2011 Dixie Duel: Day Four Aerial Gallery

See images from the air over Wheeler Lake on Day Four of the Dixie Duel

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<p>  </p> <p> Family and friends gather around Kevin VanDam’s boat Sunday morning prior to the start of the final day of the Dixie Duel.</p>
 

Family and friends gather around Kevin VanDam’s boat Sunday morning prior to the start of the final day of the Dixie Duel.

<p>  </p> <p> The final 12 line up against the dock on the right side of Ingalls Harbor.</p>
 

The final 12 line up against the dock on the right side of Ingalls Harbor.

<p>  </p> <p> Bernie Schultz (bottom) and Timmy Horton (top) sit against the dock waiting for the day to begin.</p>
 

Bernie Schultz (bottom) and Timmy Horton (top) sit against the dock waiting for the day to begin.

<p>  </p> <p> Greg Hackney stands on the back of his deck prior to the start of Day Four.</p>
 

Greg Hackney stands on the back of his deck prior to the start of Day Four.

<p>  </p> <p> Kevin VanDam gets ready for the day.</p>
 

Kevin VanDam gets ready for the day.

<p>  </p> <p> Bradley Roy waits for the start of the final day. Going into the morning, Roy was leading the event.</p>
 

Bradley Roy waits for the start of the final day. Going into the morning, Roy was leading the event.

Bradley Roy pulls away from the take-off dock and leads the anglers to the blast-off point.
Bradley Roy pulls away from the take-off dock and leads the anglers to the blast-off point.
<p>  </p> <p> The line of boats idled about 300 yards before taking off.</p>
 

The line of boats idled about 300 yards before taking off.

<p>  </p> <p> David Walker takes off.</p>
 

David Walker takes off.

<p>  </p> <p> Kevin VanDam rides a wave then heads to his first spot not far from the launch.</p>
 

Kevin VanDam rides a wave then heads to his first spot not far from the launch.

<p>  </p> <p> Spectators and anglers blast off outside of Ingalls Harbor.</p>
 

Spectators and anglers blast off outside of Ingalls Harbor.

<p>  </p> <p> Kevin VanDam is captured on BassCam while running to his first area.</p>
 

Kevin VanDam is captured on BassCam while running to his first area.

<p>  </p> <p> On Day Three, VanDam won his seventh Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year title.</p>
 

On Day Three, VanDam won his seventh Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year title.

<p>  </p> <p> David Walker is all smiles as he runs across Lake Wheeler.</p>
 

David Walker is all smiles as he runs across Lake Wheeler.

<p>  </p> <p> Bradley Roy leads the pack across Lake Wheeler.</p>
 

Bradley Roy leads the pack across Lake Wheeler.

<p>  </p> <p> Roy is all business as he concentrates on his electronics.</p>
 

Roy is all business as he concentrates on his electronics.

<p>  </p> <p> A line of spectator boats follow the competitors across Lake Wheeler.</p>
 

A line of spectator boats follow the competitors across Lake Wheeler.

<p>  </p> <p> Russ Lane races across Lake Wheeler.</p>
 

Russ Lane races across Lake Wheeler.

<p>  </p> <p> Kelly Jordon  pilots his boat along side Russ Lane.</p>
 

Kelly Jordon  pilots his boat along side Russ Lane.

<p>  </p> <p> Jordon gets even with Lane during the race across Wheeler.</p>
 

Jordon gets even with Lane during the race across Wheeler.

<p>  </p> <p> And flashes a thumbs up as the two race.</p>
 

And flashes a thumbs up as the two race.

<p>  </p> <p> Kelly Jordon (left) and Russ Lane (right) begin to part ways.</p>
 

Kelly Jordon (left) and Russ Lane (right) begin to part ways.

<p>  </p> <p> Keith Poche races to his first spot. If he wins today, he would qualify for the Toyota Trucks All-Star Week.</p>
 

Keith Poche races to his first spot. If he wins today, he would qualify for the Toyota Trucks All-Star Week.

<p>  </p> <p> Ish Monroe runs across Lake Wheeler.</p>
 

Ish Monroe runs across Lake Wheeler.

<p>  </p> <p> Bernie Schultz didn’t run very far before he started fishing one of the many ledges along the Tennessee River.</p>
 

Bernie Schultz didn’t run very far before he started fishing one of the many ledges along the Tennessee River.

<p>  </p> <p> A crowd of spectators gather around Kevin VanDam (foreground) as he fishes his first spot.</p>
 

A crowd of spectators gather around Kevin VanDam (foreground) as he fishes his first spot.

<p>  </p> <p> VanDam concentrates on his electronics as he searches for the ledge with a crankbait.</p>
 

VanDam concentrates on his electronics as he searches for the ledge with a crankbait.

<p>  </p> <p> It doesn’t take him long before he puts his first keeper in the livewell.</p>
 

It doesn’t take him long before he puts his first keeper in the livewell.

<p>  </p> <p> A few seconds later and he hooks up with a second fish.</p>
 

A few seconds later and he hooks up with a second fish.

<p>  </p> <p> He half kneels to keep the fish from jumping as he fights it toward the boat.</p>
 

He half kneels to keep the fish from jumping as he fights it toward the boat.

The fish jumps and shakes its head...
The fish jumps and shakes its head…
...then dives back to the water and comes off.
…then dives back to the water and comes off.
<p>  </p> <p> A second later, VanDam is casting to the opposite side of the boat.</p>
 

A second later, VanDam is casting to the opposite side of the boat.

<p>  </p> <p> Takahiro Omori fishes a ledge near the take-off point.</p>
 

Takahiro Omori fishes a ledge near the take-off point.

<p>  </p> <p> Greg Hackney fishes a shallow cut a few miles from the take-off point.</p>
 

Greg Hackney fishes a shallow cut a few miles from the take-off point.

<p>  </p> <p> The cut was narrow, but Hackney was working the shallow banks thoroughly.</p>
 

The cut was narrow, but Hackney was working the shallow banks thoroughly.