2009 Elite Series Diamond Drive: Day Four, From the Air

Denny Brauer cuts it close to the marker buoy on his way to his first stop Sunday.

Denny Brauer arrives in the Spadra area where many of the leaders are fishing.

Chris Lane boats up the Arkansas River.

Mark Menendez in his small flatbottom boat leads the take-off procession Sunday.

Alton Jones boats up the Arkansas River to the Piney Creek area.

Despite the cold, Cliff Pace, who is in second place going into the final, is the only angler to not wear a face mask in the 40-degree weather.

Fred Roumbanis fishes in the Spadra area where the water is so shallow the anglers create a mud trail as they work it.

Fred Roumbanis boats up the Arkansas River.

Many of the leaders peel off to the left to a large backwater area near Spadra. The Arkansas River is on the left.

Backlight creates a shimmering reflection to the water as Kevin VanDam begins fishing his first area Sunday.

Kevin VanDam's boat path is evident by the mud trail as he slowly trolls through the shallow water.

Kevin VanDam boats up the Arkansas River.

Mark Menendez makes a big splash in his little flatbottom boat as he fights through waves and boat wakes from the other leaders during the take off on Sunday.

Jim Murray boats up the Arkansas River.

Skeet Reese boats up the Arkansas River.

The area most of the leaders are fishing are outside of Spadra Creek. The chain of islands is extremely shallow, but full of lily pad stems and laydowns where bass are moving to for the spawn.

The Spadra area may look deep from a distance, but the leading anglers agree that the average depth is 2 feet or less.

Greg Vinson boats up the Arkansas River.