonder if a bass is hanging out in the root system.
The scenery is simply amazing here. A lone cypress stands with the morning sun shining down, and one can only wonder if a bass is hanging out in the root system.
Crappie fishermen are plentiful, and they are catching some big ol' papermouth.
Crappie fishermen are plentiful, and they are catching some big ol’ papermouth.
Brett Preuett was my boat driver for the day, and this guy can run a boat through skinny bayou waters with ease. His first season on the Elite Series begins in 2016, and judging by the way he runs his Triton/Mercury, he’ll do just fine.
Brett Preuett was my boat driver for the day, and this guy can run a boat through skinny bayou waters with ease. His first season on the Elite Series begins in 2016, and judging by the way he runs his Triton/Mercury, he’ll do just fine.
Here’s a look down the bow of his boat while we are searching for more anglers.
Here’s a look down the bow of his boat while we are searching for more anglers.
Matt Roberts of Missouri is working a bank littered with cypress root systems. At this point in the day, he had three bass in the tank.
Matt Roberts of Missouri is working a bank littered with cypress root systems. At this point in the day, he had three bass in the tank.
He worked up to a blowdown and ran a few casts through it.
He worked up to a blowdown and ran a few casts through it.
A little farther upstream, we ran into Gary Adkins of Green Bay, Wis.
A little farther upstream, we ran into Gary Adkins of Green Bay, Wis.
He had a couple of fish and was confident he could find a quality limit in his area.
He had a couple of fish and was confident he could find a quality limit in his area.
As Preuett and I continued up the bayou, we had to avoid some large blowdowns and ultra-shallow water.
As Preuett and I continued up the bayou, we had to avoid some large blowdowns and ultra-shallow water.
Kyle Glasgow of Alabama is working a few large stumps.
Kyle Glasgow of Alabama is working a few large stumps.
He manages to get his bait stuck, but after a few attempts, he breaks it free from the tangles.
He manages to get his bait stuck, but after a few attempts, he breaks it free from the tangles.
Just up from Glasgow is Kansas B.A.S.S. Nation representative Preston Frazell. He flips to a stump complex …
Just up from Glasgow is Kansas B.A.S.S. Nation representative Preston Frazell. He flips to a stump complex …
… and manages his third keeper of the day, although just barely.
… and manages his third keeper of the day, although just barely.
Preuett and I head back to the main-river channel in hopes of locating more of the field. In the process, we almost got stuck.
Preuett and I head back to the main-river channel in hopes of locating more of the field. In the process, we almost got stuck.
Corey Brant from Minnesota had just landed a fish when we pulled up. Looked to be a pretty good one.
Corey Brant from Minnesota had just landed a fish when we pulled up. Looked to be a pretty good one.
Brant quickly picked up and headed upriver.
Brant quickly picked up and headed upriver.
The scenery is breathtaking here. The majestic cypress trees just beg for a jig.
The scenery is breathtaking here. The majestic cypress trees just beg for a jig.
As we continue up the river, we see another competitor burning gas to his next spot.
As we continue up the river, we see another competitor burning gas to his next spot.
Delaware’s Fabian Rodriguez has a very nice limit of fish, two of which he is trying to wrangle for a quick photo.
Delaware’s Fabian Rodriguez has a very nice limit of fish, two of which he is trying to wrangle for a quick photo.
If an angler can find a few fish like these to complement a full limit each day, he could win the event. These are very nice bass for this fishery.
If an angler can find a few fish like these to complement a full limit each day, he could win the event. These are very nice bass for this fishery.
Preuett and I head back into the “Horseshoe” area, which is a backwater that happens to be where Connecticut's Paul Mueller won this event last year.
Preuett and I head back into the “Horseshoe” area, which is a backwater that happens to be where Connecticut’s Paul Mueller won this event last year.
The ride in is awesome.
The ride in is awesome.
The first angler we come to is Roger Thomas from North Carolina.
The first angler we come to is Roger Thomas from North Carolina.
He had a few small fish, but was eagerly looking for a nice kicker.
He had a few small fish, but was eagerly looking for a nice kicker.
Just up the bayou we found Robert Peixotto, who had a few small fish as well.
Just up the bayou we found Robert Peixotto, who had a few small fish as well.
Peixotto hails from New Mexico.
Peixotto hails from New Mexico.
We found Jack Barber from West, Texas. He is the Angler of the Year for the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
We found Jack Barber from West, Texas. He is the Angler of the Year for the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
He had just discovered a pattern that produced two nice keepers in just a couple of casts.
He had just discovered a pattern that produced two nice keepers in just a couple of casts.
Dave Andrews representing New Hampshire had a couple of bass at the time of this photo.
Dave Andrews representing New Hampshire had a couple of bass at the time of this photo.
He made a quick change to a finesse bait on a spinning rod. It's likely these bass don't encounter that presentation very often.
He made a quick change to a finesse bait on a spinning rod. It’s likely these bass don’t encounter that presentation very often.
Italy’s Samuele Ferroni had three fish at this point, and was confident he’d find the two additional bass he needed to weigh a limit.
Italy’s Samuele Ferroni had three fish at this point, and was confident he’d find the two additional bass he needed to weigh a limit.
Kieron Samkin of South Africa hooked into a nice fish just as we pulled up.
Kieron Samkin of South Africa hooked into a nice fish just as we pulled up.
The battle ensues …
The battle ensues …
The fish goes airborne.
The fish goes airborne.
And, finally, Samkin lands his third fish of the day.
And, finally, Samkin lands his third fish of the day.
We found Donald Adcock from Mississippi a couple hundred yards up the bank.
We found Donald Adcock from Mississippi a couple hundred yards up the bank.
Adcock had a limit of small fish at this point, and he was hoping to bump into a couple of kickers before the day was over.
Adcock had a limit of small fish at this point, and he was hoping to bump into a couple of kickers before the day was over.