Behind the scenes

Behind the scenes at the Day One weigh-in of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open on the Arkansas River.

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<p> Jeff Kriet uses his boat’s bilge pump to add water to his bag before heading to the scales.</p>
Jeff Kriet uses his boat’s bilge pump to add water to his bag before heading to the scales.
<p> Anglers line up along the bank of Muskogee’s Three Forks Harbor to begin bagging their bass for the weigh-in.</p>
Anglers line up along the bank of Muskogee’s Three Forks Harbor to begin bagging their bass for the weigh-in.
<p> Central Open anglers stand at the tanks waiting to go on stage Thursday in Muskogee.</p>
Central Open anglers stand at the tanks waiting to go on stage Thursday in Muskogee.
<p> Eighty-degree weather and sunshine attracted a crowd for the Day One weigh-in at Three Forks Harbor.</p>
Eighty-degree weather and sunshine attracted a crowd for the Day One weigh-in at Three Forks Harbor.
<p> Day One leader Tommy Biffle of Wagoner, Okla., pulls one of his five-bass limit from his livewell.</p>
Day One leader Tommy Biffle of Wagoner, Okla., pulls one of his five-bass limit from his livewell.
<p> Tommy Biffle and Janet Parker discuss their competition days on the Arkansas River, which left them holding the top two spots in the standings.</p>
Tommy Biffle and Janet Parker discuss their competition days on the Arkansas River, which left them holding the top two spots in the standings.
<p> Clark Reehm, formerly of Russellville, Ark., now of Lufkin, Texas, displays his best fish among four that weighed 8-4 and left him in 32nd place after Day One.</p>
Clark Reehm, formerly of Russellville, Ark., now of Lufkin, Texas, displays his best fish among four that weighed 8-4 and left him in 32nd place after Day One.
<p> Four-time Bassmaster Classic champion Rick Clunn had a five-bass limit that weighed 12-11 and put him in sixth place.</p>
Four-time Bassmaster Classic champion Rick Clunn had a five-bass limit that weighed 12-11 and put him in sixth place.
<p> Dewayne French is in third place after Day One with a five-bass limit that weighed 14-13.</p>
Dewayne French is in third place after Day One with a five-bass limit that weighed 14-13.
<p> The first flight hits the shores of Three Forks Harbor Thursday and prepares to go to the scales.</p>
The first flight hits the shores of Three Forks Harbor Thursday and prepares to go to the scales.
<p> It’s a bit of an uphill climb from the Arkansas River waters of Three Forks Harbor to the weigh-in scales, but that’s a small inconvenience in a superb facility.</p>
It’s a bit of an uphill climb from the Arkansas River waters of Three Forks Harbor to the weigh-in scales, but that’s a small inconvenience in a superb facility.
<p> Day One leader Tommy Biffle’s catch of 18-12 goes through the inspection process at the scales.</p>
Day One leader Tommy Biffle’s catch of 18-12 goes through the inspection process at the scales.
<p> Central Open anglers are lined up at the holding tanks waiting to go on stage for the weigh-in.</p>
Central Open anglers are lined up at the holding tanks waiting to go on stage for the weigh-in.
<p> An angler checks out his pairing to Friday on the B.A.S.S. information board.</p>
An angler checks out his pairing to Friday on the B.A.S.S. information board.
<p> Although it wasn’t hot Thursday, a pair of anglers chose to get wet in bagging their catch for the weigh-in.</p>
Although it wasn’t hot Thursday, a pair of anglers chose to get wet in bagging their catch for the weigh-in.
<p> Janet Parker of Little Elm, Texas, displays one of the bass that helped her take second place on Day One with a total of 15-2.</p>
Janet Parker of Little Elm, Texas, displays one of the bass that helped her take second place on Day One with a total of 15-2.
<p> Jeff Kriet pulls a bass from his livewell in preparation for the weigh-in. Kriet was one fish short of a limit Thursday and stands in 35<sup>th</sup> place with 8-4.</p>
Jeff Kriet pulls a bass from his livewell in preparation for the weigh-in. Kriet was one fish short of a limit Thursday and stands in 35th place with 8-4.
<p> Jeff Kriet wrote his flight’s check-in time on his hand near his watch, just to make sure there would be no confusion in the heat of battle.</p>
Jeff Kriet wrote his flight’s check-in time on his hand near his watch, just to make sure there would be no confusion in the heat of battle.
<p> Michael Randolph caught only three bass Thursday, but they weighed 7-2 and put him in 52nd place.</p>
Michael Randolph caught only three bass Thursday, but they weighed 7-2 and put him in 52nd place.