Open: Day 1 begins on James River

Kurt Dove, a Virginia native living on Lake Amistad in Texas, returns home to fish familiar waters at the James River.

Derek Hudnall, of Baton Rouge, La., is going all out this season and fishing the Northern Opens. He arrives early to prep tackle and begin his day.

A familiar sight is back again. The A & B Snack barge is selling breakfast, snacks and hot beverages at Osborne Landing.

Brandon Palaniuk had just two days of practice at the James River. The reason? He was fishing Championship Sunday about a 10-hour drive away in Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Palaniuk fished the Bassmaster Elite at Champlain presented by Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels. Tiffanie McCall backs him and the boat into the James for Day 1.

The defending champion of this very tournament is all smiles, as usual. Charlie Hartley is ready to grind it out and score a repeat win.

Michah Frazier of Newnan, Ga., is one of the first boats to leave the dock.

Hunter Shryock gives the thumbs up.

So is Drew Benton of Florida.

Fans gather on the dock along the shoreline of Osborne Landing, not far away from downtown Richmond, Virginia.

Wesley Strader of Tennessee heads out for what he hopes is a second Championship Saturday appearance in this season of the Northern Opens.

Gerald Spohrer heads out for Day 1 on the James River, just one of the several rivers within the fishable water of the tournament.

Hudnall brings an advantage to this tournament. A tidal fisherman in south Louisiana, he will be well equipped to follow the movements of the bass here.

The boats are launched from the upper James River. To the southeast is the Chickahominy River and then the Atlantic Ocean.

Josh Douglas looks to qualify for his second Championship Saturday of the season, following a strong finish at Onieda Lake, just last month.

Brian Latimer, aka B. Lat, heads out for the day on the James River. Latimer is an aspiring pro from South Carolina.

Steve Woodruff joins Senior Tournament Manager Chris Bowes with lining up the boats. Woodruff, a longtime member of the Virginia B.A.S.S. Nation, is the volunteer coordinator for the week.

Chris Dillow, who won the Open here in 2015, is one of the local favorites to always win on the James River.

Empty boxes mean one thing. The Day 1 takeoff is nearly concluded.

The final boats leave the dock with a 2 p.m. checkout slated to begin at the weigh-in site.

Pete Gluszek, a veteran New Jersey pro, is also a founder of the Bass University.

Rick Morris, a native Virginian, heads out for Day 1.

Shane Lineberger, an Elite Series pro, got here just in time from Lake Champlain to get ready for the Open.

Patrick Walters hopes for another repeat on Championship Saturday after a strong performance at Oneida Lake.