![The anglers and spectators ready for the launch of the 2012 Bassmaster Classic.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9530.jpg)
![The Red River is an expansive playing field.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9551.jpg)
![A good number of fans came to Red River South Marina to watch the takeoff.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9571.jpg)
![The anglers line up for the 7 a.m. blastoff.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9578.jpg)
![Helicopter pilot Paul Barth circles the marina getting footage for Bassmaster TV.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9593.jpg)
![The boats line up as they head away from the marina.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9596.jpg)
![Kevin VanDam (bottom) idled right and began to fish a small cove near the launch.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9598.jpg)
![Much of the field heads down river.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9608.jpg)
![Anglers race to their spots.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9630.jpg)
![Randy Howell gives a first pump to the chopper.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9636.jpg)
![With a lot of wind in his face, Dean Rojas flies down river.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9650.jpg)
![Boats navigate south to their spots.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9655.jpg)
![Several anglers break off and head into a backwater.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9657.jpg)
![The change in water color is easily evident.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9664.jpg)
![Anglers and fans make their way through the channel.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9669.jpg)
![Mike Iaconelli, who finished second here in the 2009 Classic, fishes in the backwater.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9679.jpg)
![Steve Kennedy was fishing the other bank from Ike.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9682.jpg)
![Boats make their way between Kennedy and Ike.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9684.jpg)
![Boats begin to arrive at the lock to enter Pool 4.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9707.jpg)
![It was reported that 18 boats locked through.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9721.jpg)
![The boats tie up and begin their wait.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9724.jpg)
![A flock of pelicans feeding takes flight as the helicopter buzzes overhead.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9730.jpg)
![The 16th boat enters the lock.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9741.jpg)
![One wonders the conversations held during the wait.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9744.jpg)
![Spectators line the lock.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9748.jpg)
![The water was ripping through the dam.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9752.jpg)
![Back up river, a competitor and followers cruise down the river.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9754.jpg)
![The Red River is considerably muddier than in the 2009 Classic here.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9757.jpg)
![Terry Scroggins fishes a backwater area that was hard to access.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9762.jpg)
![Scroggins' spectator leaves the area via a tight waterway.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9769.jpg)
![Takahiro Omori fishes stumps off the main channel.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9779.jpg)
![Brent Chapman fishes a stumpy backwater.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9783.jpg)
![A boat makes a run along a rock jetty.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9792.jpg)
![Randy Howell fishes near a backwater that shows how muddy the main river is.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9800.jpg)
![Spectators drove to the spot to watch.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9814-1.jpg)
![Howell had company in the area.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9818.jpg)
![This area was loaded with anglers.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9829.jpg)
![The lock opens and the anglers race into Pool 4.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9838.jpg)
![They head around the bend.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9849.jpg)
![Often boats would peel off and head into a backwater area.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9851.jpg)
![The anglers were looking for the clearer water.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9853.jpg)
![Going left here appears to be the best option.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9856.jpg)
![Greg Vinson leads the pack further down Pool 4.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9864.jpg)
![Vinson gives a fist pump to the chopper crew.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9869.jpg)
![<p>
David Walker is among the group heading south.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9882.jpg)
![Greg Hackney also races south.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9903_0.jpg)
![The boats race to position.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9908.jpg)
![Anglers make their way into backwaters.<](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9929.jpg)
![Josh Polfer and Ish Monroe try to get to a clear water ditch.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9934.jpg)
![<p>
Polfer gets stuck in the mud.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9936.jpg)
![Polfer pulls out a push pole to power his way into the area.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9945.jpg)
![The anglers work to get back to the shallow ditch.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9949.jpg)
![After at least 15 minutes of pushing, Polfer gets in.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9952.jpg)
![Monroe slowly follows.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9957.jpg)
![They leave a wake of mud.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9958_0.jpg)
![Spectators give chase.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_9967.jpg)
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Mike Suchan brings you the bird's-eye view as the 2012 Classic gets under way on the Red River!