Roaming the Red River on Day 1

Thursday marked Day 1 of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open on the Red River out of Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana.
Thursday marked Day 1 of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open on the Red River out of Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana.
Over 180 boaters and co-anglers ran around the Red River looking to scrounge up enough weight to stay in contention after Day 1.
Over 180 boaters and co-anglers ran around the Red River looking to scrounge up enough weight to stay in contention after Day 1.
Fred
Fred “Boom Boom” Roumbanis idles by us as he looks to navigate into a stump-filled backwater.
Gerald Spohrer managed to already make his way in there and Roumbanis looked to do the same.
Gerald Spohrer managed to already make his way in there and Roumbanis looked to do the same.
Billy Smith drives by in the Rage Tail wrapped boat.
Billy Smith drives by in the Rage Tail wrapped boat.
Meanwhile a lot of other pros raced south to either lock into Pool 4 or to stop in a bayou on the way.
Meanwhile a lot of other pros raced south to either lock into Pool 4 or to stop in a bayou on the way.
Brian Clark heads to opposite way and runs by me into a backwater.
Brian Clark heads to opposite way and runs by me into a backwater.
The Red River is notorious for crazy cover and obstacles for anglers to negotiate around.
The Red River is notorious for crazy cover and obstacles for anglers to negotiate around.
Alton Jones Jr. was looking to keep the good mojo from his last Northern Open on Lake Champlain and bring it down to Louisiana for the Central's.
Alton Jones Jr. was looking to keep the good mojo from his last Northern Open on Lake Champlain and bring it down to Louisiana for the Central’s.
He placed 3rd in the Champlain event and almost received an Elite Series invite in the points race. After one Central Open he is in a good position in 15th in points.
He placed 3rd in the Champlain event and almost received an Elite Series invite in the points race. After one Central Open he is in a good position in 15th in points.
Billy Smith probably didn't expect to be wearing a hoodie on a brisk morning in Louisiana, but anglers were greeted with a  slight cold front this week.
Billy Smith probably didn’t expect to be wearing a hoodie on a brisk morning in Louisiana, but anglers were greeted with a slight cold front this week.
Alton Jones Jr.'s traveling partner Sam George comes flying around the bend.
Alton Jones Jr.’s traveling partner Sam George comes flying around the bend.
Eric Porterfield of Oklahoma was slinging some moving baits shallow to start his day.
Eric Porterfield of Oklahoma was slinging some moving baits shallow to start his day.
He hooked up with a fish to start his day.
He hooked up with a fish to start his day.
He swung the fish just over the gunnel of the boat and safely in the bottom.
He swung the fish just over the gunnel of the boat and safely in the bottom.
Porterfield shows off an early keeper.
Porterfield shows off an early keeper.
After getting a quick bite he decided to slow down and pick apart some of the cover the fish just came from.
After getting a quick bite he decided to slow down and pick apart some of the cover the fish just came from.
Sam George summed up his experience on the Red River this week, but he was hoping for some success on Day 1.
Sam George summed up his experience on the Red River this week, but he was hoping for some success on Day 1.
George said that last week at Lake Champlain he had a limit and was culling before takeoff had concluded, but was just hoping to catch a fish before boats head to weigh-in today.
George said that last week at Lake Champlain he had a limit and was culling before takeoff had concluded, but was just hoping to catch a fish before boats head to weigh-in today.
George started the Central Opens season with a 78th place finish at the Arkansas River a few months ago.
George started the Central Opens season with a 78th place finish at the Arkansas River a few months ago.
George was throwing a spinnerbait as he tried to cover as much water as possible.
George was throwing a spinnerbait as he tried to cover as much water as possible.
He landed a small 10-inch bass, but was giddy with excitement because it was a sign of life. Obviously you can tell he had a rough practice.
He landed a small 10-inch bass, but was giddy with excitement because it was a sign of life. Obviously you can tell he had a rough practice.