Open: Day 2 on Smith

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The second day of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open #2 was opened by some of our American Heros.
The second day of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open #2 was opened by some of our American Heros.
Terry Scroggins started his day just a few hundred yards from the main boat launch on Alabama's famed Lewis Smith Lake. His co-angler for the day is Steve Roosen.
Terry Scroggins started his day just a few hundred yards from the main boat launch on Alabama’s famed Lewis Smith Lake. His co-angler for the day is Steve Roosen.
Scroggins managed to find a decent spotted bass just after we arrived. The fish immediately goes airborne
Scroggins managed to find a decent spotted bass just after we arrived. The fish immediately goes airborne
Scroggins works it around the boat ...
Scroggins works it around the boat …
Into the boat he comes.
Into the boat he comes.
The bass will keep.
The bass will keep.
The
The “Big Show” is happy with his starter fish. Looks like a solid 2-pounder.
Shortly after dropping that fish in the box, Scroggins' co Steve Roosen catches a small fish. But, it's action.
Shortly after dropping that fish in the box, Scroggins’ co Steve Roosen catches a small fish. But, it’s action.
Not going to measure, but Roosen poses for a photo and a smile anyway.
Not going to measure, but Roosen poses for a photo and a smile anyway.
Scroggins managed to out-do his co-angler with one that was even smaller. The guys were clearly enjoying themselves.
Scroggins managed to out-do his co-angler with one that was even smaller. The guys were clearly enjoying themselves.
Just around the bend we find Minnesota's Josh Douglas and his co-angler Gus Kneidinger working the shoreline.
Just around the bend we find Minnesota’s Josh Douglas and his co-angler Gus Kneidinger working the shoreline.
Douglas has one nice fish and Kneidinger has a limit. Douglas makes his next pitch hoping for a bite.
Douglas has one nice fish and Kneidinger has a limit. Douglas makes his next pitch hoping for a bite.
Looks like a tasty tube or craw. It's working, whatever it is.
Looks like a tasty tube or craw. It’s working, whatever it is.
Kneidinger hooks into one and swings it into the boat; looks like a pretty good one.
Kneidinger hooks into one and swings it into the boat; looks like a pretty good one.
Into the boat it comes, and the fish is good enough to cull up.
Into the boat it comes, and the fish is good enough to cull up.
Douglas makes a switch to a finesse presentation on a spinning outfit. Many of the anglers this week are fishing finesse presentations on spinning gear.
Douglas makes a switch to a finesse presentation on a spinning outfit. Many of the anglers this week are fishing finesse presentations on spinning gear.
Almost immediately, Kneidinger hooks into another bass.
Almost immediately, Kneidinger hooks into another bass.
The spotted bass is not happy about the situation.
The spotted bass is not happy about the situation.
This fish will definitely cull up for Kneidinger.
This fish will definitely cull up for Kneidinger.
Water goes everywhere as the fish continues to fight.
Water goes everywhere as the fish continues to fight.
Kneidinger looks very happy, while Douglas looks on approvingly.
Kneidinger looks very happy, while Douglas looks on approvingly.
Time to make a change in tackle ...
Time to make a change in tackle …
... and location. Douglas stows his rods, yanks up the trolling motor and heads out.
… and location. Douglas stows his rods, yanks up the trolling motor and heads out.
At the next stop pro Jamey Caldwell and his co-angler Jody White pull out a couple of fish from their morning.
At the next stop pro Jamey Caldwell and his co-angler Jody White pull out a couple of fish from their morning.
Caldwell works a bluff with a finesse outfit.
Caldwell works a bluff with a finesse outfit.
As the duo works behind a dock, White hooks into a small fish.
As the duo works behind a dock, White hooks into a small fish.
Caldwell navigates his boat along the bank, which happens to be right next to a scenic waterfall. One of many small falls in the vicinity.
Caldwell navigates his boat along the bank, which happens to be right next to a scenic waterfall. One of many small falls in the vicinity.
Caldwell hooks into one.
Caldwell hooks into one.
Not a big fish, but it's a fish!
Not a big fish, but it’s a fish!
On the next cast, Caldwell sets the hook again ...
On the next cast, Caldwell sets the hook again …
... but heartbreak instead.
… but heartbreak instead.
He said it was likely a small fish, but he hates to loose fish in a big derby like this.
He said it was likely a small fish, but he hates to loose fish in a big derby like this.
Caldwell and White pack it up and head to the next spot.
Caldwell and White pack it up and head to the next spot.
After a short run, we find Jacob Wheeler.
After a short run, we find Jacob Wheeler.
Almost immediately, he hooks into a fish that was hanging out by a brush pile.
Almost immediately, he hooks into a fish that was hanging out by a brush pile.
Wheeler flips the bass into the boat. Looks like a keeper for sure.
Wheeler flips the bass into the boat. Looks like a keeper for sure.
Wheeler carefully weighs his fish on a Rapala scale. He said that it helps him keep track of the fish in his livewell, and if a change needs to be made, knowing how much weight he has is not an issue.
Wheeler carefully weighs his fish on a Rapala scale. He said that it helps him keep track of the fish in his livewell, and if a change needs to be made, knowing how much weight he has is not an issue.
He drops the fish into his livewell.
He drops the fish into his livewell.
Wheeler and his co-angler Tom Balachvili head to the next spot.
Wheeler and his co-angler Tom Balachvili head to the next spot.
Across the main river channel we found Michael Murphy and his co-angler Skeeter Miller. Almost as quickly as we picked up the camera, Murphy hooks into a fish.
Across the main river channel we found Michael Murphy and his co-angler Skeeter Miller. Almost as quickly as we picked up the camera, Murphy hooks into a fish.
Murphy swings the small fish into the boat not sure if it'll help his total or not.
Murphy swings the small fish into the boat not sure if it’ll help his total or not.
It's not a big fish, but it measures 12 inches and weighs just under a pound. It'll help Murphy's total, which is always a good thing.
It’s not a big fish, but it measures 12 inches and weighs just under a pound. It’ll help Murphy’s total, which is always a good thing.
Just a couple of casts later, Murphy hooks into another one.
Just a couple of casts later, Murphy hooks into another one.
This bass looks a little better than the last one he just caught.
This bass looks a little better than the last one he just caught.
The bass throws water and tries to head-shake the hook free.
The bass throws water and tries to head-shake the hook free.
The fish gives Murphy one last run before the angler wins the battle.
The fish gives Murphy one last run before the angler wins the battle.
Murphy flips it in ...
Murphy flips it in …
... and it's better than he thought.
… and it’s better than he thought.
The fish will add nicely to Murphy's limit.
The fish will add nicely to Murphy’s limit.
Not too far up the lake, Enigma custom rod builder Jesse Tacoronte and his co-angler Scotty Allen are working a mid-lake hump, one that they caught a few fish from just a few minutes earlier.
Not too far up the lake, Enigma custom rod builder Jesse Tacoronte and his co-angler Scotty Allen are working a mid-lake hump, one that they caught a few fish from just a few minutes earlier.
Allen eagerly shows off his big fish of the day.
Allen eagerly shows off his big fish of the day.
The anglers circle the hump several times using Carolina rigs.
The anglers circle the hump several times using Carolina rigs.
Tacoronte stows the trolling motor and the two anglers look to the next spot.
Tacoronte stows the trolling motor and the two anglers look to the next spot.
Off and running.
Off and running.
Justin Lucas and his co-angler Bailey Boutries are still on the hunt.
Justin Lucas and his co-angler Bailey Boutries are still on the hunt.
Lucas quickly hooks up, but the end of his line is across a dock cable. The result could be a problem, but he quickly adapts.
Lucas quickly hooks up, but the end of his line is across a dock cable. The result could be a problem, but he quickly adapts.
Clearly a professional move. There are a lot of things happening at once in this photo, and Lucas handles it perfectly.
Clearly a professional move. There are a lot of things happening at once in this photo, and Lucas handles it perfectly.
He carefully manages to get the fish flipped over the wire and into the boat.
He carefully manages to get the fish flipped over the wire and into the boat.
The fish won't help Lucas' limit, so it quickly goes back into the lake.
The fish won’t help Lucas’ limit, so it quickly goes back into the lake.
Knowing that he isn't on the size of fish that will improve his standing, he pulls up the trolling motor looking to run to the next spot.
Knowing that he isn’t on the size of fish that will improve his standing, he pulls up the trolling motor looking to run to the next spot.
Lucas points the nose of his boat up the lake, hoping the next spot will produce better fish.
Lucas points the nose of his boat up the lake, hoping the next spot will produce better fish.
Trevor Lo is on the run. But, what ...
Trevor Lo is on the run. But, what …
... just what is he thinking?
… just what is he thinking?
“What’s the soup of the day? (The soup de jour) Mmmmmmm, that sounds good! I’ll have that.”
At the next stop, we find Shaw Grigsby working ultra-shallow water for bedded bass.
At the next stop, we find Shaw Grigsby working ultra-shallow water for bedded bass.
Grigsby and his co-angler Brandon Stooksbury spent a great deal of time in a very small area, but if Grigsby is spending that much time there, you can bet there are big fish nearby.
Grigsby and his co-angler Brandon Stooksbury spent a great deal of time in a very small area, but if Grigsby is spending that much time there, you can bet there are big fish nearby.
The veteran sight fisherman locks in. Grigsby stayed on this fish for what seemed like an eternity making cast after cast, hoping to tease the bedded fish into eating.
The veteran sight fisherman locks in. Grigsby stayed on this fish for what seemed like an eternity making cast after cast, hoping to tease the bedded fish into eating.
He quickly sat down and made a change ...
He quickly sat down and made a change …
... and the change was exactly what the bass wanted.
… and the change was exactly what the bass wanted.
He works the fish around the front of his boat and into position to scoop it into the boat.
He works the fish around the front of his boat and into position to scoop it into the boat.
The reach ...
The reach …
He's happy with the fact that he won the battle with the fish, and it went into his livewell. It has been a tough day for Shaw, so this was a victory. It was truly impressive to watch the master work, adjust, get back at it and finally beat a stubborn bass.
He’s happy with the fact that he won the battle with the fish, and it went into his livewell. It has been a tough day for Shaw, so this was a victory. It was truly impressive to watch the master work, adjust, get back at it and finally beat a stubborn bass.