Pre-fishing the James River

Opens angler Mark Hicks arrived early to the Northern Open #1. Here's what he saw.

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<p>Follow Opens angler Mark Hicks on his way to the Northern Open #1 on the James River in Richmond, Virginia. Note the pet bass hanging from my mirror. </p>
Follow Opens angler Mark Hicks on his way to the Northern Open #1 on the James River in Richmond, Virginia. Note the pet bass hanging from my mirror. 
<p>I met Virginian Zach Bruss in the back of the first small creek I fished. He had just read one of my articles that morning. We fished together that afternoon and he gave me a slew of tips about fishing the tides. (This happened several days before the official practice period began.)</p>
I met Virginian Zach Bruss in the back of the first small creek I fished. He had just read one of my articles that morning. We fished together that afternoon and he gave me a slew of tips about fishing the tides. (This happened several days before the official practice period began.)
<p>Drying out after tropical storm Andrea dumped 9 inches of water in a 24-hour period.</p>
Drying out after tropical storm Andrea dumped 9 inches of water in a 24-hour period.
<p>Maryland angler Matt Elliott introduced himself to me. He’s camping near me and is fishing the James Open. He knew me from my writings. Nice guy. We have a lot in common.</p>
Maryland angler Matt Elliott introduced himself to me. He’s camping near me and is fishing the James Open. He knew me from my writings. Nice guy. We have a lot in common.
<p>James River bass ace Kelly Pratt put in at Chickahominy Riverfront Park a number of times while I was camped there. I chatted with him a few times. He’s easy going and fun to be around.</p>
James River bass ace Kelly Pratt put in at Chickahominy Riverfront Park a number of times while I was camped there. I chatted with him a few times. He’s easy going and fun to be around.
<p>To give you an idea of how drastically the tides change fishing conditions, I photographed this tree at low tide. Compare it to the next photo.</p>
To give you an idea of how drastically the tides change fishing conditions, I photographed this tree at low tide. Compare it to the next photo.
<p>This is the same tree at high tide.</p>
This is the same tree at high tide.
<p>Boat docks also hold bass here.</p>
Boat docks also hold bass here.
<p>Duck blinds are good bass cover at the James. Note the ramp for the retriever.</p>
Duck blinds are good bass cover at the James. Note the ramp for the retriever.
<p>Cypress trees yield bass consistently on the James. This one could hold a bass, but it is not enhanced by knees.</p>
Cypress trees yield bass consistently on the James. This one could hold a bass, but it is not enhanced by knees.
<p>This cypress tree has large knees that extend from the trunk, which makes it a better bass hangout than the previous tree. At high tide the knees will be mostly under water.</p>
This cypress tree has large knees that extend from the trunk, which makes it a better bass hangout than the previous tree. At high tide the knees will be mostly under water.
<p>This cypress tree has small knees close to the truck. It is especially good because it creates a bigger current break when the tide rips.</p>
This cypress tree has small knees close to the truck. It is especially good because it creates a bigger current break when the tide rips.
<p>The Chickahominy has miles and miles of pad fields to fish.</p>
The Chickahominy has miles and miles of pad fields to fish.