![The line of Bassmaster Elite Series pros snaked through the Lake St. Clair Metropark early Thursday morning.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/J5C0001-scaled.jpg)
![Elites like Mike Iaconelli were waiting for their turn to launch into the calm waters of Lake St. Clair.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/J5C0002-scaled.jpg)
![Michigan native Kevin VanDam knows these waters well.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/J5C0003-scaled.jpg)
![Japanese angler Ken Iyobe is all smiles for Day 1 of the Plano Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/J5C0004-scaled.jpg)
![In the foreground Aaron Martens prepares for Day 1 of the Plano Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair. Martens currently leads the AOY standings by 69 points over his closest competitor, Justin Lucas.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_7302.jpg)
![After a practice that was plagued by brisk winds, Day 1 started out with mild winds and clearing skies.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_7304.jpg)
![Skeet Reese looks to be set for a day of smallie fishing.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/J5C0007-scaled.jpg)
![Brett Hite's boat brings a little light to the proceedings.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/J5C0008-scaled.jpg)
![Slowly but surely, the sun rises in the eastern sky.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/J5C0009-scaled.jpg)
![With so much room to roam, Chuck Harbin has to work to get the anglers' attention.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/J5C0010-scaled.jpg)
![As with every day of Bassmaster competition, the first step is honoring the U.S. with the national anthem.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/J5C0016-scaled.jpg)
![The launch goes live, and Chesapeake Bay Elite event winner Aaron Martens soon floats by.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/J5C0033-scaled.jpg)
![Britt Myers floats by before dawn.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/J5C0038-scaled.jpg)
![The line of Elites heads toward the horizon.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/J5C0039-scaled.jpg)
![Ohio-native Fletcher Shyrock is the next angler to head out.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/J5C0051-scaled.jpg)
![Morizo Shimizu boats up to look for big mama...](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/J5C0054-scaled.jpg)
![Kevin VanDam shows his early-morning game face.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/J5C0056-scaled.jpg)
![Chad Pipkens checks his electronics.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/J5C0059-scaled.jpg)
![The line floats on...](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/J5C0068-scaled.jpg)
![...and some anglers opt for Lake Erie, some for Lake Huron and some for Lake St. Clair.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/J5C0077-scaled.jpg)
![Anxious and excited Bassmaster fans line the dock.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/J5C0091-scaled.jpg)
![Alton Jones finishes up his livewell check.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/J5C0092-scaled.jpg)
![Brandon Palaniuk soon follows.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/J5C0099-scaled.jpg)
![Max Leatherwood checks off boats as the idle through the morning safety inspection.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_7307.jpg)
![Trudy Tietje takes a photo of her favorite Elite Series angler, her husband Dennis Tietje.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_7310.jpg)
![Gerald Swindle is coming off a fourth place finish at the last Elite Series event at Chesapeake Bay.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_7313.jpg)
![This could be the last Elite Series event for Kevin Short; he has announced his retirement after the season ends.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_7315.jpg)
![Dennis Tietje leads a flight of boats past spectators and photographers lining the seawall at the morning launch site at Lake St. Clair Metropark.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_7317.jpg)
![Later flights of anglers begin to position their boats for their morning launch time.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_7320.jpg)
![Shannon Fontaine livened the morning launch up with music.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_7321.jpg)
![Emcee Dave Mercer was multi-tasking, both announcing the anglers names and shooting BassCams.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_7337.jpg)
![Chris Lane won the last Elite Series event held on Lake St. Clair in 2013.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_7345.jpg)
![Rick Clunn leads the final flight of boats onto Lake St. Clair.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IMG_7348.jpg)
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The Bassmaster Elite Series pros head out for the first day of the Plano Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair.