On the water with top College anglers

It's Day 2 on the water with the Day 1 leaders La Monroe and Day 1 runner-ups Arkansas Tech.

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Day 2 begins on the Ouachita River.
Day 2 begins on the Ouachita River.
The anglers are ready to go.
The anglers are ready to go.
The entrance to a 1,000 acre lake. Doesn't really look like it, does it?
The entrance to a 1,000 acre lake. Doesn’t really look like it, does it?
ULM makes their way through the woods to what they hope is the promised land.
ULM makes their way through the woods to what they hope is the promised land.
Getting a little elevation on the GoPro.
Getting a little elevation on the GoPro.
OSU fishes nearby.
OSU fishes nearby.
Preuette and Blackett get started.
Preuette and Blackett get started.
Both Preuette and Blackett work hard to get their baits as close to the bank as possible.
Both Preuette and Blackett work hard to get their baits as close to the bank as possible.
Mats of floating debris are the targets that ULM focus on the most.
Mats of floating debris are the targets that ULM focus on the most.
These debris mats are right against the bank. The bank isn't exactly accessible by most anglers fishing other parts of the river where the woods are flooded for miles.
These debris mats are right against the bank. The bank isn’t exactly accessible by most anglers fishing other parts of the river where the woods are flooded for miles.
Camerman Carey Barrett focuses in on the action.
Camerman Carey Barrett focuses in on the action.
ULM fights to fish through the forest.
ULM fights to fish through the forest.
Preuette swaps to a buzzbait hoping for a big bite.
Preuette swaps to a buzzbait hoping for a big bite.
On the move.
On the move.
The bank of the Ouachita River is hard to find right now, but for ULM it's within reach. That's one thing that makes this backwater so popular.
The bank of the Ouachita River is hard to find right now, but for ULM it’s within reach. That’s one thing that makes this backwater so popular.
ULM has to contend with local anglers and other college teams for water.
ULM has to contend with local anglers and other college teams for water.
Most of ULM's fish have come flipping a soft plastic to the bank.
Most of ULM’s fish have come flipping a soft plastic to the bank.
Next stop.
Next stop.
OSU anglers fish along.
OSU anglers fish along.
Not sure how that got to the middle of nowhere.
Not sure how that got to the middle of nowhere.
Another look at the debris mats that ULM has been punching.
Another look at the debris mats that ULM has been punching.
Northwestern State has 4 fish early on Day 2,
Northwestern State has 4 fish early on Day 2,
Starting the day in second place is Arkansas Tech University. They have also spent most of their tournament in this same backwater.
Starting the day in second place is Arkansas Tech University. They have also spent most of their tournament in this same backwater.
ATU starts down a tree line across from ULM.
ATU starts down a tree line across from ULM.
Smith looks over his shoulder in hopes of deciphering how their competitors are fairing on Day 2.
Smith looks over his shoulder in hopes of deciphering how their competitors are fairing on Day 2.
Cameraman Wes Miller is on top of the action.
Cameraman Wes Miller is on top of the action.
ATU makes their way into the woods.
ATU makes their way into the woods.
Smith and Sarna both work topwater frogs through the trees.
Smith and Sarna both work topwater frogs through the trees.
Much like ULM, ATU spends most of their time behind the main tree line.
Much like ULM, ATU spends most of their time behind the main tree line.
OSU trades water with ULM.
OSU trades water with ULM.
Preuette and Blackett focus in as the magic hour approaches. Like most lakes this time of year, the bite is best after 10 o'clock.
Preuette and Blackett focus in as the magic hour approaches. Like most lakes this time of year, the bite is best after 10 o’clock.
A crane waits for his brucnh.
A crane waits for his brucnh.
Preuette and Blackett have to retie regularly due to the wear and tare of the branches.
Preuette and Blackett have to retie regularly due to the wear and tare of the branches.
Preuette swaps to a popper.
Preuette swaps to a popper.
“I’ve caught lots of big ones on this thing this time of year.”
ATU is on to the next stop.
ATU is on to the next stop.
Preuett hooks up.
Preuett hooks up.
The bass pops out of the water.
The bass pops out of the water.
It's on its way up.
It’s on its way up.
And into the branches it goes.
And into the branches it goes.
Preuett manages to wrangle the bass into the boat.
Preuett manages to wrangle the bass into the boat.
The
The “did you see that?” look.
Preuett takes a look at ULM's first keeper of the morning.
Preuett takes a look at ULM’s first keeper of the morning.
Number one for ULM.
Number one for ULM.
This backwater is far more crowded today with several more college teams and several locals.
This backwater is far more crowded today with several more college teams and several locals.
ATU is still in sight.
ATU is still in sight.
A bald eagle watches the action.
A bald eagle watches the action.
The wife awaits.
The wife awaits.
ATU works down the bank.
ATU works down the bank.
ULM fishes on.
ULM fishes on.
ATU nears ULM.
ATU nears ULM.
Arkansas Tech and the University of La Monroe cross paths on Day 2.
Arkansas Tech and the University of La Monroe cross paths on Day 2.
For the time being, ATU has taken the lead with two keepers to ULM's one.
For the time being, ATU has taken the lead with two keepers to ULM’s one.
Sarna pitches his bait to an outside tree.
Sarna pitches his bait to an outside tree.
ATU works a soft plastic on the Ouachita River.
ATU works a soft plastic on the Ouachita River.
ATU and ULM swap water.
ATU and ULM swap water.
Blackett hooks up and is brought to his knees as a 5-to-6-pounder surfaces and spits the hook.
Blackett hooks up and is brought to his knees as a 5-to-6-pounder surfaces and spits the hook.
Preuett knows that one hurt.
Preuett knows that one hurt.
ULM continues on unfazed.
ULM continues on unfazed.
Preuett boat flips a solid fish.
Preuett boat flips a solid fish.
Concealed by the woods, Preuett unhooks a nice one.
Concealed by the woods, Preuett unhooks a nice one.
This fish helps get things back on track after ULM's lost fish just moments before.
This fish helps get things back on track after ULM’s lost fish just moments before.
Carey Barrett hops out to get some boat to boat shots.
Carey Barrett hops out to get some boat to boat shots.
ATU works another stretch of woods nearby.
ATU works another stretch of woods nearby.
Northeastern State has 2 fish early.
Northeastern State has 2 fish early.
The water seems to have finally crest and is now on its way back down.
The water seems to have finally crest and is now on its way back down.
Picnic tables and park benches reemerge.
Picnic tables and park benches reemerge.