Rough riding on Day 1 at Erie

Lake Erie showed just a little of the rough water she's capable of on Day 1 of the 2015 Bass Pro Shops Northern Open presented by Allstate.

A calm and beautiful morning on Lake Erie never seems to last very long.
A calm and beautiful morning on Lake Erie never seems to last very long.
The boats head out onto Lake Erie to chase down giant smallmouth bass.
The boats head out onto Lake Erie to chase down giant smallmouth bass.
The wind starts picking up right away.
The wind starts picking up right away.
Some anglers don't seem to mind the waves.
Some anglers don’t seem to mind the waves.
Other anglers are holding on for dear life. What goes up...
Other anglers are holding on for dear life. What goes up…
must come down.
must come down.
The waves aren't that big this morning...
The waves aren’t that big this morning…
but they're choppy.
but they’re choppy.
The waves are getting bigger by the second though.
The waves are getting bigger by the second though.
Charlie Hartley is fighting through the waves...
Charlie Hartley is fighting through the waves…
and launching his rig wave after wave.
and launching his rig wave after wave.
This ride isn't for the faint of heart...
This ride isn’t for the faint of heart…
just got to put the pedal to the medal and plow on.
just got to put the pedal to the medal and plow on.
Sometimes things look a little sketchy though.
Sometimes things look a little sketchy though.
An angler hooks up in the distance...
An angler hooks up in the distance…
and the battle rages.
and the battle rages.
Jacob Wheeler makes a pitch...
Jacob Wheeler makes a pitch…
as the waves pile on.
as the waves pile on.
Wheeler keeps his head down...
Wheeler keeps his head down…
and tries to fish through the conditions.
and tries to fish through the conditions.
Each wave sends Weeler's rig 3 feet in the air...
Each wave sends Weeler’s rig 3 feet in the air…
then 3 feet below the water level.
then 3 feet below the water level.
Wheeler checks his drop-shot as he sends it out again.
Wheeler checks his drop-shot as he sends it out again.
As the anglers continue to fish...
As the anglers continue to fish…
the waves continue to roll.
the waves continue to roll.
Battles rage all around between the anglers...
Battles rage all around between the anglers…
and the waves.
and the waves.
At times it appears the boats are completely underwater.
At times it appears the boats are completely underwater.
We find a few boats in a little more protected area. Big Dave Smith works a rocky point.
We find a few boats in a little more protected area. Big Dave Smith works a rocky point.
Kenneth Garippa hooks up.
Kenneth Garippa hooks up.
Going for the grab.
Going for the grab.
A boat eases by.
A boat eases by.
We stick our head into a bay to try to find some anglers fishing for largemouth.
We stick our head into a bay to try to find some anglers fishing for largemouth.
Lake Erie doesn't abide by these signs.
Lake Erie doesn’t abide by these signs.
It's no secret that most of the Elite Series anglers who fish the Opens are only here for the shot at a win and an instant berth into the Bassmaster Classic. Having already punched his Classic ticket through the Elite Series AOY points, Powroznik admits he has no real desire to be here. But he felt it was only right to show up and fish so that no co-angler would be the odd man out because he dropped out. Class move.
It’s no secret that most of the Elite Series anglers who fish the Opens are only here for the shot at a win and an instant berth into the Bassmaster Classic. Having already punched his Classic ticket through the Elite Series AOY points, Powroznik admits he has no real desire to be here. But he felt it was only right to show up and fish so that no co-angler would be the odd man out because he dropped out. Class move.
That being said, J-Pow is definitely not spending anymore time than he has to out in the big water.
That being said, J-Pow is definitely not spending anymore time than he has to out in the big water.
You don't necessarily have to beat yourself up to catch fish.
You don’t necessarily have to beat yourself up to catch fish.
But these aren't quite big enough to make a run at this thing.
But these aren’t quite big enough to make a run at this thing.
Still, boater and co-angler are both putting fish in the boat and no one is left standing on the bank.
Still, boater and co-angler are both putting fish in the boat and no one is left standing on the bank.
The waves that are just around the point from Powroznik continue to crash, and it's time for us to brave them in search of someone else.
The waves that are just around the point from Powroznik continue to crash, and it’s time for us to brave them in search of someone else.
James River Open winner Chris Dillow isn't having the best day today but a smile is still on his face knowing he's one more day of fishing from officially heading to the 2016 Bassmaster Classic.
James River Open winner Chris Dillow isn’t having the best day today but a smile is still on his face knowing he’s one more day of fishing from officially heading to the 2016 Bassmaster Classic.
We find Stephen Mui nearby.
We find Stephen Mui nearby.
As we ease up to Mui he decides it's time to backtrack a bit...
As we ease up to Mui he decides it’s time to backtrack a bit…
and makes a move back up the bank.
and makes a move back up the bank.
Dillow hooks up.
Dillow hooks up.
This looks like it could be a really nice smallmouth.
This looks like it could be a really nice smallmouth.
Then the fish rears its ugly head.
Then the fish rears its ugly head.
This catfish had Dillow going for a second.
This catfish had Dillow going for a second.
Time to unhook the cat...
Time to unhook the cat…
and send it swimming again.
and send it swimming again.
Mui only needs a couple more solid days of fishing to qualify for the Elite Series.
Mui only needs a couple more solid days of fishing to qualify for the Elite Series.
Hooked up...
Hooked up…
but this one is small and comes unbuttoned.
but this one is small and comes unbuttoned.
Though Mui has had a decent morning...
Though Mui has had a decent morning…
it's all casting right now and we leave him to head in.
it’s all casting right now and we leave him to head in.