Day 2 anglers around Huron

For the first time in the Plano Bassmaster Elite on Lake St. Clair anglers took off to a view of the sun.

And what a view. It looked like a big orange ball rising over the tree tops of the St. Clair River.

One of the first ones up the river was Brandon Lester.

Next was Carl Jocumsen who stopped on a Coast Guard cutter.

Bringing attention from guardsmen on the deck.

Alton Jones, Day 1 leader, wasn’t far behind.

He moved to the mouth of the river and quickly made his first cast, looking down river.

Behind him would be John Murray (left) and Casey Scanlon (right).

And within the first few minutes, Jones would hook up.

By the look on his face it was obvious it was a good one.

Jones would eventually get the fish to the side of the boat.

Where he would reach for it.

And cradle the fish almost getting it completely out of the water.

Before it dropped out of his hand.

And Jones had to make another stab at it.

His second grab though was productive.

And Jones had his first keeper in the boat.

After admiring it a moment, and worrying that it was too skinny, he put the fish in the boat.

And while he moved up stream, he passed Casey Scanlon. Both of the anglers worked the same ledge for the first part of the money.

While they fished the same area, Aaron Martens would find his way to Lake Huron.

Jones gives him a look as he passed by.

And Scanlon hooks up with his first bite.

As Jones passed him, Scanlon battles the fish trying to tire it out before it got too close to the boat.

After a fight that seemed like it took several minutes, Scanlon gets the fish to the side of the boat.

Then grabs the giant smallmouth.

Bringing it over the gunwale.

And producing a look on Scanlon’s face that was pure intensity.

Scanlon would look up stream to see if anyone else was hooked up.

And Jones would be, with his second bite of the morning.

Minutes later he would get the fish to the driver’s side of the boat.

Almost close enough to grab before it splashed water in his face.

Again he grabs.

And unlike the first fish, his aim was solid.

And he had his second keeper in the boat.

He admired it quickly before depositing it in the well.

Scanlon would buzz by and make another drift.

Both anglers would work about a 1/4-mile stretch drifting with the current, then moving back up.

And for the first hour the bites were constant but consistent.

Jones third fish would dog him around the trolling motor.

And require some delicate moves.

Before he got it to the side of the boat.

But he would quickly harness the keeper.

Actually almost bear hug it into the boat.

This fish would be marked by a wound on its back.

And while Jones was working with that one, Scanlon would hook up with his second keeper.

Like all the fish most of the work would be done delicately.

Before it would eventually get to the boat.

And it wouldn’t take him long to hook up a third time.

Again a long battle culminated at the side of the boat.

With Scanlon bear hugging the fish into the boat.

And adopting the look of intensity.

It stayed with him as he cradled the big fish.

Before admiring it.

Then holding it up for the photographer.

As the morning wore on, boat traffic turned to ship traffic.

Forcing some moves out of the shipping channel and near John Murray (right).

Murray would hook up with his first keeper there.

A fish that would produce a long fight.

And eventually get to the side of the boat where Murray had to work his reel and rod with opposite hands.

The fish would make a last-second run,

Before it got close enough to grab.

And Murray had his first keeper of the morning.

The fish would require two hands to get in the boat.

Before Murray could get it in the well.

More boats and ships cruised through.

Creating some bounces that created some tricky footwork.

Out on the lake, boats were everywhere.

And a few pods of anglers could be seen in the distance.

Closer to the river, Jonathon VanDam would make a drift.

And hook up with his first keeper.

The battle took a few minutes while boats sped by behind him.

VanDam eventually got the fish to the side of the boat and with one leg hanging over the side made a stab at landing the fish.

With fish in hand and feet back in the boat.

VanDam would corral the big smallmouth.

And be on his way to building a 19-3 stringer.

Just downriver, Brandon Palaniuk would be hooking up.

This one closer to the bank.

And it would quickly come to the boat as part of Palaniuk’s Day 2 stringer of 21-1, that would eventually give him the lead.

While he was landing it, Kevin Short would buzz by with Don Barone. He’s the bald one bouncing on the left.

Further down river, Paul Elias would fish a dock with an audience.

And across the river, James Elam would be hooking up with one of his keepers as pleasure boat sped by.

While he fought the fish, two anglers in a dingy watched.

And then a big ship rolled by looking like it wiped out the smaller boat.

As the ship rolled by, Elam would get the fish to the side of the boat.

And get ready to land the fish.

As he pulled it across the surface.

Elam would get his hands on the fish.

And it would help him build a 20-5 stringer that put him in second place for the day.