Open: Day 1 on James River

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The opening round of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open on the James River started early on Thursday morning as a fleet of boats was headed down river towards the Chickahominy River.
The opening round of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open on the James River started early on Thursday morning as a fleet of boats was headed down river towards the Chickahominy River.
Boats tore down the James River toward the coast as well as those who took off toward Richmond to start their day.
Boats tore down the James River toward the coast as well as those who took off toward Richmond to start their day.
Gary Clouse of Phoenix Boats heads down river.
Gary Clouse of Phoenix Boats heads down river.
Followed by JT Kenney.
Followed by JT Kenney.
A BassCat roars down the river…
A BassCat roars down the river…
Elite Series pro Ish Monroe follows suit and keeps it trimmed up.
Elite Series pro Ish Monroe follows suit and keeps it trimmed up.
Ross Rhodes was the first angler we saw stop to fish.
Ross Rhodes was the first angler we saw stop to fish.
He started his day with company on his first spot, but they picked their spots and worked around.
He started his day with company on his first spot, but they picked their spots and worked around.
Former Bassmaster Classic competitor Jonathan Carter heads towards us on his way to spot number one.
Former Bassmaster Classic competitor Jonathan Carter heads towards us on his way to spot number one.
Rhodes flips around some cypress knees.
Rhodes flips around some cypress knees.
You can see the water marks on the shoreline cover as the tide was dropping by the minute and it wouldn’t be long before the James River started to fill back up.
You can see the water marks on the shoreline cover as the tide was dropping by the minute and it wouldn’t be long before the James River started to fill back up.
Rhodes hooked up with his first fish of the day and as he swung it in the boat he was eyeballing his first keeper.
Rhodes hooked up with his first fish of the day and as he swung it in the boat he was eyeballing his first keeper.
He unhooks it and confirms it is at least 12 inches…
He unhooks it and confirms it is at least 12 inches…
And then puts a cull tag on the fish and drops it in his livewell.
And then puts a cull tag on the fish and drops it in his livewell.
Co-angler Robert Bruguiere hooked up with his first fish of the morning.
Co-angler Robert Bruguiere hooked up with his first fish of the morning.
And brings in a keeper! Co-anglers in the Bassmaster Opens series only need three keepers to fill their limit.
And brings in a keeper! Co-anglers in the Bassmaster Opens series only need three keepers to fill their limit.
Hunter Shryock was tucked back in a hidden pocket and he shows himself as he heads to his next spot.
Hunter Shryock was tucked back in a hidden pocket and he shows himself as he heads to his next spot.
There is ample cover on the James River with plenty of places for fish to hide.
There is ample cover on the James River with plenty of places for fish to hide.
Bruguiere is a local co-angler and knows this river well. His knowledge of the river is helping out as he hooks up with another fish.
Bruguiere is a local co-angler and knows this river well. His knowledge of the river is helping out as he hooks up with another fish.
As soon as he swings in his fish, Jonathan Carter hooks up as well.
As soon as he swings in his fish, Jonathan Carter hooks up as well.
He swings in his first keeper of the day as it dances to the boat.
He swings in his first keeper of the day as it dances to the boat.
The double up had them excited!
The double up had them excited!
Meanwhile Carter’s first keeper had him smiling.
Meanwhile Carter’s first keeper had him smiling.
Carter made the Classic years ago and back then he was a school teacher, but to pursue bass fishing as a possible career he had to leave the teaching profession to dedicate enough time to the sport. Now he is fishing the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens.
Carter made the Classic years ago and back then he was a school teacher, but to pursue bass fishing as a possible career he had to leave the teaching profession to dedicate enough time to the sport. Now he is fishing the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens.
Hunter Shryock stayed on the move as he headed to spot number three early on Day 1.
Hunter Shryock stayed on the move as he headed to spot number three early on Day 1.
The James River is full of bald eagles and one made a quick appearance.
The James River is full of bald eagles and one made a quick appearance.
Huk pro Al Farace wasn’t far behind Shryock as he was headed out to the main river as well.
Huk pro Al Farace wasn’t far behind Shryock as he was headed out to the main river as well.
Then I stumbled upon former Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Champion Jake Whitaker.
Then I stumbled upon former Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Champion Jake Whitaker.
His co-angler Scott Stephenson hooked up and boated a keeper quickly.
His co-angler Scott Stephenson hooked up and boated a keeper quickly.
Whitaker is a University of North Carolina at Charlotte alumni and was the 2014 National Champion. He and partner Andrew Helms also finished 4th in the 2015 Championship. This is his first year fishing the Opens.
Whitaker is a University of North Carolina at Charlotte alumni and was the 2014 National Champion. He and partner Andrew Helms also finished 4th in the 2015 Championship. This is his first year fishing the Opens.
He hooked up soon after and this one had some fight in it.
He hooked up soon after and this one had some fight in it.
He took it around the front of the boat as he let the fish get tired.
He took it around the front of the boat as he let the fish get tired.
Whitaker won the battle as he started to swing the fish in the boat.
Whitaker won the battle as he started to swing the fish in the boat.
It was a very solid fish for how the projected weights would be this week.
It was a very solid fish for how the projected weights would be this week.
After losing a good one to start his morning, this one showed him there was plenty of quality in his area.
After losing a good one to start his morning, this one showed him there was plenty of quality in his area.
A boat tears through a wooded area on the James. There are numerous areas of jungle type obstructions littered on the river.
A boat tears through a wooded area on the James. There are numerous areas of jungle type obstructions littered on the river.
We left Whitaker and Stephenson and found Ben Nielsen and David Osborne. Nielsen was hooked up when we arrived.
We left Whitaker and Stephenson and found Ben Nielsen and David Osborne. Nielsen was hooked up when we arrived.
He battles the fish with finesse tackle as he gets ready to land the fish.
He battles the fish with finesse tackle as he gets ready to land the fish.
Nielsen swings in a small keeper, but that gives him a limit.
Nielsen swings in a small keeper, but that gives him a limit.
That was the first limit I had seen early on Day 1, but he said it was just for 8 to 9 pounds. Still a solid start to his event.
That was the first limit I had seen early on Day 1, but he said it was just for 8 to 9 pounds. Still a solid start to his event.
Then, co-angler David Osborne hooked up.
Then, co-angler David Osborne hooked up.
Since there are no nets in the Bassmaster Opens anymore, Nielsen gets down to land the fish for his non-boater.
Since there are no nets in the Bassmaster Opens anymore, Nielsen gets down to land the fish for his non-boater.
The fish surfaces and he scoops it up.
The fish surfaces and he scoops it up.
A very solid fish for co-angler Osborne.
A very solid fish for co-angler Osborne.
He was excited to have it and start his day off on the right foot.
He was excited to have it and start his day off on the right foot.
Legendary angler Woo Daves was staying hydrated as he left the area.
Legendary angler Woo Daves was staying hydrated as he left the area.
We left the area and headed towards the takeoff area and the first boat we saw on the way back was Charlie Machek who lives just 30 minutes away from the James.
We left the area and headed towards the takeoff area and the first boat we saw on the way back was Charlie Machek who lives just 30 minutes away from the James.
Machek was just getting in the groove as that was his second keeper.
Machek was just getting in the groove as that was his second keeper.
Jim Dillard runs by Machek on his way to his next spot.
Jim Dillard runs by Machek on his way to his next spot.
As I turn back around, Machek set the hook and boated another fish.
As I turn back around, Machek set the hook and boated another fish.
He measured this one first though.
He measured this one first though.
Then joked around as he celebrated his third keeper.
Then joked around as he celebrated his third keeper.
Machek was in the middle of a flurry as his spot started producing.
Machek was in the middle of a flurry as his spot started producing.
But he was weeding through the small fish before any bigger ones showed up.
But he was weeding through the small fish before any bigger ones showed up.
Ron Johnson drives by...
Ron Johnson drives by…
One of those better fish just bit the business end of Machek's setup.
One of those better fish just bit the business end of Machek’s setup.
The fish jumps at the boat.
The fish jumps at the boat.
Then the Virginia native hauls in a good one.
Then the Virginia native hauls in a good one.
Machek is pumped for this fish.
Machek is pumped for this fish.
Machek flips a few more times around his cover.
Machek flips a few more times around his cover.
And then heads out to his next spot.
And then heads out to his next spot.
Ed Loughran, local Virginian pro, flies by as he heads to another spot. Running the tide is important if anglers decide to do so, otherwise staying patient in an area is the way to go.
Ed Loughran, local Virginian pro, flies by as he heads to another spot. Running the tide is important if anglers decide to do so, otherwise staying patient in an area is the way to go.
We found Elite Series pro Adrian Avena idle in the back of a creek so we follow him.
We found Elite Series pro Adrian Avena idle in the back of a creek so we follow him.
As soon as he got to his spot and started fishing his co-angler Mike Elkins hooked up with a fish.
As soon as he got to his spot and started fishing his co-angler Mike Elkins hooked up with a fish.
He scoops the fish on the other side of Avena's Mercury outboard and tucks the fish close to his chest. This ended up as his only keeper of the day.
He scoops the fish on the other side of Avena’s Mercury outboard and tucks the fish close to his chest. This ended up as his only keeper of the day.
Avena had to audible his gameplan after he waited for his first spot to open up after an hour or two.
Avena had to audible his gameplan after he waited for his first spot to open up after an hour or two.
He began to catch numerous fish, but as he found out most were small.
He began to catch numerous fish, but as he found out most were small.
Avena hooked up again.
Avena hooked up again.
The Elite Series pro boated another short fish, but he was getting bit very quickly.
The Elite Series pro boated another short fish, but he was getting bit very quickly.
Just as we begin to idle away, Avena hooks up with what looks like a possible keeper.
Just as we begin to idle away, Avena hooks up with what looks like a possible keeper.
He feathers the fish so he can keep it hooked up with finesse tackle.
He feathers the fish so he can keep it hooked up with finesse tackle.
Then he makes a move to swing the fish in the boat.
Then he makes a move to swing the fish in the boat.
It was indeed a keeper for Avena.
It was indeed a keeper for Avena.
He finished the day in 87th with 9-8 after Day 1.
He finished the day in 87th with 9-8 after Day 1.
As we head back to the ramp we saw some bald eagles flying around the ample trees that litter the James River shoreline.
As we head back to the ramp we saw some bald eagles flying around the ample trees that litter the James River shoreline.