2017 Toledo Bend Bassmaster Elite Series photo gallery — Day 1


On-the-water photos capture all the professional Bassmaster action

The 2017 Bassmaster Elite Series tournament at Toledo Bend began today (April 6), and the top bass anglers in the nation spread out over the sprawling reservoir in search of the big bass that drove the Bend to the No. 1 lake in the country two years running.

Weather was a spoiler, however, with a cool front blowing through the day before the event began. That dropped the temperatures and set howling north winds churning up the lake. And Toledo Bend’s bass responded with confusion.

The top of the leaderboard managed 20-plus-pound bags, but the bulk of the field settled into the 12- to 15-pound range.

The tournament continues through April 9, when the winner will earn $100,000. See current standings at Bassmaster.com.

I spend the day on the water shooting as much of the action as possible. Here are the best of the resulting photos from the first day of competition.
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About Andy Crawford

Andy Crawford has been a photographer and writer for more than 20 years, with thousands of images and articles published in magazines and newspapers around the country. He now focuses on Louisiana photography, landscapes, HDR photography, urban prints and other fine art photography. He also is a portrait photographer.