Central Open #3 begins

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Jesse Fontenot Memorial Boat Landing is about to be much busier than usual for a Wednesday. The reason? It’s Day 1 of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open.
Jesse Fontenot Memorial Boat Landing is about to be much busier than usual for a Wednesday. The reason? It’s Day 1 of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open.
The Weather Channel calls it one of the hottest months on record. It’s Oct. 27 and in Morgan City, La., we call it a beautiful day for fishing.
The Weather Channel calls it one of the hottest months on record. It’s Oct. 27 and in Morgan City, La., we call it a beautiful day for fishing.
The signs say it all but just outside this boat ramp will be a lot of fishing, maybe not diving, as the tournament gets underway on the Atchafalaya River.
The signs say it all but just outside this boat ramp will be a lot of fishing, maybe not diving, as the tournament gets underway on the Atchafalaya River.
The boats gather inside the basin for the organized start. Alton Jones Jr., in the white jersey, is hoping to qualify from here for the 2017 Bassmaster Elite Series.
The boats gather inside the basin for the organized start. Alton Jones Jr., in the white jersey, is hoping to qualify from here for the 2017 Bassmaster Elite Series.
In the background is the Atchafalaya River. It connects to an intricate maze of backwater bayous, canals and swamp. In all, the basin covers over one million acres.
In the background is the Atchafalaya River. It connects to an intricate maze of backwater bayous, canals and swamp. In all, the basin covers over one million acres.
The magic moment is just about here. At one minute before takeoff the first flight of boats are organized by B.A.S.S. officials.
The magic moment is just about here. At one minute before takeoff the first flight of boats are organized by B.A.S.S. officials.
Today’s forecast calls for partly sunny skies with highs in the low 80s. A stray shower is possible. One of those is in the background, currently off the coast of Louisiana near New Orleans.
Today’s forecast calls for partly sunny skies with highs in the low 80s. A stray shower is possible. One of those is in the background, currently off the coast of Louisiana near New Orleans.
It’s 7 a.m. and time to roll. The anglers have lots of water to cover. At over one million acres the Atchafalaya Basin is filled with bass.
It’s 7 a.m. and time to roll. The anglers have lots of water to cover. At over one million acres the Atchafalaya Basin is filled with bass.
What looks like a traffic jam on the water is more organized than it seems. The boat basin near the launch ramp is a tight squeeze.
What looks like a traffic jam on the water is more organized than it seems. The boat basin near the launch ramp is a tight squeeze.
There are no worries on the shoreline as friends, families and fans take in the moment.
There are no worries on the shoreline as friends, families and fans take in the moment.
There are 158 boats in the tournament this week. This photo makes it look like many more are around.
There are 158 boats in the tournament this week. This photo makes it look like many more are around.
What usually is worn to protect the face from wind burn and chill is used otherwise here. This protection is worn to cover the mouth from mosquitoes, very big mosquitoes.
What usually is worn to protect the face from wind burn and chill is used otherwise here. This protection is worn to cover the mouth from mosquitoes, very big mosquitoes.
Alton Jones Jr. won the Central Open earlier this month on the Red River, also in Louisiana. This week he hopes to lock in his Elite Series berth, joining his father on the tour.
Alton Jones Jr. won the Central Open earlier this month on the Red River, also in Louisiana. This week he hopes to lock in his Elite Series berth, joining his father on the tour.
Jones and Jones, as they will be called, are also both qualified to compete in the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro. The other Jones, of course, is his father Alton Sr.
Jones and Jones, as they will be called, are also both qualified to compete in the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro. The other Jones, of course, is his father Alton Sr.
This morning’s commute includes commercial fishermen, pro fishermen and maybe later, leisure fishermen.
This morning’s commute includes commercial fishermen, pro fishermen and maybe later, leisure fishermen.
The commercial fishing boat from the previous photo is loaded with this bait, not for bass, but more likely for the saltwater species that share the water.
The commercial fishing boat from the previous photo is loaded with this bait, not for bass, but more likely for the saltwater species that share the water.
Sam George, who is having a good year on the Opens, hopes to continue his successes this week.
Sam George, who is having a good year on the Opens, hopes to continue his successes this week.
As the anglers work to prepare for the day another job is underway on the shoreline. That is getting ready for today’s weigh-in that begins at 2 p.m.
As the anglers work to prepare for the day another job is underway on the shoreline. That is getting ready for today’s weigh-in that begins at 2 p.m.
Some people drink their coffee while others need a caffeine fix in another way. Charlie Hartley is taking his both ways.
Some people drink their coffee while others need a caffeine fix in another way. Charlie Hartley is taking his both ways.
T-Roy Broussard, from the Swamp People series, will not be hunting for gators this week in familiar water. This week he’s after bass and a berth in the Classic.
T-Roy Broussard, from the Swamp People series, will not be hunting for gators this week in familiar water. This week he’s after bass and a berth in the Classic.