![<p>Sunrise is at 5:30 a.m. in La Crosse, but it looked like night during the thunderstorm that hit as the Elite Series anglers arrived for Day Two of the Mississippi River Rumble, where the thunder was definitely rumbling.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/1_headlights_rain.jpg)
![<p>Bobby Lane enjoyed a brief dry spell under the protective cover of the convenience store where he filled his gas tanks and grabbed some snacks before going to the Veterans Freedom Park launch site.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/2_bobby_lane_dry_for_now.jpg)
![<p>Wind gusts were reportedly over 50 miles per hour at times, and it took all hands on tent to prevent the Mercury tent from collapsing in a heap.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/3_mercury_tent.jpg)
![<p>If you didn't already know that port-a-potties aren't safe places to be in a storm, here's proof. There were no reports of casualties here.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/4_port_a_potty_down.jpg)
![<p>This was the most common site at Veteran's Freedom Park â whether in the parking lot or on the water â a boat's bilge pump working hard.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/5_bilge_pump.jpg)
![<p>Camera man Rick Mason, with a GoPro on a PVC pole, gets a close view of Edwin Evers' boat bilge stream.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/6_evers_rick_mason.jpg)
![<p>A couple of fans used the delayed launch time (8 a.m. instead of 6:30) to visit with Mike Iaconelli and his son, Vegas.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/7_ike_fans.jpg)
![<p>Skeet Reese, shrouded in rain gear, visits with his Marshal as he waits for Friday's launch.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/8_reese_marshal.jpg)
![<p>Day One leader Brandon Palaniuk does a BASSCam interview with emcee Dave Mercer as Jim Sexton records it.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/9_pal_mercer_sexton.jpg)
![<p>At least it's summer, so cold hands and feet aren't a concern. Brandon Palanuik is all smiles and otherwise covered in rain gear as he prepares for launch.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/10_palaniuk_smiling.jpg)
![<p>Photographer Seigo Seito used the protection of an umbrella to shoot photos and keep his camera dry.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/11_seigo_umbrella.jpg)
![<p>Dennis Tietje, with the new start time announced, starts removing rods from his boat locker.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/12_tietje_rods_out.jpg)
![<p>The storm didn't keep all the fans away. A few gathered for photos in Veteran's Park prior to the national anthem. The weather was, uh, just ducky.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/13_fans_ducks_relaunch.jpg)
![<p>As the rain continued to lighten, a few more fans got out of their vehicles to snap last-minute photos.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/14_takeoff_time.jpg)
![<p>The Clinton Street bridge became a popular rain shelter for Elite Series anglers who didn't have to be in line with the first boats to start. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/15_hats_off_bridge.jpg)
![<p>Tournament director Chris Bowes supervises as the day finally gets underway. It will be a shortened one, as check-in times remain as originally scheduled. First flight anglers are due in at 3 p.m.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/16_bowes_on_dock.jpg)
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Storms forced a delayed start to Day Two of the Diet Mountain Dew Mississippi River Rumble presented by Power-Pole, and the Elite Series anglers definitely were eager to hit the water.