Southern Open begins on Smith Lake

Posted on
Day 1 begins at 6:30 a.m. at Smith Lake Dam Access. The weather looks stormy but the day shows signs of improvement over yesterday.
Day 1 begins at 6:30 a.m. at Smith Lake Dam Access. The weather looks stormy but the day shows signs of improvement over yesterday.
The second event in the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open series has 178 boats with pros and co-anglers paired together.
The second event in the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open series has 178 boats with pros and co-anglers paired together.
Members of the Alabama National Guard performed color guard duty with the national anthem played prior to the start time.
Members of the Alabama National Guard performed color guard duty with the national anthem played prior to the start time.
Texas pro Trait Crist is among the first boats to leave the ramp. Her weigh-in time is 2:30 p.m.
Texas pro Trait Crist is among the first boats to leave the ramp. Her weigh-in time is 2:30 p.m.
B.A.S.S. officials, including Max Leatherwood, conduct final safety checks of the boats prior to takeoff.
B.A.S.S. officials, including Max Leatherwood, conduct final safety checks of the boats prior to takeoff.
Missouri pro Chad Morgenthaler qualified for the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro by winning an Open. He hopes to repeat the feat this week.
Missouri pro Chad Morgenthaler qualified for the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro by winning an Open. He hopes to repeat the feat this week.
North Carolina pro Hank Cherry hopes to sack a hefty limit of spotted bass on Day 1 of the event underway on Smith Lake.
North Carolina pro Hank Cherry hopes to sack a hefty limit of spotted bass on Day 1 of the event underway on Smith Lake.
This box will soon empty of its content. Those are floating key chains labeled with the boat numbers used for identifying each boat.
This box will soon empty of its content. Those are floating key chains labeled with the boat numbers used for identifying each boat.
A father and his son take in the check off prior to going to school for the day.
A father and his son take in the check off prior to going to school for the day.
Jordan Lee is from nearby Guntersville. He plans to focus on catching a large limit of spotted bass today.
Jordan Lee is from nearby Guntersville. He plans to focus on catching a large limit of spotted bass today.
Family and friends record the moment as the middle flights leave the boat dock.
Family and friends record the moment as the middle flights leave the boat dock.
Miu Fukae takes photos of husband Shin prior as he moves through the line.
Miu Fukae takes photos of husband Shin prior as he moves through the line.
The tournament is now a two-day event after yesterday’s postponement of Day 1. The full field of 178 boats will compete both days.
The tournament is now a two-day event after yesterday’s postponement of Day 1. The full field of 178 boats will compete both days.
Koby Krieger prepares for a long run, supposedly to a main lake arm where he plans to catch spotted bass.
Koby Krieger prepares for a long run, supposedly to a main lake arm where he plans to catch spotted bass.
David Kilgore won the last Open held on Smith Lake. The win qualified the local angler for the 2015 Classic.
David Kilgore won the last Open held on Smith Lake. The win qualified the local angler for the 2015 Classic.
The forecast calls for clearing skies with highs in the low 70s. That’s a big contrast from last night. Weather officials confirmed the touchdown of a tornado in nearby Jasper.
The forecast calls for clearing skies with highs in the low 70s. That’s a big contrast from last night. Weather officials confirmed the touchdown of a tornado in nearby Jasper.
Deputies from the Walker County Sheriff’s Office helped streamline the traffic flow at the launch ramp. Assisted by volunteers the group had all the boats launched prior to 6:30 a.m.
Deputies from the Walker County Sheriff’s Office helped streamline the traffic flow at the launch ramp. Assisted by volunteers the group had all the boats launched prior to 6:30 a.m.
Fletcher Shryock brings up the rear as one of the final boats to leave the dock.
Fletcher Shryock brings up the rear as one of the final boats to leave the dock.
Bobby Lane of Florida is an Elite Series pro fishing this week at Smith Lake. His brother, Chris, chose not to fish this week in preparation for next week’s event in South Carolina.
Bobby Lane of Florida is an Elite Series pro fishing this week at Smith Lake. His brother, Chris, chose not to fish this week in preparation for next week’s event in South Carolina.
Electronics will prove handy this week as anglers use GPS and fish finder combos to locate offshore structure favored by spawning spotted bass.
Electronics will prove handy this week as anglers use GPS and fish finder combos to locate offshore structure favored by spawning spotted bass.
Shaw Grigsby says he plans to target spawning largemouth, even though sight fishing is likely out due to turbidity in the shallow water.
Shaw Grigsby says he plans to target spawning largemouth, even though sight fishing is likely out due to turbidity in the shallow water.
Darrell Pons of Florida is ready for a day of fishing on Smith Lake. Whether or not he goes with his comfort zone of fishing for largemouth won’t be decided until he gets out on the lake.
Darrell Pons of Florida is ready for a day of fishing on Smith Lake. Whether or not he goes with his comfort zone of fishing for largemouth won’t be decided until he gets out on the lake.
With the lake on the rise the water is likely too murky for sight fishing. That means many anglers will defer to the spotted bass bite in deeper water.
With the lake on the rise the water is likely too murky for sight fishing. That means many anglers will defer to the spotted bass bite in deeper water.
Clay Dyer is flexible with the choice up to the fish. He’s in a later flight and has more time to determine his game plan.
Clay Dyer is flexible with the choice up to the fish. He’s in a later flight and has more time to determine his game plan.
Jason Williamson is another Elite Series pro with a later check-in time. The water will continue rising as anglers in the later flights encounter the changing conditions.
Jason Williamson is another Elite Series pro with a later check-in time. The water will continue rising as anglers in the later flights encounter the changing conditions.
Gerald Swindle is boat No. 132. That’s not a bad draw when you have so many options for catching spotted bass on this lake.
Gerald Swindle is boat No. 132. That’s not a bad draw when you have so many options for catching spotted bass on this lake.
The anglers are expected to find an abundance of baitfish, namely blueback herring, that are making the spotted bass fat, healthy and aggressive for biting lures.
The anglers are expected to find an abundance of baitfish, namely blueback herring, that are making the spotted bass fat, healthy and aggressive for biting lures.
Dyer idles out past the final safety point for the tournament takeoff.
Dyer idles out past the final safety point for the tournament takeoff.
As the last boats idle past the dock to the lake.
As the last boats idle past the dock to the lake.