Open: Day 1 on the water

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The Arkansas River is rolling high and muddy, so Wade Leblanc went deep in a backwater area where he caught two good ones early.
The Arkansas River is rolling high and muddy, so Wade Leblanc went deep in a backwater area where he caught two good ones early.
Brian Clark was one of many anglers flipping and casting tight to bank cover.
Brian Clark was one of many anglers flipping and casting tight to bank cover.
Drew Sloan said he knew there would be a good one in this logjam.
Drew Sloan said he knew there would be a good one in this logjam.
And there was a good one, but Sloan had it on for only a second or two. “That was a four-pounder,” he said.
And there was a good one, but Sloan had it on for only a second or two. “That was a four-pounder,” he said.
Elite Series angler Ken Iyobe found some calm water near the bank behind a rock jetty.
Elite Series angler Ken Iyobe found some calm water near the bank behind a rock jetty.
Iyobe tried pitching a jig in the abundant cover, but didn’t get a bite.
Iyobe tried pitching a jig in the abundant cover, but didn’t get a bite.
So Iyobe moved out closer to the rock jetty.
So Iyobe moved out closer to the rock jetty.
With the high water, there’s lots of debris in the Arkansas River, either washed up in backwater areas like this, or floating down the main river channel. It’s definitely “boater beware.”
With the high water, there’s lots of debris in the Arkansas River, either washed up in backwater areas like this, or floating down the main river channel. It’s definitely “boater beware.”
Co-angler Jim Simpson was working some shallow vegetation in a backwater area with a buzzbait.
Co-angler Jim Simpson was working some shallow vegetation in a backwater area with a buzzbait.
And Simpson got a blow-up, but not a hook-up on the buzzbait.
And Simpson got a blow-up, but not a hook-up on the buzzbait.
There are plenty of bridge pilings to fish in this tournament. Chance Havard tried casting between a bridge piling and a rock bank to no avail.
There are plenty of bridge pilings to fish in this tournament. Chance Havard tried casting between a bridge piling and a rock bank to no avail.
While most of the rock jetties are almost underwater, they continue to provide current breaks that attract both fish and fishermen.
While most of the rock jetties are almost underwater, they continue to provide current breaks that attract both fish and fishermen.
Co-angler Billy Doak threw a white spinnerbait along the jetty, trying to coax a strike.
Co-angler Billy Doak threw a white spinnerbait along the jetty, trying to coax a strike.
Doak got a strike, but it was from a white bass.
Doak got a strike, but it was from a white bass.
This heron liked its chances of catching a fish along the jetty as well.
This heron liked its chances of catching a fish along the jetty as well.
Pro competitor Jeffery Lemoine Jr. felt a strike and set the hook a little harder than he needed to for this white bass.
Pro competitor Jeffery Lemoine Jr. felt a strike and set the hook a little harder than he needed to for this white bass.
“I didn’t catch one white bass in here during practice,” Lemoine lamented.
“I didn’t catch one white bass in here during practice,” Lemoine lamented.
But Lemoine and Doak couldn’t catch anything but white bass here at this hour of the day.
But Lemoine and Doak couldn’t catch anything but white bass here at this hour of the day.