Northern Open: Oneida registration

We made our way over to the Holiday Inn in Liverpool, N.Y. and we knew we made it to the right place as the B.A.S.S. signs littered the area and led anglers to the registration meeting for the first Northern Open of the year on Oneida Lake.

Anglers were led to the convention center area within the Holiday Inn.

The registration started at 1 p.m. and anglers could funnel through until 4 p.m.

This allows anglers to register, stare at the hardware they hope to win and get some gear from the sponsor tables.

Carhartt had some nice shorts for anglers to sport during the warmer summer months.

Meanwhile TH Marine had a table set up with their array of accessories for boats. Opens pro Sam George was working the table.

Phoenix Boats also had a table setup for anglers to enjoy. They recently became the sponsor for the Big Bass Award.

Both pros and cos come through and confirm their important information.

Elite Series pro Brandon Palaniuk made his way from Cayuga Lake to fish this week’s Open on Oneida.

A New York fishing license is required for competitors this week.

B.A.S.S. tournament officials also had the off-limits areas posted on a board for anglers to check out. Any manmade marina that was dug out after the lake was formed isn’t fishable per New York law.

The 2015 Carhartt College Series Bracket Champion, Trevor Lo, scoots through the line and makes a stop at the Carhartt booth. Lo completed the Southern Opens and the first Central Open. This week he begins the Northern Series. He plans to compete in all 9 events this year as a part of his prize.

Lo is approached by a co-angler who takes a moment to thank him for how he handles himself in the public eye. He hoped to get paired up with Lo.

After notching a Top 12 at Cayuga, Mike Iaconelli made the trip over to fish the Northern Opens where he has been successful before.

We are expecting a full-field of 200 boats this week and it looks to be that way with the line out the door.

Jeff Lugar (right) makes his way through registration. Lugar has been to the Classic before and narrowly missed an Open victory and Classic berth last year on Lake Erie.

Former Elite Series pro Joe Sancho is in the house.

A military service man is in attendance as well. I can’t thank our veterans and active military members enough for what they sacrifice for this country.

The line starts getting smaller, but then another wave arrives and extends it even farther.

Adrian Avena laughs after checking out something funny on his phone.

Elite Series pro Drew Benton finished 8th at Cayuga and made the Niagara River Classic Bracket next month and he decided to fish the Northern Opens because he was already in the area.

Jonathon VanDam is focused in at registration. Wherever smallmouth are prevalent, JVD is on the short list to do well.

Randy Howell won the Oneida Open last year and is back to defend his title.

Meanwhile Pete Gluszek (right) and Jacob Wheeler (left) chat.

Chad Pipkens rolls through the line and gets his fishing license checked.

Charlie Machek (right) and Ish Monroe (middle) come through the check line. Machek found success in a national tournament on the Potomac a few weeks ago and decided to get into the Opens soon after.

Shin Fukae has made the Classic via a Northern Open win on Lake Champlain a few years ago and hopes to do the same here.

Not everyone came to the meeting from the water. Others just got off work.

Elite Series pro Fletcher Shryock looks for an open seat in the packed house.

Packed house with 400 anglers in attendance.

Michael Neal decided to stand instead of looking for a rare open seat.

Tournament Director Chris Bowes begins the rules portion of the meeting.

Chris Dillow listens intently. He made the 2016 Classic via an Open win on the James River last year.

Former Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Champion Jake Whitaker listens in as he begins his first year fishing the Opens.

The meeting winds down as anglers get ready for Day 1 tomorrow. Launch will happen at Oneida Shores at 5:30 a.m.