Open: Day 1 on the Harris Chain

Day 1 of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open on the Harris Chain is underway as 200 boaters and co-anglers look for a good day on the water to stay in contention and make it to the weekend cut.
Day 1 of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open on the Harris Chain is underway as 200 boaters and co-anglers look for a good day on the water to stay in contention and make it to the weekend cut.
The Venetian Gardens boat ramp was full of eager anglers. The Florida weather didn’t disappoint either.
The Venetian Gardens boat ramp was full of eager anglers. The Florida weather didn’t disappoint either.
Wil Hardy, a 2017 Geico Bassmaster Classic participant, takes off and makes his way across Harris Lake.
Wil Hardy, a 2017 Geico Bassmaster Classic participant, takes off and makes his way across Harris Lake.
The first angler I found was Florida’s Kyle Monti. He seemed poised as he targeted a spawning bass.
The first angler I found was Florida’s Kyle Monti. He seemed poised as he targeted a spawning bass.
He entices it to bite and he immediately sets the hook with as much force as possible.
He entices it to bite and he immediately sets the hook with as much force as possible.
Then he adjusts his hand to the reel and begins to winch it towards the boat.
Then he adjusts his hand to the reel and begins to winch it towards the boat.
But it gets wrapped up in some grass and Monti turns up the trolling motor speed to go in after it.
But it gets wrapped up in some grass and Monti turns up the trolling motor speed to go in after it.
He hits the deck in hopes of grabbing the fish and landing it.
He hits the deck in hopes of grabbing the fish and landing it.
But he loses the fish and watches as it swims back towards its bedding area.
But he loses the fish and watches as it swims back towards its bedding area.
By the looks of the bow in his rod it seemed like a decent fish for sure, but Monti continues fishing and doesn’t show much of a reaction to the early miss.
By the looks of the bow in his rod it seemed like a decent fish for sure, but Monti continues fishing and doesn’t show much of a reaction to the early miss.
A local fisherman runs down the grass line towards us so I decided to head into a small canal to look for some anglers.
A local fisherman runs down the grass line towards us so I decided to head into a small canal to look for some anglers.
Florida doesn’t disappoint when it comes to numerous types of birds and nature.
Florida doesn’t disappoint when it comes to numerous types of birds and nature.
I see Sam George around the bend in the canal.
I see Sam George around the bend in the canal.
The young angler was looking for a couple keepers to get his day started. He expected to catch a quick limit in this area, but it hadn’t panned out just yet.
The young angler was looking for a couple keepers to get his day started. He expected to catch a quick limit in this area, but it hadn’t panned out just yet.
George gets a bite and sets the hook…
George gets a bite and sets the hook…
But it isn’t very big and ended up getting released back into the Harris Chain.
But it isn’t very big and ended up getting released back into the Harris Chain.
George narrowly missed qualifying for the 2017 Bassmaster Elite Series via the Northern Opens last year.
George narrowly missed qualifying for the 2017 Bassmaster Elite Series via the Northern Opens last year.
After leaving George, I found former Southern Open champion Rich Howes fishing down a stretch of grass.
After leaving George, I found former Southern Open champion Rich Howes fishing down a stretch of grass.
Howes took the title on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes back in 2013 and fished the 2014 Bassmaster Classic.
Howes took the title on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes back in 2013 and fished the 2014 Bassmaster Classic.
A bird was perched on the grass line and kept flying up a decent ways every time Howes would get close.
A bird was perched on the grass line and kept flying up a decent ways every time Howes would get close.
He already had two small keepers in the boat and was hooked up with his third possible keeper.
He already had two small keepers in the boat and was hooked up with his third possible keeper.
He swings in the largemouth and measures it.
He swings in the largemouth and measures it.
Howes called Day 1 “Survival Day” as he had a short fishing day and didn’t want to take any unnecessary gambles. You can’t win the event on Day 1, but you can surely lose it if you make the wrong decision.
Howes called Day 1 “Survival Day” as he had a short fishing day and didn’t want to take any unnecessary gambles. You can’t win the event on Day 1, but you can surely lose it if you make the wrong decision.
Howes had 3 keepers by 8:30 a.m. and was hoping to continue upgrading throughout the day.
Howes had 3 keepers by 8:30 a.m. and was hoping to continue upgrading throughout the day.
I bounced around and found Eric Panzironi, who notched a Top 12 in the opening Southern Open last year on the Kissimmee Chain.
I bounced around and found Eric Panzironi, who notched a Top 12 in the opening Southern Open last year on the Kissimmee Chain.
He had two keepers so far and was trying to generate a reaction bite, but the slick calm conditions were making it difficult.
He had two keepers so far and was trying to generate a reaction bite, but the slick calm conditions were making it difficult.
He had a good showing in the 2016 Opens series and was looking for another year just like that.
He had a good showing in the 2016 Opens series and was looking for another year just like that.
Elite Series pro John Hunter was fishing down the bank towards us.
Elite Series pro John Hunter was fishing down the bank towards us.
He said he already had a limit because his schooling fish area produce well this morning.
He said he already had a limit because his schooling fish area produce well this morning.
He, too, was working a reaction bait, but was contemplating a change to some spawning fish he had found.
He, too, was working a reaction bait, but was contemplating a change to some spawning fish he had found.
Co-angler Robert Holcomb was hauling in a fish as we rolled into this specific area.
Co-angler Robert Holcomb was hauling in a fish as we rolled into this specific area.
In the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens, co-anglers are aiming for a 3-fish limit from the back of the boat.
In the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens, co-anglers are aiming for a 3-fish limit from the back of the boat.
I spotted Jordan Lee and his co-angler Curtis Hall.
I spotted Jordan Lee and his co-angler Curtis Hall.
Hall battled a decent fish towards the boat…
Hall battled a decent fish towards the boat…
And then swung it aboard. Chunky Florida fish.
And then swung it aboard. Chunky Florida fish.
Hall was one fish closer to his limit as he and Lee fished along.
Hall was one fish closer to his limit as he and Lee fished along.
Yusuke Miyazaki was in the area as well.
Yusuke Miyazaki was in the area as well.
I also saw Wil Hardy tucked back in the vegetation.
I also saw Wil Hardy tucked back in the vegetation.
Hardy is one of the anglers in the Classic this year at Lake Conroe because of his win at Oneida Lake last summer.
Hardy is one of the anglers in the Classic this year at Lake Conroe because of his win at Oneida Lake last summer.
He battled this fish to the boat and was hoping to land this and move up to three keepers.
He battled this fish to the boat and was hoping to land this and move up to three keepers.
He brings this fish to the surface and swings it in the boat.
He brings this fish to the surface and swings it in the boat.
After losing multiple solid fish this morning, Hardy was pleased that this one landed on the right side of the boat.
After losing multiple solid fish this morning, Hardy was pleased that this one landed on the right side of the boat.
This one will help the cause for sure.
This one will help the cause for sure.
Hardy shows it off for the camera.
Hardy shows it off for the camera.
He takes a second to fix his bait and a cast or two later he was back at it.
He takes a second to fix his bait and a cast or two later he was back at it.
Another quick bite for Hardy. This one could give him 4 keepers.
Another quick bite for Hardy. This one could give him 4 keepers.
It isn’t a giant, but it will help him at this point in the day.
It isn’t a giant, but it will help him at this point in the day.
He was picking apart a field of lily pads and he obviously found a small cluster of bass and where they were positioned.
He was picking apart a field of lily pads and he obviously found a small cluster of bass and where they were positioned.
Some coots were high-tailing it out of there to make way for Hardy.
Some coots were high-tailing it out of there to make way for Hardy.
I saw Joey Nania fishing offshore and decided to check out how he was doing.
I saw Joey Nania fishing offshore and decided to check out how he was doing.
But first, one final heave from Hardy.
But first, one final heave from Hardy.
Nania was working a lipless crankbait off the edge of some cover.
Nania was working a lipless crankbait off the edge of some cover.
Meanwhile the inside cover was getting picked apart by multiple boats.
Meanwhile the inside cover was getting picked apart by multiple boats.
Nania rips it through the grass and his rod loads up.
Nania rips it through the grass and his rod loads up.
It was a small fish for the co-host of Sweetwater TV, but he took the fish to check it and make sure.
It was a small fish for the co-host of Sweetwater TV, but he took the fish to check it and make sure.
It didn’t keep, but he was made occasional upgrades throughout the day as he sent in blogs to the website.
It didn’t keep, but he was made occasional upgrades throughout the day as he sent in blogs to the website.
I sped back towards takeoff to work on some photos while anglers were speeding to other spots on the Harris Chain.
I sped back towards takeoff to work on some photos while anglers were speeding to other spots on the Harris Chain.