Day One on the water

On the water images from Day One of the Diamond Drive.

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<p> Bill Lowen leaves the launch area and speeds alongside the Little Rock skyline. </p>
Bill Lowen leaves the launch area and speeds alongside the Little Rock skyline. 
<p>  </p> <p> Chad Griffin had an early boat number and was one of the first boats to reach Murray Lock and Dam on the Arkansas River. </p>
 

Chad Griffin had an early boat number and was one of the first boats to reach Murray Lock and Dam on the Arkansas River. 

<p>  </p> <p> Travis Manson said he broke off two crankbaits before he entered the lock. </p>
 

Travis Manson said he broke off two crankbaits before he entered the lock. 

<p>  </p> <p> The lock at the Murray Dam begins to open as several boats wait to make their move up river. </p>
 

The lock at the Murray Dam begins to open as several boats wait to make their move up river. 

<p>  </p> <p> Joggers could look down from the Big Dam Bridge and view the Elite Series anglers that chose to lock up into the next pool above Little Rock. </p>
 

Joggers could look down from the Big Dam Bridge and view the Elite Series anglers that chose to lock up into the next pool above Little Rock. 

<p>  </p> <p> The flotilla of boats that had waited in the lock idle from Murray Dam. </p>
 

The flotilla of boats that had waited in the lock idle from Murray Dam. 

<p> After reaching the main river channel, there was a flurry of water and horsepower as anglers took their hole shots. </p>
After reaching the main river channel, there was a flurry of water and horsepower as anglers took their hole shots. 
<p> Jami Fralick started the morning fishing a long stretch of willow weeds along the main river. </p>
Jami Fralick started the morning fishing a long stretch of willow weeds along the main river. 
<p>  </p> <p> Bill Lowen fights a small spotted bass to the boat. </p>
 

Bill Lowen fights a small spotted bass to the boat. 

<p>  </p> <p> Lowen said he had caught several quality spotted bass in practice. </p>
 

Lowen said he had caught several quality spotted bass in practice. 

<p>  </p> <p> This was Lowen’s third keeper of the morning. </p>
 

This was Lowen’s third keeper of the morning. 

<p>  </p> <p> Bobby Lane fishes near a large tree that was deposited on a rock jetty from earlier flooding on the Arkansas River. </p>
 

Bobby Lane fishes near a large tree that was deposited on a rock jetty from earlier flooding on the Arkansas River. 

<p>  </p> <p> Edwin Evers speeds north on the Arkansas River. </p>
 

Edwin Evers speeds north on the Arkansas River. 

<p>  </p> <p> Arkansas native Greg Hackney has extensive experience fishing the Arkansas River. </p>
 

Arkansas native Greg Hackney has extensive experience fishing the Arkansas River. 

<p>  </p> <p> Edwin Evers was fishing just below Murray Lock and Dam early on Day One. </p>
 

Edwin Evers was fishing just below Murray Lock and Dam early on Day One. 

<p>  </p> <p> Evers rod bows from the weight of something heavy on the other end. </p>
 

Evers rod bows from the weight of something heavy on the other end. 

<p> Evers gives a mighty tug and feels the disappointment of a large drum coming to the surface. </p>
Evers gives a mighty tug and feels the disappointment of a large drum coming to the surface. 
<p>  </p> <p> Evers’ crankbait comes flying from the drums mouth. </p>
 

Evers’ crankbait comes flying from the drums mouth. 

<p>  </p> <p> Ott Defoe fishes near the dam before entering the lock. </p>
 

Ott Defoe fishes near the dam before entering the lock. 

<p>  </p> <p> Pete Ponds fishes near Murray Lock and Dam as his Marshal, Chris Mask looks on. </p>
 

Pete Ponds fishes near Murray Lock and Dam as his Marshal, Chris Mask looks on. 

<p>  </p> <p> Ott Defoe was the only angler in the field that chose to fish from an aluminum boat. </p>
 

Ott Defoe was the only angler in the field that chose to fish from an aluminum boat. 

<p>  </p> <p> Anglers begin to file into the lock. </p>
 

Anglers begin to file into the lock. 

<p>  </p> <p> Skeet Reese was one of the last boats in the lock. </p>
 

Skeet Reese was one of the last boats in the lock. 

<p>  </p> <p> Zell Rowland holds a rope as the water level in the lock begins to rise. </p>
 

Zell Rowland holds a rope as the water level in the lock begins to rise. 

<p>  </p> <p> The lockmaster takes a quick survey of the boats in the lock before releasing any water. </p>
 

The lockmaster takes a quick survey of the boats in the lock before releasing any water. 

<p>  </p> <p> Several anglers tied off to one another’s boats in the lock. </p>
 

Several anglers tied off to one another’s boats in the lock. 

<p> Travis Manson ties off his boat as the water begins to rise in the lock. </p>
Travis Manson ties off his boat as the water begins to rise in the lock. 
<p>  </p> <p> With the water level in the lock now matching the upper pool, the gates are swung open. </p>
 

With the water level in the lock now matching the upper pool, the gates are swung open. 

<p>  </p> <p> John Crews stopped just a couple miles from the lock and began his day of fishing. </p>
 

John Crews stopped just a couple miles from the lock and began his day of fishing. 

<p>  </p> <p> A spectator watches Crews fish from the back porch of his home along the Arkansas River. </p>
 

A spectator watches Crews fish from the back porch of his home along the Arkansas River. 

<p>  </p> <p> Jami Fralick fishes in view of an Arkansas landmark, Pinnacle Mountain. </p>
 

Jami Fralick fishes in view of an Arkansas landmark, Pinnacle Mountain. 

<p>  </p> <p> Bill Lowen was fishing rocks and had to stop several times to re-tie. </p>
 

Bill Lowen was fishing rocks and had to stop several times to re-tie. 

<p>  </p> <p> Campers stayed in the shade to watch Bill Lowen fish on a hot Arkansas day. </p>
 

Campers stayed in the shade to watch Bill Lowen fish on a hot Arkansas day. 

<p>  </p> <p> Bobby Lane runs a crankbait along the edge of a rock jetty. </p>
 

Bobby Lane runs a crankbait along the edge of a rock jetty. 

<p>  </p> <p> Dave Smith makes a cast at the mouth of Palarm Creek. </p>
 

Dave Smith makes a cast at the mouth of Palarm Creek. 

<p>  </p> <p> Zell Rowland was running from jetty to jetty on the main river channel. </p>
 

Zell Rowland was running from jetty to jetty on the main river channel. 

<p>  </p> <p> Rowland makes another cast at the end of a jetty. </p>
 

Rowland makes another cast at the end of a jetty. 

<p>  </p> <p> Casey Ashley said he was struggling to get a keeper bite, and only had one small fish. </p>
 

Casey Ashley said he was struggling to get a keeper bite, and only had one small fish.