Huge field registers for one-day Open

High school anglers - all 440 of them - signed up for Saturday's Costa Bassmaster High School Southern Open on Lake Martin in Alexander City, Ala.

The line to register for the Costa Bassmaster High School Southern Open on Alabama's Lake Martin was steady for more than two hours inside the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex in Alexander City.
The line to register for the Costa Bassmaster High School Southern Open on Alabama’s Lake Martin was steady for more than two hours inside the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex in Alexander City.
By 4:30 p.m., a line had already formed outside the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex in Alexander City, Ala. A field of 220 boats (440 anglers) registered for the event.
By 4:30 p.m., a line had already formed outside the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex in Alexander City, Ala. A field of 220 boats (440 anglers) registered for the event.
With Costa on board as the new title sponsor of the Bassmaster High School Series, there was plenty of Costa merchandise available to the angler.s
With Costa on board as the new title sponsor of the Bassmaster High School Series, there was plenty of Costa merchandise available to the angler.s
More good stuff from Costa.
More good stuff from Costa.
Spools of Berkley Trilene are stacked high for anglers to grab.
Spools of Berkley Trilene are stacked high for anglers to grab.
Plastic baits were available to the anglers from the Berkley Havoc line.
Plastic baits were available to the anglers from the Berkley Havoc line.
Hats from Carhartt were given away to all of the anglers in the field and were everywhere by the end of the night.
Hats from Carhartt were given away to all of the anglers in the field and were everywhere by the end of the night.
Crankbait-shaped key chains from Triton.
Crankbait-shaped key chains from Triton.
The plaques anglers will be fishing for Saturday on Lake Martin.
The plaques anglers will be fishing for Saturday on Lake Martin.
With temperatures expected to be in the 20s for Saturday's blast-off, lip balm provided by Toyota Trucks will be a vital tool.
With temperatures expected to be in the 20s for Saturday’s blast-off, lip balm provided by Toyota Trucks will be a vital tool.
The doors opened just after 4:30 p.m., and the first anglers began filing in.
The doors opened just after 4:30 p.m., and the first anglers began filing in.
Anglers made their through a row of tables, picking up merchandise from various sponsors. At the end of the line, they completed their paperwork and paid their entry fees.
Anglers made their through a row of tables, picking up merchandise from various sponsors. At the end of the line, they completed their paperwork and paid their entry fees.
Members of the Western North Carolina Anglers team complete the registration process.
Members of the Western North Carolina Anglers team complete the registration process.
Derrick Moody of the Western North Carolina Anglers Team takes a photo of his team members, Kenda Moody and Seth Utt, with Bassmaster Elite Series pros Greg Vinson and Kelley Jaye.
Derrick Moody of the Western North Carolina Anglers Team takes a photo of his team members, Kenda Moody and Seth Utt, with Bassmaster Elite Series pros Greg Vinson and Kelley Jaye.
Cameron Mercer and Tyler Presnell of EFCA Fishing Team in Titus, Ala., make their way through the registration line.
Cameron Mercer and Tyler Presnell of EFCA Fishing Team in Titus, Ala., make their way through the registration line.
The Brookwood High School Panthers Fishing Team - all of 10 of them - finally made it inside the door and away from the cold.
The Brookwood High School Panthers Fishing Team – all of 10 of them – finally made it inside the door and away from the cold.
Members of the Auburn Anglers team, including Ronnie Ware (left), Tate Dark (middle), and Brock Ware complete the registration process.
Members of the Auburn Anglers team, including Ronnie Ware (left), Tate Dark (middle), and Brock Ware complete the registration process.
Cameron Mercer and Tyler Presnell of the EFCA Fishing Team from Titus, Ala., chat with Bassmaster Elite Series pro Greg Vinson after completing registration.
Cameron Mercer and Tyler Presnell of the EFCA Fishing Team from Titus, Ala., chat with Bassmaster Elite Series pro Greg Vinson after completing registration.
Volunteers work hard to pass out goodies to those line for registration.
Volunteers work hard to pass out goodies to those line for registration.
Several members of the Hillcrest (Ala.) High School Fishing Team wait in the line. Hillcrest brought 22 anglers to the event.
Several members of the Hillcrest (Ala.) High School Fishing Team wait in the line. Hillcrest brought 22 anglers to the event.
Cell phones were a common sight in line as registration stretched into its second hour.
Cell phones were a common sight in line as registration stretched into its second hour.
Kalee Jones of the Hillcrest High School Fishing Team waits (somewhat) patiently in line with her father, Wes.
Kalee Jones of the Hillcrest High School Fishing Team waits (somewhat) patiently in line with her father, Wes.
Thoughts turned to food when all the paperwork was done.
Thoughts turned to food when all the paperwork was done.
After registration, the gigantic field convened for a tournament briefing at Central Alabama Community College. Tournament director Hank Weldon went over the rules and discussed the importance of safety on the water.
After registration, the gigantic field convened for a tournament briefing at Central Alabama Community College. Tournament director Hank Weldon went over the rules and discussed the importance of safety on the water.
Weldon also discussed the importance of teams notifying tournament officials if they decide to leave.
Weldon also discussed the importance of teams notifying tournament officials if they decide to leave. “If you leave and don’t let us know, we assume you’re stranded somewhere on a 40,000-acre lake,” Weldon pointed out.