More Day 1 on Lake St. Clair

Catch the action from Lake St. Clair on Day 1 of the final Elite tournament of the regular season.

Jason Christie started his day with a drop shot near the shipping channel.
Jason Christie started his day with a drop shot near the shipping channel.
Christie was also throwing a crank bait and quickly grinding it back to the boat.
Christie was also throwing a crank bait and quickly grinding it back to the boat.
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Christie checks his electronics while a large ship passes by him in the distance.
Christie checks his electronics while a large ship passes by him in the distance.
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A quick check of the graph…
A quick check of the graph…
…and then another precision cast towards Christie’s marked location.
…and then another precision cast towards Christie’s marked location.
Not far away Takahiro was also throwing a crank bait.
Not far away Takahiro was also throwing a crank bait.
Tak lifts the big lipped bait up from the depths.
Tak lifts the big lipped bait up from the depths.
Tak throws his bait back towards the spot he thinks the fish are holding in.
Tak throws his bait back towards the spot he thinks the fish are holding in.
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Omori follows through with another long cast.
Omori follows through with another long cast.
He turns the reel over a few times then sets the hook on a fish.
He turns the reel over a few times then sets the hook on a fish.
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When Tak finally fought the fish to the boat, it started jumping and running away from the boat.
When Tak finally fought the fish to the boat, it started jumping and running away from the boat.
Tak lifts the fish out of the water to bring it into the boat…
Tak lifts the fish out of the water to bring it into the boat…
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With only one hook in the fish's mouth, it breaks free!
With only one hook in the fish’s mouth, it breaks free!
But luckily the momentum from the boat flip keeps the fish going into the boat.
But luckily the momentum from the boat flip keeps the fish going into the boat.
The fish slides across the gunnel…
The fish slides across the gunnel…
…then tumbles into the boat.
…then tumbles into the boat.
Later in the morning we met up with Kevin VanDam who was spot hopping and fishing fast.
Later in the morning we met up with Kevin VanDam who was spot hopping and fishing fast.
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After a quick check of his electronics VanDam goes back to fishing.
After a quick check of his electronics VanDam goes back to fishing.
Kevin makes another cast towards where he thinks the school is holding.
Kevin makes another cast towards where he thinks the school is holding.
He keeps firing cast after cast.
He keeps firing cast after cast.
After no hits on his crank bait Kevin picks up a spinning rod and drops a drop shot down to some fish below him.
After no hits on his crank bait Kevin picks up a spinning rod and drops a drop shot down to some fish below him.
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VanDam makes a quick bait change.
VanDam makes a quick bait change.
Kevin made a small run underneath the cloud cover, dropped the trolling motor and started fishing.
Kevin made a small run underneath the cloud cover, dropped the trolling motor and started fishing.
He sets the hook on a smaller fish and cranks it in towards the boat.
He sets the hook on a smaller fish and cranks it in towards the boat.
Kevin lifts the fish over the stern of the boat.
Kevin lifts the fish over the stern of the boat.
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He puts a cull tag on it and drops his catch into the live well.
He puts a cull tag on it and drops his catch into the live well.
Down the lake a ways, David Mullins had a limit of fish in his live well and was hooked up with another smallmouth bass.
Down the lake a ways, David Mullins had a limit of fish in his live well and was hooked up with another smallmouth bass.
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Mullins lifts the fish up and out of the water.
Mullins lifts the fish up and out of the water.
He unhooks the fish…
He unhooks the fish…
..then releases the fish. “This ones not gonna help!”
..then releases the fish. “This ones not gonna help!”
Mullins returns to fishing.
Mullins returns to fishing.
He pulls out another rod from his locker…
He pulls out another rod from his locker…
…then fires out another cast.
…then fires out another cast.
Mullins said that his fish were much more likely to bite a drop shot than anything else he had thrown.
Mullins said that his fish were much more likely to bite a drop shot than anything else he had thrown.
He sets the hook again on another fish.
He sets the hook again on another fish.
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Another small one!
Another small one!
Mullins releases the fish back into Lake St. Clair.
Mullins releases the fish back into Lake St. Clair.
Carl Jocumsen was on a spot he had significant confidence in.
Carl Jocumsen was on a spot he had significant confidence in.
He mentioned that he could see the fish on his graph but just couldn’t coax them into biting.
He mentioned that he could see the fish on his graph but just couldn’t coax them into biting.
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Eventually Jocumsen sets the hook on a smaller fish and flips it into the boat.
Eventually Jocumsen sets the hook on a smaller fish and flips it into the boat.
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Carl unhooks the fish and releases it back into the lake.
Carl unhooks the fish and releases it back into the lake.
Back towards the shipping channel Jordan Lee was chucking baits towards where he thought his bigger bites should be coming from.
Back towards the shipping channel Jordan Lee was chucking baits towards where he thought his bigger bites should be coming from.
He was dragging a drop shot around, letting the current drift him along.
He was dragging a drop shot around, letting the current drift him along.
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There certainly is a lot of water on Lake St. Clair.
There certainly is a lot of water on Lake St. Clair.
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Dennis Tietje was pretty close to Jordan Lee and was alternating between a drop shot and some other baits.
Dennis Tietje was pretty close to Jordan Lee and was alternating between a drop shot and some other baits.
Tietje checks his electronics as he drifts along.
Tietje checks his electronics as he drifts along.
Only a few hundred yards away, Jacob Powroznik was hoping for a big bite to help him cull up a bit.
Only a few hundred yards away, Jacob Powroznik was hoping for a big bite to help him cull up a bit.
JP had about 18 lbs in the boat and was dragging a drop shot around like most of the field.
JP had about 18 lbs in the boat and was dragging a drop shot around like most of the field.
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Jacob makes another long cast.
Jacob makes another long cast.
He takes off his hat and scratches his head unsure as to why his fish weren't inhaling his bait.
He takes off his hat and scratches his head unsure as to why his fish weren’t inhaling his bait.
Brent Ehrler was using a drift sock to slow him down as he floated over his fishing spots.
Brent Ehrler was using a drift sock to slow him down as he floated over his fishing spots.
He sets the hook on what looks to be a great fish!
He sets the hook on what looks to be a great fish!
He goes in to scoop the giant, unfortunately it's a drum.
He goes in to scoop the giant, unfortunately it’s a drum.
Ehrler unhooks the fish…
Ehrler unhooks the fish…
…and holds it up for the camera.
…and holds it up for the camera.
Ehrler releases the fish.
Ehrler releases the fish.
Seth Feider was also throwing a drop shot a short distance away.
Seth Feider was also throwing a drop shot a short distance away.
He said the bite was tough, he had two nice fish in the live well, but needed three more good ones. Time to fuel up with some Mountain Dew!
He said the bite was tough, he had two nice fish in the live well, but needed three more good ones. Time to fuel up with some Mountain Dew!