RICHMOND, Va. — After winning two weeks ago on Cherokee Lake with deep-water smallmouth bass, Cooper Gallant has had to retool and refocus this week for the first St. Croix Bassmaster Northern Open at James River presented by Mossy Oak Fishing.
“It couldn’t be any more opposite. We are fishing largemouth here, and we are fishing shallower. The water is getting warmer and there will be big ones pull up and there will be some big bags. You are going to see a lot of 10- to 13-pound bags. In this tournaments it will come down to one or two big bites to cash a check or have a good tournament.”
With two Southern Opens complete, Gallant entered this week’s event in seventh place in the overall Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year race.
But with several of the anglers ahead of him not competing this week on the James River, including Brandon Lester, Joey Cifuentes III and Bryan New who were top three in points, the standings will undergo a major shakeup. The Canadian native has a chance to make a jump that could set him up for an Elite Series bid.
“Getting a limit will be huge,” Gallant said. “One thing that has been on my mind this week is getting a decent limit for good points. In a derby like this, the weights will be so tight, and one big bite at the end of this tournament can jump you up 30 or 40 spots. This is a tournament where I’m hoping to get a top 50, survive it and move on to the next one. I’m going to go fishing and not be afraid to fish new water.”
While practice was tough on the 24-year-old, things are changing rapidly, and he knows finding quality bites will be the real challenge.
“Big bites are super random, and when you do find some grouped up, they seem to be smaller,” Gallant said. “The bucks are moving like crazy. They are here one day and gone the next.”
Gallant noted that a lot of the lily pads in the Chickahominy River have started to grow up.
“Earlier In practice they were hanging around certain areas where there was a little bit of weed growth. Now it seems everywhere you go has pads. They are moving constantly, and I think the biggest thing is to catch a limit and then go fishing and hope for one or two big bites.”
Alabama pro Joey Nania is also fishing all nine Opens this season and entered the tournament sitting in 48th-place in the overall standings. The 2022 Classic qualifier said he is trying not to think about how the points may shake out during this tournament.
“You can make the wrong decision here and be in big trouble. In a nine-tournament Open series, you really can’t afford to have one of those bad days,” he said. “It has been in my head a little bit as I’ve practiced. I feel like I have a consistent pattern, and then I have a swing for the fences pattern. If it is meant to happen I’ll catch them. If not, I’m not going to catch them. If I’m meant to be on the Elite Series I’m going to be consistent all year, and if not, that’s alright. I love fishing the Opens, and it is a great platform for any angler trying to make it.”
With little experience on tidal fisheries entering this tournament, Nania said he has already learned a lot during his practice period.
“I have tried to be versatile this week and have seen a lot of this body of water. It seems like you can catch fish just about anywhere, but figuring out how to catch the bigger ones will be key. And you are going to have to burn some gas.”
Nania said the weather will also be a factor as the tournament progresses. Although the daytime high on Day 1 is expected to be in the mid-80s, windy conditions will prevail most of the day. A cold front will bring thunderstorms to the area late in the afternoon followed by cooler temperatures on Friday and Saturday.
“You just have to go out, be calm and go fishing,” Nania said. “I have options. I really don’t know how it will turn out, but if you can catch somewhere in the 13- to 14-pound a day range you are going to get paid. If you can get 16 a day, you’ll have a shot at making the cut.”
