Open: Day 1 on the water

Anglers head out on Fort Gibson to start competition in the second of three Bass Pros Shops Bassmaster Central Opens.

Posted on
Anglers head out on Fort Gibson to start competition in the second of three Bass Pros Shops Bassmaster Central Opens.
Anglers head out on Fort Gibson to start competition in the second of three Bass Pros Shops Bassmaster Central Opens.
it doesn't take long for Stetson Blaylock to hook up.
it doesn’t take long for Stetson Blaylock to hook up.
This looks like it could be a good one.
This looks like it could be a good one.
Blaylock moves to the back of the boat...
Blaylock moves to the back of the boat…
and the fish goes for a run.
and the fish goes for a run.
Time to go for the grab.
Time to go for the grab.
This one still has some fight left in it.
This one still has some fight left in it.
Gotcha.
Gotcha.
Time to put this 4-pounder in the box.
Time to put this 4-pounder in the box.
Donald Barnes hooks up in the back of the boat.
Donald Barnes hooks up in the back of the boat.
Making it look easy this morning.
Making it look easy this morning.
And that's a keeper for Barnes.
And that’s a keeper for Barnes.
Stetson with another.
Stetson with another.
After a brief pause...
After a brief pause…
Stetson hooks up again.
Stetson hooks up again.
This one feels like another good one.
This one feels like another good one.
Sometimes all you can do is hold on...
Sometimes all you can do is hold on…
and let the fish go where it wants to.
and let the fish go where it wants to.
Stetson prepares to bring the fish towards the boat...
Stetson prepares to bring the fish towards the boat…
and suddenly it's airborne.
and suddenly it’s airborne.
Another nice one.
Another nice one.
Stetson grabs the fish...
Stetson grabs the fish…
and dumps it in the well before any of the other competitors can see it.
and dumps it in the well before any of the other competitors can see it.
Stetson is feeling it this morning.
Stetson is feeling it this morning.
Mike McClelland starts off shallow.
Mike McClelland starts off shallow.
McClelland led Day 1 of the first Central Open on Ross Barnett this year.
McClelland led Day 1 of the first Central Open on Ross Barnett this year.
A similar outing on Day 1 here would be to McClelland's liking.
A similar outing on Day 1 here would be to McClelland’s liking.
A lot of chunking and winding for now.
A lot of chunking and winding for now.
Bird's the word around here.
Bird’s the word around here.
Some anglers are on the move early....
Some anglers are on the move early….
and some have settled in to grind out what they can.
and some have settled in to grind out what they can.
The word from most anglers this week...
The word from most anglers this week…
lots of fish, just not a lot of fish over 14-inches.
lots of fish, just not a lot of fish over 14-inches.
Several anglers reported finding schools of fish where they could catch a lot of numbers but couldn't buy a keeper bite.
Several anglers reported finding schools of fish where they could catch a lot of numbers but couldn’t buy a keeper bite.
Tournaments like these are hard to gameplan for.
Tournaments like these are hard to gameplan for.
Anglers have to decide between leaving an area where they're getting bit...
Anglers have to decide between leaving an area where they’re getting bit…
or maybe figuring out how to trigger a bigger bite in the school of smaller fish.
or maybe figuring out how to trigger a bigger bite in the school of smaller fish.
Either way it's all smiles out here on Fort Gibson right now. A beautiful morning.
Either way it’s all smiles out here on Fort Gibson right now. A beautiful morning.
We find a few anglers sneaking around in the docks.
We find a few anglers sneaking around in the docks.
Some are just focused on fishing the shore.
Some are just focused on fishing the shore.
There are several old building foundations on Fort Gibson like the one seen sticking out of the water here. The foundations are all that's left of the homes that once stood where the lake is now. And these foundations hold lots of fish at the right depths.
There are several old building foundations on Fort Gibson like the one seen sticking out of the water here. The foundations are all that’s left of the homes that once stood where the lake is now. And these foundations hold lots of fish at the right depths.
Casey Scanlon works along.
Casey Scanlon works along.
Josh Bertrand works a row of floating tires.
Josh Bertrand works a row of floating tires.
Bertrand stresses that this is just a wave hello and not an indication of a five fish limit. Nothing in the boat so far.
Bertrand stresses that this is just a wave hello and not an indication of a five fish limit. Nothing in the boat so far.
Bertrand moves on and so do we.
Bertrand moves on and so do we.
Chad Grigsby is headed somewhere fast.
Chad Grigsby is headed somewhere fast.
Anglers seem to be sampling all depths this morning. Some fishing alone...
Anglers seem to be sampling all depths this morning. Some fishing alone…
and some in a crowd.
and some in a crowd.
But most are targeting the shallows.
But most are targeting the shallows.
Brent Homan hooks up.
Brent Homan hooks up.
Not sure yet if this is a big one.
Not sure yet if this is a big one.
Not a big one, but might be a keeper.
Not a big one, but might be a keeper.
Time to bring her in.
Time to bring her in.
...
…
...
…
...
…
Not going to make the cut.
Not going to make the cut.
...
…
James Elam samples a little water further offshore.
James Elam samples a little water further offshore.
Sometimes you just have to bomb one down the fairway.
Sometimes you just have to bomb one down the fairway.
Shin Fukae decides to make a move about the time we find him.
Shin Fukae decides to make a move about the time we find him.
Fukae on the move.
Fukae on the move.
Time to find another spot.
Time to find another spot.
There's some serious schoolers in this area.
There’s some serious schoolers in this area.
The water is constantly boiling as these little minnows try to avoid what lies beneath.
The water is constantly boiling as these little minnows try to avoid what lies beneath.
Striped bass are assaulting these little minnows.
Striped bass are assaulting these little minnows.
Sometimes the minnows get away...
Sometimes the minnows get away…
sometimes they don't.
sometimes they don’t.
Constant battle.
Constant battle.
Back to the grindstone.
Back to the grindstone.
On the move.
On the move.
This angler is enjoying a nice quiet morning fishing from the bank...
This angler is enjoying a nice quiet morning fishing from the bank…
or was anyway.
or was anyway.