On the water with John Murray

John Murray works down a row of docks early on Day Four of the Diamond Drive.

An ESPN cameraman films John Murray as he fishes on the Arkansas River.

Wildlife had their eye on Murray, maybe looking for a handout.

John Murray pulls another rod out from his rod locker.

A recreational boat works down the same stretch of docks that Murray does.

John Murray’s favorite dock was “Bill’s Cave,” near the back of Pine Bluff Harbor.

Murray was fishing a series of brushpiles off the ends of the docks.

The brushpiles were gnarly and Murray frequently got hung up.

After breaking off, John Murray takes a moment to retie his drop shot rig.

Murray shows off the two different types of drop shot weights he uses depending on the cover.

Murray sets the hook on a fish late on Day Four of the Diamond Drive.

John Murray swings a bass into the boat on the Arkansas River.

Murray unhooks the smallish bass that he caught on Sunday.

A fish goes vertical as Murray tosses it back into the water.

Murray gives his worm a good spraying with scent before his next cast.

John Murray works this stretch of docks that yielded most of his fish all week, but didn’t produce well Sunday.

An ESPN camera films John Murray after he entered the day in second place.

Murray reaches down for another rod and has to undo a tangle first.

John Murray fishes as a photographer and his camera boat drive look on.

That pontoon boat looks a lot cooler than Murray’s boat as the hot Arkansas sun shines down on Sunday.