Nation: Day 1 begins at Hartwell

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All 61 boats are launched and ready for the 7:30 a.m. EDT start time on Lake Hartwell.
All 61 boats are launched and ready for the 7:30 a.m. EDT start time on Lake Hartwell.
Barnwood Grill brings the kitchen to the service yard at Green Pond Landing and Event Center.
Barnwood Grill brings the kitchen to the service yard at Green Pond Landing and Event Center.
Made-to-order breakfast burritos and sandwiches are on the menu.
Made-to-order breakfast burritos and sandwiches are on the menu.
The aroma of breakfast brings the anglers over to the tent to pick up a fresh breakfast.
The aroma of breakfast brings the anglers over to the tent to pick up a fresh breakfast.
Toyota Tacoma and Tundra pickups begin hooking up to launch all 61 of the boats.
Toyota Tacoma and Tundra pickups begin hooking up to launch all 61 of the boats.
Before that happens the contestants load their boats with ice and lunches.
Before that happens the contestants load their boats with ice and lunches.
Jordan Bellendier of Iowa will rely on his electronics all day to find schools of spotted bass in the lake.
Jordan Bellendier of Iowa will rely on his electronics all day to find schools of spotted bass in the lake.
The B.A.S.S. staff gets ready to launch boats and take on all of the duties required for the takeoff for Day 1 of the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Magellan Outdoors.
The B.A.S.S. staff gets ready to launch boats and take on all of the duties required for the takeoff for Day 1 of the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Magellan Outdoors.
The Yamaha service trailer is stylish even in the pre-dawn morning.
The Yamaha service trailer is stylish even in the pre-dawn morning.
A co-angler’s rods tell the story of the day. Using a wide variety of lures will be required to catch bass on Lake Hartwell.
A co-angler’s rods tell the story of the day. Using a wide variety of lures will be required to catch bass on Lake Hartwell.
Steve Vann preps his tackle for the day.
Steve Vann preps his tackle for the day.
Vann is the boater from North Carolina.
Vann is the boater from North Carolina.
Nearby is Tim Hartman, the boater from Illinois.
Nearby is Tim Hartman, the boater from Illinois.
Ty Faber of Colorado still has work to do before launch. His ice, lunches and tackle are ready to go.
Ty Faber of Colorado still has work to do before launch. His ice, lunches and tackle are ready to go.
Co-anglers load their gear into the boats as the day is nearly underway.
Co-anglers load their gear into the boats as the day is nearly underway.
Jeff Thompson is the Paralyzed Veterans of America champion. He is retired from the U.S. Marine Corps.
Jeff Thompson is the Paralyzed Veterans of America champion. He is retired from the U.S. Marine Corps.
The boats and anglers are nearly ready to be taken to the ramp for the launch.
The boats and anglers are nearly ready to be taken to the ramp for the launch.
Jamie Laiche of Louisiana makes last-minute preparations for the day.
Jamie Laiche of Louisiana makes last-minute preparations for the day.
The Japanese contingent talks about what’s ahead at the launch site.
The Japanese contingent talks about what’s ahead at the launch site.
Mike Lavallee of Utah has been here before. This time he’s in the hunt for a championship win.
Mike Lavallee of Utah has been here before. This time he’s in the hunt for a championship win.
Beau Govreau prepares his tackle for the day. He is the boater from Missouri.
Beau Govreau prepares his tackle for the day. He is the boater from Missouri.
All is quite for now at the Mercury service trailer.
All is quite for now at the Mercury service trailer.
The boats move toward the ramp for the takeoff.
The boats move toward the ramp for the takeoff.
Justy Varkevisser of the Republic of South Africa is next in line for the launch.
Justy Varkevisser of the Republic of South Africa is next in line for the launch.
The sound system is all quite for now. Soon it will be manned by Jon Stewart.
The sound system is all quite for now. Soon it will be manned by Jon Stewart.
The B.A.S.S. Nation director checks off Marty Giddens at the ramp.
The B.A.S.S. Nation director checks off Marty Giddens at the ramp.
The ramp gets busy as the boats and vehicles begin arriving from the service yard.
The ramp gets busy as the boats and vehicles begin arriving from the service yard.
Family members record the moment as their loved ones get launched into the lake.
Family members record the moment as their loved ones get launched into the lake.
A fog blankets the lake as daylight nears.
A fog blankets the lake as daylight nears.
And Stewart turns up the music that gets everyone in a takeoff kind of mood.
And Stewart turns up the music that gets everyone in a takeoff kind of mood.