Day 1 on the water

Go on the water as the open anglers compete in Day 1 of the Southern Open #3 on Lake Norman

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Gerald Swindle leaves Blythe Landing in a hurry.
Gerald Swindle leaves Blythe Landing in a hurry.
With a smile, Paul Pagnano heads out too.
With a smile, Paul Pagnano heads out too.
David Walker heads out onto Lake Norman.
David Walker heads out onto Lake Norman.
Clay Dyer…
Clay Dyer…
Matt Lee informed us he already caught a dozen fish and had three keepers in the boat before we pulled up.
Matt Lee informed us he already caught a dozen fish and had three keepers in the boat before we pulled up.
Lee switched between a spinning rod and a bait caster every few minutes.
Lee switched between a spinning rod and a bait caster every few minutes.
That’s not a bass…Matt Lee swings aboard a crappie.
That’s not a bass…Matt Lee swings aboard a crappie.
His eyes were focused on his electronics for much of the morning.
His eyes were focused on his electronics for much of the morning.
He is gone…and so are we. On to…
He is gone…and so are we. On to…
…Shaw Grigsby.
…Shaw Grigsby.
He skips up near a dock.
He skips up near a dock.
Planes passed above quite often. Grigsby had zero keepers when we saw him, so we made a move.
Planes passed above quite often. Grigsby had zero keepers when we saw him, so we made a move.
Carl Jocumsen was the next angler we found. The Aussie had a couple keepers in the boat early.
Carl Jocumsen was the next angler we found. The Aussie had a couple keepers in the boat early.
As our boat settled in his area, he hooked up.
As our boat settled in his area, he hooked up.
One fish is nice, but two are certainly better.
One fish is nice, but two are certainly better.
One of the two fish was a keeper, but almost on the next cast the Aussie hooks up again.
One of the two fish was a keeper, but almost on the next cast the Aussie hooks up again.
Here it comes.
Here it comes.
Boom! Success.
Boom! Success.
Another keeper in the box!
Another keeper in the box!
He turns the boat and heaves another cast.
He turns the boat and heaves another cast.
Chunking and winding an umbrella rig it seems.
Chunking and winding an umbrella rig it seems.
The clouds move back in and the fog begins to settle as an angler works toward Jocumsen.
The clouds move back in and the fog begins to settle as an angler works toward Jocumsen.
Jocumsen and Jamey Caldwell have a short conversation as they pass by each other.
Jocumsen and Jamey Caldwell have a short conversation as they pass by each other.
Jocumsen makes a short move across the cove. Caldwell headed out as well.
Jocumsen makes a short move across the cove. Caldwell headed out as well.
The fog moved in quick and was very thick.
The fog moved in quick and was very thick.
Smith Lake opens champion, David Kilgore, cruises past as fast as he can while driving safe through the fog.
Smith Lake opens champion, David Kilgore, cruises past as fast as he can while driving safe through the fog.
The sun couldn’t break through and began looking like a full moon at times
The sun couldn’t break through and began looking like a full moon at times
As we pulled up Kilgore swung aboard a short fish.
As we pulled up Kilgore swung aboard a short fish.
He hooks up again…
He hooks up again…
…but this wasn’t a keeper either.
…but this wasn’t a keeper either.
He informed us he didn't have a keeper at all and lost all the good bites he had this morning.
He informed us he didn’t have a keeper at all and lost all the good bites he had this morning.
Not far from Kilgore was Joe Lee.
Not far from Kilgore was Joe Lee.
Co-angler Casey O’Donnell hooks up.
Co-angler Casey O’Donnell hooks up.
This one is net-worthy.
This one is net-worthy.
Get in the boat.
Get in the boat.
Both Lee and O’Donnell had limits in the livewell.
Both Lee and O’Donnell had limits in the livewell.
They told us in two casts this morning that they caught 5 fish combined. Three were keepers. Lee caught two on a jerkbait while O’Donnell had 3 on an umbrella rig.
They told us in two casts this morning that they caught 5 fish combined. Three were keepers. Lee caught two on a jerkbait while O’Donnell had 3 on an umbrella rig.
Lee hooked up, but it didn't keep. Joe’s son, Jake, fishes the high school division and fished in the Championship over the summer at Kentucky Lake.
Lee hooked up, but it didn’t keep. Joe’s son, Jake, fishes the high school division and fished in the Championship over the summer at Kentucky Lake.
Kendall Newson was deeper in the cove and told us he only had two.
Kendall Newson was deeper in the cove and told us he only had two.