Open: Harris Chain Registration

The first event of the 2017 bass fishing season is the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open on the historic Harris Chain of Lakes.

The information board was waiting for anglers as soon as they walked through the convocation center on the campus of Lake Sumter State College.

The sponsor booths were set up and anglers walked through as they escaped the Florida heat inside the building. Unlike most places in the country right now, Florida is sunny and 80 degrees.

Power Pole was represented in The Sunshine State as they had information on-hand for both boaters and co-anglers.

The local host had a table set up with information about boat parking and maps of the area.

We were nestled between Lake Eustis, Harris and Griffin while on campus at Lake Sumter State.

Al Farace tells the BASS staff the details on his boat and truck for records.

The Florida Trophy Catch organization is hoping for another fantastic year. They have incentives for anglers that catch bass over 8 pounds.

But anglers must abide by photo rules and how they need to prove their catch of 8+ pounds.

Teb Jones holds down the fort at one of the Toyota booths and tells anglers to take a hat! Red or black Toyota hats for the taking.

Carhartt provided colorful shirts to keep anglers cool and comfortable on the water in the Florida.

Jimmy Mason was passing out a courtesy bottle of G-Juice livewell treatment to anglers and told them about products like the G-Force handle and Eliminator prop nut.

Meanwhile Scott Canterbury signs up for Atlas Awards, which is a contingency program through TH Marine.

Shimano had some products available to test out as well as a reel that had been taken apart to show the in’s and out’s of the Shimano product. Ethan Cox was there to answer questions that fishermen may have.

Clarity is always best from the head man in charge so an angler asks Chris Bowes the specific idle zones and speed zones on the Harris Chain.

Trophies are on the line this week as well as a possible 2018 Bassmaster Classic berth for the lucky boater. The pro winner this week will be the first qualifier for that event.

Former Elite Series angler Rick Morris finalizes some paperwork for this event.

Sam George came close to Elite Series qualification in 2016 and is back at it in 2017.

Florida stick and FWC champion John Cox shows off his fishing license.

Meanwhile the father and son duo of Roland and Scott Martin chat in the registration area.

A co-angler gets Jordan Lee’s autograph while they wait in line.

The College champion and representative, John Garrett, makes his way through the line. His first fish this week was a 10-pounder according to his social media page.

Wesley Strader took the title at the 1st Southern Open last year at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes and hopes for another win this week. He had a half-winking face and half-gameface on at the meeting.

Second-year Elite Series pro John Hunter poses with a huge Florida bass and hopes to reel that in tomorrow or at some point this week.

Hunter and Opens angler Steve Mui chat about practice. If I remember correctly they tied in points back in 2015 and Hunter won the tiebreaker to make the Elite Series.

Shin Fukae was pumped up when he got word he was confirmed for the tournament. The Southern Opens always draw a 200 boat field and sometimes anglers are left waiting until the last moment to know if they are good to go.

The meeting gets started and Elite Series pro Cliff Prince is ready for this tournament to get started.

Once all 200 boaters and 200 co-anglers gather in the room, it will be packed.

Tournament Director Chris Bowes addresses the anglers and begins to break down rules and answers any questions the fishermen may have.

Brandon Lester sits with Chad Morgenthaler and Clay Dyer at the meeting.

I’ve been spotted by Dyer who is always carrying a smile.

Rich Howes is a former Southern Open champion and hopes to punch his ticket to the 2018 Classic this week.

This is the first tournament of the year for Jesse Wiggins, but the Elite Series rookie will have some pretty big events on the way as he begins his fishing career at the highest level.

The Tourism and Chamber of Commerce representative talks with the anglers about parking and other boat ramps that are close to the official launch area.

It’s a packed house in Florida this week.

Jeff Holland takes some photos of the meeting when he gets a free moment. Boats will leave from the Venetian Gardens at 7 a.m.