Byron Velvick leads a line of boats from the take-off point out into Oneida Lake early on Day One of the Ramada Championship.
Photo: Steve Bowman
Stephen Browning idles out into the lake while other Elite anglers jockey into position early Thursday.
Photo: Steve Bowman
A boat load of spectators watch as Gerald Swindle idles by early Thursday morning.
Photo: Steve Bowman
Bernie Schultz leads a line of Elite anglers from the take-off points Thursday morning.
Photo: Steve Bowman
A ball of water sprays off Ott DeFoe’s reel during the early morning hours of the Ramada Championship on Oneida Lake.
Photo: Steve Bowman
DeFoe hit four different areas by about 11 a.m. on Day One. Early on he struggled but started building on his limit as the day progressed.
Photo: Steve Bowman
Davy Hite speeds by during opening round action on Oneida Lake.
Photo: Steve Bowman
Bill Lowen casts on the outside edge of a grassline Thursday.
Photo: Steve Bowman
Ott DeFoe spent the first part of his morning fishing in one of the many canals along the lake.
Photo: Steve Bowman
DeFoe took his cue from the “Slow, No Wake” sign and slowly crept around the shallow area.
Photo: Steve Bowman
On the outside point of the canal, Bill Lowen fishes around a riprap wall.
Photo: Steve Bowman
DeFoe’s reflection is cast down the canal as he works the area.
Photo: Steve Bowman
Lowen fishes outside the area as a blue heron watches both the anglers from his grassy perch.
Photo: Steve Bowman
DeFoe and his cameraman turn to the sound of breaking fish as they exit the canal.
Photo: Steve Bowman
DeFoe is rewarded with his first bite of the day.
Photo: Steve Bowman
The fish puts up a good struggle.
Photo: Steve Bowman
But the excitement was dampened by the revelation it was a pickerel.
Photo: Steve Bowman
A group of anglers, Kelly Jordon, Jeremy Starks and Boyd Duckett, pile together in one area of the lake.
Photo: Steve Bowman
The anglers were chasing breaking fish on a shallow flat.
Photo: Steve Bowman
Jordon turns to the sound of shad popping behind him.
Photo: Steve Bowman
Starks hooks up with a largemouth after casting to one of the breaks.
Photo: Steve Bowman
The largemouth was brought aboard quickly.
Photo: Steve Bowman
It was Starks' sixth keeper of the day and allowed him to cull.
Photo: Steve Bowman
The largemouth was the first green fish he had caught that morning. Up to that point, he had only hooked smallmouth bass.
Photo: Steve Bowman
DeFoe sets the hook on his third keeper of the morning.
Photo: Steve Bowman
He took his time with the fish as it shook its head on the surface.
Photo: Steve Bowman
The keeper made several short jumps in the shallow water…
Photo: Steve Bowman
…as DeFoe gets him close to the boat…
Photo: Steve Bowman
…the fish makes one last jump…
Photo: Steve Bowman
…creating a big splash...
Photo: Steve Bowman
…and a short run…
Photo: Steve Bowman
…before DeFoe swings him aboard.
Photo: Steve Bowman
A quick plop into the livewell, and DeFoe is back in action.
Photo: Steve Bowman
While re-tying, DeFoe takes a peek over his rod box as a fish breaks nearby.
Photo: Steve Bowman
Several of the bass on the lake are relating to grass like this.
Photo: Steve Bowman
Morizo Shimizu fishes tight to the bank Thursday.
Photo: Steve Bowman
DeFoe catches his fourth keeper.
Photo: Steve Bowman
The fish came on DeFoe’s fourth stop of the day.
Photo: Steve Bowman
DeFoe and Shimizu shared the bank for almost an hour.
Photo: Steve Bowman
Both of the anglers were focusing on the shallow cover along the bank.
Photo: Steve Bowman
Some of that cover included blown down trees with huge root wads.
Photo: Steve Bowman
DeFoe squats down to cast under one of the laydowns along the bank.
Photo: Steve Bowman
DeFoe pushed himself well into the cover.
Photo: Steve Bowman
