Leaving for Alabama

[Dan]

I'll be in Huntsville, Alabama tomorrow. I'll be Marshaling the last Elite Series event of the season on Wheeler. Got the sun screen heavy duty brand packed. Hoping to get to ride all four days. I'm guaranteed three days. I'll be blogging on my website each day with a run down of how my angler did. I am taking two cameras, so I should have plenty of pictures to post.

[Firefighter Jeff]

  Have a safe and fun trip Dan  !!!!

[Mike S.]

Have fun Dan. Hope you have a safe trip.

[LAPORTE]

Have a great time.  Ill be looking on your website for all the news. I hope you get some good rides.

[Dan]

Had a good flight down to Atlanta and then over to Huntsville. Got to fly over Guntersville on the way to Huntsville. Going to head to Walmart and West End. Walmart for toiletries that they hassle you with at the airport and West End for the best little tackle shop that you are ever going to visit. I plan on heading to Decatur several hours early to get in line to register. The early bird gets the Sunday draw. Hopefully, I get there plenty early. I plan to be there at least three hours early.

[rkillick]

Cant wait to hear some great stories. Good luck on finding the sunday notepad.

[Dan]

how did you know abut the note pad? I got there early to make sure I got to ride on Sunday and then they lost the notepad with the names on it. They found it though. I drew Dave Wolak for tomorrow. Met Don Logan, one of B.A.S.S.'s new owners today. What a nice guy. BASS appears to be in the hands of the right people now. Up tomorrow at 430 and expect a great week.

[MSURoss]

Hey everyone Dan is on the bassmaster website!! He is in picture number 12 with the camera. http://www.bassmaster.com/slideshow/dixie-duel-angler-meeting

[djkimmel]

You can tell right away who he is and that he's from the North... the only bright white legs in the whole room!!

[Dan]

They are still bright white. Wore long pants and long sleeves today. The sun was intense. Mid 90's. Drew Rick Clunn for tomorrow. What a chance to get to know a real bass legend! Got a bunch of pics up after three hours of working on the computer after all day on the water. teardropbass.com

[Dan]

Clunn didn't have a great day today. We also got rained on for about 4 and a half hours of steady rain with vivid lightning. I drew Skeet Reese for the top 50 tomorrow. KVD looks to have a hammer lock on the AOY.

[MSURoss]

Wow Dan you are getting some great draws!!!

[Dan]

I'll be riding with either Russ Lane or Keith Poche tomorrow. Wow, want a bummer for Skeet. I try to help my angler remember to cull, but I wasn't in the boat all day with Skeet. They placed a camera man in his boat and I rode in the camera boat until we switched at around 11:00 a.m. Had barbecue at Big Bob Gibson's tonight. Who sat at the table right next to us? Jerry McKinnis. I couldn't resist talking with him.

PS Skeet was a very memorable draw. Very nice guy. One of the most cordial draws I've had. I was quite impressed. I will be voting for him as one of the anglers I'd like to see in the the post season. Keep him in mind when you cast your vote. I think BASS (ESPN) gave him a raw deal when they changed the AOY format. He deserves a shot at the post season.

[djkimmel]

He probably agrees with you.

[Dan]

I ended up riding with Kelly Jordan. We ran down river with Russ Lane. The helicopter came up on us as we were running side by side with Lane. The copter was literally feet away from us. It should make for some good footage when they air the TV show. Can't wait to see it. I hope they use it. I'll have the last day compiled and posted on my blog tomorrow.