West Point Lake launch, Day Two

The Elites are back on West Point Lake, in search of bigger bags than yesterday.

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<p> </p> <p>Cliff Crochet parks his truck and trailer in the Pyne Road Park Public Use Area before launching on another cloudy, cool day at West Point Lake for Day Two of the West Point Lake Battle. Crochet is in 10<sup>th</sup> place with 10 pounds, 13 ounces.</p>
 
Cliff Crochet parks his truck and trailer in the Pyne Road Park Public Use Area before launching on another cloudy, cool day at West Point Lake for Day Two of the West Point Lake Battle. Crochet is in 10th place with 10 pounds, 13 ounces.
<p> </p> <p>Clark Reehm (43<sup>rd</sup>, 7-11) grabs an umbrella, in case of a cloudburst. The predicted high today is 65 with occasional showers.</p>
 
Clark Reehm (43rd, 7-11) grabs an umbrella, in case of a cloudburst. The predicted high today is 65 with occasional showers.
<p> </p> <p>Stephen Browning checks his mirror as he backs his boat at the ramp. Browning's Central Open win on the Red River Sunday made his 85<sup>th</sup> place (4-15) showing on Day One at West Point "easier to swallow."</p>
 
Stephen Browning checks his mirror as he backs his boat at the ramp. Browning’s Central Open win on the Red River Sunday made his 85th place (4-15) showing on Day One at West Point “easier to swallow.”
<p>Terry Scroggins, emcee Dave Mercer, tournament director Trip Weldon and assistant Jon Stewart swap stories in the early morning darkness before the takeoff.</p>
Terry Scroggins, emcee Dave Mercer, tournament director Trip Weldon and assistant Jon Stewart swap stories in the early morning darkness before the takeoff.
<p> </p> <p>As the sun began to light the clouds above West Point Lake, it became obvious that sunshine was unlikely again today.</p>
 
As the sun began to light the clouds above West Point Lake, it became obvious that sunshine was unlikely again today.
<p>The red lights from Brandon Palaniuk's boat put a glow on the darkness.</p>
The red lights from Brandon Palaniuk’s boat put a glow on the darkness.
<p>Fans and Elite Series anglers began congregating near the dock for the 6:40 a.m. takeoff.</p>
Fans and Elite Series anglers began congregating near the dock for the 6:40 a.m. takeoff.
<p>The lights from a generator cast some long shadows down the hillside in Pyne Road Park.</p>
The lights from a generator cast some long shadows down the hillside in Pyne Road Park.
<p> </p> <p>Bobby Lane (65<sup>th</sup>, 6-3) steps into his rain suit pants in anticipation of another damp day at West Point Lake.</p>
 
Bobby Lane (65th, 6-3) steps into his rain suit pants in anticipation of another damp day at West Point Lake.
<p> </p> <p>There were at least a few breaks in the clouds early, a sign of hope for the pros that would prefer being able to see bass on spawning beds today. That tactic was nearly impossible on Day One.</p>
 
There were at least a few breaks in the clouds early, a sign of hope for the pros that would prefer being able to see bass on spawning beds today. That tactic was nearly impossible on Day One.
<p> </p> <p>Randy Howell (67<sup>th</sup>, 6-0) pauses to check his King's Home-wrapped Triton boat prior to launching.</p>
 
Randy Howell (67th, 6-0) pauses to check his King’s Home-wrapped Triton boat prior to launching.
<p> </p> <p>There are 100 boats in the field for the West Point Lake Battle, and many of them are banked near the takeoff dock prior to the start of Day Two.</p>
 
There are 100 boats in the field for the West Point Lake Battle, and many of them are banked near the takeoff dock prior to the start of Day Two.
<p> </p> <p>Brandon Palaniuk (9<sup>th</sup>, 11-5) looks rather devilish in the glow of his interior boat lights.</p>
 
Brandon Palaniuk (9th, 11-5) looks rather devilish in the glow of his interior boat lights.
<p>J Todd Tucker (83<sup>rd</sup>, 5-3) rests one hand on the dock and seems relaxed prior to Friday's start.</p>
J Todd Tucker (83rd, 5-3) rests one hand on the dock and seems relaxed prior to Friday’s start.
<p>The Elite Series anglers began clustering near the takeoff dock, waiting to hear their boat number called.</p>
The Elite Series anglers began clustering near the takeoff dock, waiting to hear their boat number called.
<p>Tournament director Trip Weldon, with microphone in hand and a bullhorn slung over his shoulder, calls out the boat launch order as Cliff Prince (18<sup>th</sup>, 9-5) approaches the dock.</p>
Tournament director Trip Weldon, with microphone in hand and a bullhorn slung over his shoulder, calls out the boat launch order as Cliff Prince (18th, 9-5) approaches the dock.
<p> </p> <p>Jami Fralick is in 22<sup>nd</sup> place with 8-15 after Day One, which was one of the toughest days in Elite Series history. The average weight of the 441 bass brought to the scales was 1 pound, 10 ounces.</p>
 
Jami Fralick is in 22nd place with 8-15 after Day One, which was one of the toughest days in Elite Series history. The average weight of the 441 bass brought to the scales was 1 pound, 10 ounces.
<p>Brandon Card, coming off his Elite Series Rookie of the Year season, is in 96<sup>th</sup> place with 2-8.</p>
Brandon Card, coming off his Elite Series Rookie of the Year season, is in 96th place with 2-8.
<p> </p> <p>Josh Bertrand hopes to recover from a brutal Day One. He weighed only one bass Thursday (1-3).</p>
 
Josh Bertrand hopes to recover from a brutal Day One. He weighed only one bass Thursday (1-3).
<p> </p> <p>Todd Faircloth enters the day in 40<sup>th</sup> place with 7-12, but also with the comfort of his Sabine River victory earlier this season.</p>
 
Todd Faircloth enters the day in 40th place with 7-12, but also with the comfort of his Sabine River victory earlier this season.
<p> </p> <p>Casey Scanlon almost won the last Elite Series event, at Bull Shoals two weeks ago, but he is in 71<sup>st</sup> place (5-11) after Day One at West Point.</p>
 
Casey Scanlon almost won the last Elite Series event, at Bull Shoals two weeks ago, but he is in 71st place (5-11) after Day One at West Point.
<p> </p> <p>Kevin VanDam flashes his impression of "The Joker" as he idles past the takeoff dock. VanDam is 31<sup>st</sup> with 8-3.</p>
 
Kevin VanDam flashes his impression of “The Joker” as he idles past the takeoff dock. VanDam is 31st with 8-3.
<p> </p> <p>A blonde-haired fan focuses her camera on the anglers as they pass the dock.</p>
 
A blonde-haired fan focuses her camera on the anglers as they pass the dock.
<p> </p> <p>Takeoff time is always picture-taking time at Elite Series events.</p>
 
Takeoff time is always picture-taking time at Elite Series events.
<p> </p> <p>Skeet Reese (5<sup>th</sup>, 13-0) attempts to top KVD for weirdest look at takeoff.</p>
 
Skeet Reese (5th, 13-0) attempts to top KVD for weirdest look at takeoff.
<p> </p> <p>Dennis Tietje has made the top 50 cut in all three Elite Series events this season. He had his game-face on Friday morning, as he starts the day in 76<sup>th</sup> place with 5-9.</p>
 
Dennis Tietje has made the top 50 cut in all three Elite Series events this season. He had his game-face on Friday morning, as he starts the day in 76th place with 5-9.
<p> </p> <p>And they're off! Tietje hits full throttle after leaving the launch site.</p>
 
And they’re off! Tietje hits full throttle after leaving the launch site.