Most anglers seemed to have been struggling for most of the morning on the James River in round two of the Rayovac FLW Series Northern Division opener, including day-one leader Michael Crocker. The Maryland pro started his day by running up to the Chickahominy River where he fished a variety of habitat ranging from pads and cypress trees to stumps and docks.

Crocker mixed up his presentations by pitching to hard targets and throwing reaction baits. His first keeper came on a Texas-rigged plastic pitched into the pads.

As expected, the Chick was loaded with boats, often in close proximity. The water is a bit clearer in this major James River tributary and the expansive array of habitat provides many opportunities.

Several anglers were poking around in the feeder creeks and small pockets. Virginian pro Otis Darnell caught a 5-pounder around 10 a.m. on a reaction bait.

The rain that soaked anglers on day one was absent Friday morning, but day two brought dense fog to the James River. Skies remain mostly cloudy, although the clouds have thinned and sunlight managed to break through a few times in the late morning.