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Social media roundup: Harris Chain Open edition

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Captions by
Shaye Baker
The final event of the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens is nearly upon us. Let’s take a look around social media and see how practice has been going on the Harris Chain of Lakes so far.
Kenta Kimura sits in 5th in the Opens EQ (Elite Qualifier) race.
Kimura stops off at a Love’s to take advantage of one of their new “RV Hookup” spots, and praises the chain on social media for making life on the road a little easier. On the road he has certainly been this year, fishing all 9 Elites, all 9 Opens and the Bassmaster Classic.
James Niggemeyer sets up shop a little closer to shore.
A beautiful spot for the week.
The lake has looked lovely during practice, as evidenced by this shot from Brad Luethener.
Another scenic shot from Luethner.
Jamie Bruce playing a dangerous game of “bet you want eat my frog” with a baby gator.
Bill McDonald has been all around the bald eagles this week.
There’s a lot of water open to the anglers on the Harris Chain. Brandon Lester is doing a little exploring.
Blake Smith with a solid one.
Smith plans to fish three baits most of this week: a Yamamoto Senko, a Yamamoto Speed Senko and a Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap.
Trey McKinney with a stud. McKinney sits in 3rd in the Opens EQ AOY race going into this event. If he makes it back to the scales with even just a few fish, he should easily secure one of the nine 2024 Elite Series berths granted through the Opens.
Ish Monroe with a solid fish. A former Elite, Monroe no doubt had his heart set on re-qualifying this year. Unfortunately, he sits in 50th place with only this event remaining. But he could still cash a win-and-you’re-in ticket to the 2024 Bassmaster Classic this week.
Another former Elite, Clark Reehm with a nice one as well. Reehm sits in 33rd currently.
Reehm’s co-angler for the day, Steven Obester, with a stud.
Bobby Lane with a chunk. Another former Elite hoping to make a return in 2024, Lane sits a little closer to the cut in 15th. Certainly, still has a chance at fishing his way back into the Elite Series here.
Trevor McKinney with a nice one.
Blake Smith with another. The fishing has reportedly been spotty this week. The occasional good bite comes, but putting together a pattern has been tough.
Lake of the Ozarks Champ Kyle Patrick with a meaty one. Patrick in good shape to make the Elites with a decent finish this week. He sits in 6th currently.
Kurt Mitchell with a grown one.
Joey Nania has reported tough fishing as well, but had a nice one to show at least.
Matt Henry with a monster too. There will certainly be big ones brought in on the Harris Chain this week.
Mitchell with another good one… one he wished he hadn’t hooked.
Smith’s co-angler for the day of practice, Jeff Baffa, getting in on the action.
Here’s a solid one from Brad Luethner.
And another from Luethener to wrap things up. There’s still a little time left for the Opens anglers to piece things together in practice. But the rubber meets the road… or the hull meets the water I guess on Thursday, as the St. Croix Bassmaster Open on the Harris Chain gets underway.

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