![<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>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/10001.jpg)
![<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>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/50005.jpg)
![<p>Drying out after tropical storm Andrea dumped 9 inches of water in a 24-hour period.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/10006.jpg)
![<p>Maryland angler Matt Elliott introduced himself to me. Heâs camping near me and is fishing the James Open. He knew me from my writings. Nice guy. We have a lot in common.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/10007.jpg)
![<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. Heâs easy going and fun to be around.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/10008.jpg)
![<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>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/10009.jpg)
![<p>This is the same tree at high tide.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/10010.jpg)
![<p>Boat docks also hold bass here.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/10011.jpg)
![<p>Duck blinds are good bass cover at the James. Note the ramp for the retriever.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/10012.jpg)
![<p>Cypress trees yield bass consistently on the James. This one could hold a bass, but it is not enhanced by knees.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/10013.jpg)
![<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>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/10014.jpg)
![<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>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/10015.jpg)
![<p>The Chickahominy has miles and miles of pad fields to fish.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/10016.jpg)
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Opens angler Mark Hicks arrived early to the Northern Open #1. Here's what he saw.