Open: Day 1 on Douglas Lake

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Troy Morrow fishes close to the bridge crossing Douglas Lake near downtown Dandridge, Tenn., on Day 1 of the Bass Pro Shops Northern Open #1 presented by Allstate.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Many of the well-known community holes on Douglas Lake were crowded with competitors early on Day 1.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Tennessee native and Elite Series pro Brandon Card is considered a local favorite.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Card said he was marking so many fish on his electronics it was ridiculous.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Card could see the fish on his graph, but trying to get them to bite was a source of frustration.

Photo: James Overstreet

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After several bait selections, Card finally coaxes a fish to bite.

Photo: James Overstreet

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The fish nose-dives after a jump.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Card swings the small keeper into the boat.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Brandon Palaniuk is one of several Elite Series pros fishing this week at Douglas.

Photo: James Overstreet

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A few spectators followed Palaniuk on Day 1.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Palaniuk hooks up with his fourth fish of the day.

Photo: James Overstreet

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He leans into the fish as it attempts to jump.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Palaniuk is determined to get this fish in the boat.

Photo: James Overstreet

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The bass begins to thrash as it nears the boat.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Palaniuk reaches up the rod to swing the fish.

Photo: James Overstreet

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So far, so good.

Photo: James Overstreet

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The bait flies into the air as the fish comes unhooked and swims back into Douglas Lake.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Palaniuk quickly shakes it off with a smile…

Photo: James Overstreet

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…and gets back to work.

Photo: James Overstreet

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The Great Smoky Mountains loom to the west of Douglas Lake.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Palaniuk continued to change baits and fires another cast.

Photo: James Overstreet

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He kneels to drive his crankbait deeper.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Matt Lee, Drew Benton and John Pelletier were all fishing the same point.

Photo: James Overstreet

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There were times when Lee and Benton could have netted one another’s fish.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Matt Lee goes to the kneel and reel technique of crankbait fishing.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Drew Benton fires a cast.

Photo: James Overstreet

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John Pelletier joins Matt Lee and does a little kneeling and reeling of his own.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Pelletier decides to leave the point to Benton and Lee.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Drew Benton hooks up with a keeper and his co-angler readies the dip net.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Benton pulls the fish toward the safety of the net.

Photo: James Overstreet

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The fish goes into the livewell.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Brent Ehrler heaves a cast with a big crankbait.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Another crowd of anglers share water on Day 1.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Gerald Sensabaugh inspects his crankbait after a quick tuning.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Satisfied with the tuning job, Sensabaugh gets back to fishing.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Larry Draughn and his co-angler said it had been a slow morning for them.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Draughn said he only had one fish in the livewell, but it was a pretty good one.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Patrick Pierce makes a move across Douglas Lake.

Photo: James Overstreet

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While most of the field was structure fishing deeper water, there were a few anglers fishing flooded trees in the back of creeks.

Photo: James Overstreet

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