Open: Day 1 on Arkansas

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Day 1 begins on the Arkansas River and anglers start to run to their first fishing spots.
Day 1 begins on the Arkansas River and anglers start to run to their first fishing spots.
With the water high and muddy, there were parts of the river that were like running an obstacle course.
With the water high and muddy, there were parts of the river that were like running an obstacle course.
Brent Homan sets the hook on one of his first fish of the day.
Brent Homan sets the hook on one of his first fish of the day.
He lowers his rod...
He lowers his rod…
...as the fish surges near the boat.
…as the fish surges near the boat.
He moves the fish around to the side of the boat...
He moves the fish around to the side of the boat…
...before snatching it from the water.
…before snatching it from the water.
He quickly unhooked the bass and was back at work looking for the next bite.
He quickly unhooked the bass and was back at work looking for the next bite.
With the main river channel high and muddy, anglers were crowded into areas with clearer water.
With the main river channel high and muddy, anglers were crowded into areas with clearer water.
And like Billy Smith pictured here, several of them were cycling through several different baits.
And like Billy Smith pictured here, several of them were cycling through several different baits.
Brian Clark was one of the anglers we found fishing in a crowd.
Brian Clark was one of the anglers we found fishing in a crowd.
He made a short move without raising his trolling motor...
He made a short move without raising his trolling motor…
...but didn't stay long before running down river.
…but didn’t stay long before running down river.
We found Josh Douglas idling from the back of a creek...
We found Josh Douglas idling from the back of a creek…
...and take his hole shot once he hit the main river channel.
…and take his hole shot once he hit the main river channel.
Justin McClelland brings his boat off pad. He is the son of Elite Series angler, Mike McClelland. Justin plans to fish both the Northern and Central Opens with the goal of qualifying for the Elite Series.
Justin McClelland brings his boat off pad. He is the son of Elite Series angler, Mike McClelland. Justin plans to fish both the Northern and Central Opens with the goal of qualifying for the Elite Series.
Access to some of the backwater is often a bit tricky on the Arkansas River...
Access to some of the backwater is often a bit tricky on the Arkansas River…
...made even more difficult with recent flooding.
…made even more difficult with recent flooding.
And as Brian Clark discovered, areas often change depths with sand washing in and you can become stuck.
And as Brian Clark discovered, areas often change depths with sand washing in and you can become stuck.
Often when that happens you have to pull up the trolling motor and apply a whole lot more horsepower.
Often when that happens you have to pull up the trolling motor and apply a whole lot more horsepower.
With the help of his outboard it wasn't long before Clark was back to fishing.
With the help of his outboard it wasn’t long before Clark was back to fishing.
Seiji Kato makes a cast in a backwater area off the Arkansas River.
Seiji Kato makes a cast in a backwater area off the Arkansas River.
The Japanese angler is also the owner of Jackall Baits.
The Japanese angler is also the owner of Jackall Baits.
Matthew Delaney sits his boat down to idle under a bridge.
Matthew Delaney sits his boat down to idle under a bridge.
Jon Englund was making long casts into...
Jon Englund was making long casts into…
...the abundant willow weed that lines the shallows of the Arkansas River.
…the abundant willow weed that lines the shallows of the Arkansas River.
Nearby, James Niggemeyer was fishing the same vegetation with a different technique and bait.
Nearby, James Niggemeyer was fishing the same vegetation with a different technique and bait.
The following photos show Sam George battling his best fish of the day...
The following photos show Sam George battling his best fish of the day…
If you lost an aluminum boat during the recent flooding, it's lodged on a buoy marker about two miles downriver from the launch area.
If you lost an aluminum boat during the recent flooding, it’s lodged on a buoy marker about two miles downriver from the launch area.