Open: Day 1 on the water

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Day 1 of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes started with foggy conditions and misty weather as 200 boats headed out in hopes of bringing back a big bag to the weigh-in stage.
Day 1 of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes started with foggy conditions and misty weather as 200 boats headed out in hopes of bringing back a big bag to the weigh-in stage.
Jamey Caldwell flies down the narrow boat lane into a backwater area to start his day on Toho.
Jamey Caldwell flies down the narrow boat lane into a backwater area to start his day on Toho.
Caldwell is going so fast that his co-angler can barely look. In all seriousness, the North Carolina pro heads to his first spot and is one of the first anglers to fly by us. With the changing conditions on this chain of lakes, every minute of fishing is crucial to these anglers because from what we heard at the meeting, the cold front had Toho very stingy.
Caldwell is going so fast that his co-angler can barely look. In all seriousness, the North Carolina pro heads to his first spot and is one of the first anglers to fly by us. With the changing conditions on this chain of lakes, every minute of fishing is crucial to these anglers because from what we heard at the meeting, the cold front had Toho very stingy.
Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Koby Kreiger zooms by as well. The Florida native should feel right at home this week in Kissimmee.
Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Koby Kreiger zooms by as well. The Florida native should feel right at home this week in Kissimmee.
Seth Feider, another Elite Series angler, is fishing in this area as well. Moving baits were on the menu for almost every angler we saw this morning.
Seth Feider, another Elite Series angler, is fishing in this area as well. Moving baits were on the menu for almost every angler we saw this morning.
Chris Hensley, from Alabama, joins the crowd in this area. I’m thinking I could’ve used a helmet like that on my ride this morning. Rain drops at speeds of 60+ miles per hour can feel like needles to your face.
Chris Hensley, from Alabama, joins the crowd in this area. I’m thinking I could’ve used a helmet like that on my ride this morning. Rain drops at speeds of 60+ miles per hour can feel like needles to your face.
The rain begins to pour down as Adams heaves out a cast.
The rain begins to pour down as Adams heaves out a cast.
He alternated between a couple different moving baits early on Day 1, but it didn’t take long until he hooked up.
He alternated between a couple different moving baits early on Day 1, but it didn’t take long until he hooked up.
Adams isn’t new to the Bassmaster Opens scene as he has fished numerous events as a co-angler, but once the schedule was released this year and some familiar fisheries were on the list, he decided to move to the pro side and see how it works out.
Adams isn’t new to the Bassmaster Opens scene as he has fished numerous events as a co-angler, but once the schedule was released this year and some familiar fisheries were on the list, he decided to move to the pro side and see how it works out.
This is keeper number one for Adams. It isn’t big by any means, but a first one to break the ice is always a good thing for tournament anglers.
This is keeper number one for Adams. It isn’t big by any means, but a first one to break the ice is always a good thing for tournament anglers.
The Kissimmee Chain of Lakes is certainly known for some better-sized fish than that, but relocating some of those roaming groups of fish is important, especially with the vast array of weather we have experienced.
The Kissimmee Chain of Lakes is certainly known for some better-sized fish than that, but relocating some of those roaming groups of fish is important, especially with the vast array of weather we have experienced.
Matt Lee joined this crew moments before Adams hooked up and now he looks on as he hopes to boat a keeper soon.
Matt Lee joined this crew moments before Adams hooked up and now he looks on as he hopes to boat a keeper soon.
Lee heaves a cast out and quickly works it back to the boat. He alternated between a jerkbait and a lipless crankbait, while he also pondered some other lures while he fished along.
Lee heaves a cast out and quickly works it back to the boat. He alternated between a jerkbait and a lipless crankbait, while he also pondered some other lures while he fished along.
Soon after they mentioned it, co-angler Fred Rigdon sets the hook on a fish.
Soon after they mentioned it, co-angler Fred Rigdon sets the hook on a fish.
It isn’t big at all, but it may be big enough to go in the livewell. No matter how big or small, one fish is huge for co-anglers because it is one-third of their three fish limit.
It isn’t big at all, but it may be big enough to go in the livewell. No matter how big or small, one fish is huge for co-anglers because it is one-third of their three fish limit.
Rigdon swings it in the boat and it is indeed a keeper. He is on the board now as well. We decide to make a move from this area and we head to the south end of Lake Toho.
Rigdon swings it in the boat and it is indeed a keeper. He is on the board now as well. We decide to make a move from this area and we head to the south end of Lake Toho.
Just being curious, we checked out the lock to see how many anglers decided to stay on Toho for roughly two and a half hours before heading south. There was almost a full lock at the moment.
Just being curious, we checked out the lock to see how many anglers decided to stay on Toho for roughly two and a half hours before heading south. There was almost a full lock at the moment.
I stopped just outside of the lock area and found Danny Lanier fishing nearby. If you don’t know Lanier, he finished second in this very event in 2013. He was a part of a sudden death fish off between Rich Howes and himself. Howes won and clinched his ticket to the Bassmaster Classic, but Lanier still remains a threat on this body of water.
I stopped just outside of the lock area and found Danny Lanier fishing nearby. If you don’t know Lanier, he finished second in this very event in 2013. He was a part of a sudden death fish off between Rich Howes and himself. Howes won and clinched his ticket to the Bassmaster Classic, but Lanier still remains a threat on this body of water.
He informed us that he had some mechanical issues and that he had notified the tournament staff and that he was hoping to legally borrow a boat from someone. After receiving the go-ahead, Lanier continued to fish and stayed near the lock. He had one small keeper in the boat so far.
He informed us that he had some mechanical issues and that he had notified the tournament staff and that he was hoping to legally borrow a boat from someone. After receiving the go-ahead, Lanier continued to fish and stayed near the lock. He had one small keeper in the boat so far.
Anglers continue to rush towards the lock and make their way south.
Anglers continue to rush towards the lock and make their way south.
Brad Knight, the 2015 Forrest Wood Cup Champion is one of those anglers. He comes off plane and idles towards the lock.
Brad Knight, the 2015 Forrest Wood Cup Champion is one of those anglers. He comes off plane and idles towards the lock.
The replacement boat has made it!
The replacement boat has made it!
Lanier quickly grabs some rods and hops in the other boat.
Lanier quickly grabs some rods and hops in the other boat.
His co-angler Don Ramsey loads his gear as well.
His co-angler Don Ramsey loads his gear as well.
Last but not least, Lanier grabs his one fish and places it in the empty replacement boat.
Last but not least, Lanier grabs his one fish and places it in the empty replacement boat.
Not far from the lock, we spot another angler flipping a group of reeds.
Not far from the lock, we spot another angler flipping a group of reeds.
When we came off pad we must have startled some coots as they high-tailed it outta there.
When we came off pad we must have startled some coots as they high-tailed it outta there.
South Carolina angler Travis Dehart flips the clumps of reeds and also switches it up in the open areas.
South Carolina angler Travis Dehart flips the clumps of reeds and also switches it up in the open areas.
He makes a couple long casts in the more sparse grass, but then Dehart notices some reed stems move so he silently picks up his flipping presentation and pitches close by.
He makes a couple long casts in the more sparse grass, but then Dehart notices some reed stems move so he silently picks up his flipping presentation and pitches close by.
He told us that he saw some big fish in his area throughout practice and that he shook them off after bringing them into view on the surface.
He told us that he saw some big fish in his area throughout practice and that he shook them off after bringing them into view on the surface.
He gets a bite and swings as hard as he can, but he misses the fish. With how finicky these fish have been for the anglers this week, opportunities like that are golden.
He gets a bite and swings as hard as he can, but he misses the fish. With how finicky these fish have been for the anglers this week, opportunities like that are golden.
He stays patient and keeps fishing along.
He stays patient and keeps fishing along.
After running back to the ramp through foggy conditions we saw William Hensley fishing around a group of mixed vegetation. There seem to be patches of nothing but lily pads and then there will be areas of just grass, but this spot had a good mix of the two.
After running back to the ramp through foggy conditions we saw William Hensley fishing around a group of mixed vegetation. There seem to be patches of nothing but lily pads and then there will be areas of just grass, but this spot had a good mix of the two.
We see another angler nearby in a solid grass field. He was methodically probing the grass for a big Florida bass.
We see another angler nearby in a solid grass field. He was methodically probing the grass for a big Florida bass.
Some of the boat lanes on Lake Toho seem to be natural, while others seem to be made from constant boat traffic. Either way, they are a lot nicer to navigate than taking the long way around every patch of grass.
Some of the boat lanes on Lake Toho seem to be natural, while others seem to be made from constant boat traffic. Either way, they are a lot nicer to navigate than taking the long way around every patch of grass.
Just before putting the boat on the trailer we saw Chris Neau posted up in an area all to himself.
Just before putting the boat on the trailer we saw Chris Neau posted up in an area all to himself.