Alton Jones isn't going to be burning any gas today. He's in a narrow cut across from the Red River South Marina – a shallow, narrow cut.
Here's just how shallow it is. Shane Williams, who brought photographer Doug Cox and I to a flatbottom boat to observe Jones, had to strip down and push his fiberglass bass boat out of here.
Jones is in his big boat, but he came in here on plane. This is a spawning spot that opens into a T-shape once you get through the cut.
Jones plans to work back and forth across the T all day long. And as the day warms, he should have fish coming to him. He had one strike about 7:40, but it's early, and he will have more fishing time than anyone else in today's final.