![Always a popular venue, more than 175 boats wait to begin fishing this year's Open at Santee Cooper.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/3387648.jpg)
![An angler makes last minute tackle adjustments prior to the start of competition.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/3387651.jpg)
![Charlie Hartley is another Elite angler fishing Santee Cooper before going to nearby Lake Murray for next week's Elite event.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/3387652.jpg)
![Peter Thliveros scrapped everything he learned in practice and boated 20 pounds Thursday to hold third place. Thliveros won the season-opening Southern Open on the St. Johns River.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/3387653.jpg)
![Elite pro Terry Scroggins also fishes the Southern Opens; in 2007 he won two events.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/3387654.jpg)
![Florida angler Raymond Derrick is using his saltwater boat to fish the Open.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/3387655.jpg)
![John Gray holds second place, just 18 ounces behind leader Matt Herren.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/3387656.jpg)
![Officials check boats prior to releasing them for the day of fishing.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/3387657.jpg)
![Randy Alexander's 7-pound, 11-ounce bass took Purolator Big Bass of the day honors.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/3387658.jpg)
![Spectators watch as anglers bring their fish across the stage for weighing.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/3387659.jpg)
![Tournament director Chris Bowes talks to Virginia angler Jelani Hennessee, 17, who is the youngest angler in the tournament.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/3387660.jpg)
![Tournament director Chris Bowes calls contestants to the check-out line as the tournament begins.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/3387661.jpg)
![Troy Gibson holds a 6-pound, 3-ounce bass that hit early in the morning. He only caught one other fish the entire day after the wind began blowing hard.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/3387662.jpg)
![WBT angler Lisa Johnson gets her fish checked and bagged en route to the scales on Thursday. She is one of several women fishing the tournament.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/3387663.jpg)
![WBT contestant Pam Martin-Wells is one of several lady anglers entered in the Open at Santee-Cooper.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/3387664.jpg)
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In this photo gallery you will see images of the 2008 Southern Open #2 on the Santee Cooper in South Carolina.