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Alton Jones flew with a friend from Waco, Texas, to Little Rock to scout for the Elite Series Diamond Drive in June.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_0904.jpg)
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Jones enters Central Flying Service as he booked a plane to fly over the Arkansas River.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_0906.jpg)
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With a shot at the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year, Jones wants to make every effort he can to win it.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_0908.jpg)
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A day trader, Jones is pleased as a check on his Apple stock shows it was up on the day.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_0912.jpg)
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Jones and pilot Dan Gallo make their way onto the tarmac.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_0920.jpg)
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Light cloud cover made conditions ideal.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_0922.jpg)
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Jones said he felt comfortable flying in the four-seat Cessna 172.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_0926.jpg)
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Jones buckles up.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_0928.jpg)
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Gallo breaks out headsets so the two can communicate more easily.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_0930.jpg)
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Jonesâ Skeeter hat forgot the âfly.â</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_0932.jpg)
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Jones was armed with a GPS unit, still and video cameras, a notebook and his eyes.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_0933.jpg)
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Less than 10 minutes after sitting down in the plane, Jones was up over the Arkansas River.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_0938.jpg)
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Jones gives Gallo a few more details of what he wants to accomplish.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_0939.jpg)
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The river was starting to recede after significant floods, and Jones wanted to get a better feel what is occurring on the water.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_0965.jpg)
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A large covered dock (bottom left) was knocked free from its moorings by floodwaters.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_0974.jpg)
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Two more segments of the dock lie dead in the water..</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_0979.jpg)
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Jones said one part of his mission was to see water color in backwater areas and determine if he could navigate into promising locations.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_0999.jpg)
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A boat moves from the shore on the main river channel..</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_1005.jpg)
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In backwater areas, Jones checked for vegetation and the presence of baitfish.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_1013.jpg)
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Jones looked at some areas that had Cypress trees.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_1026.jpg)
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He also looked to see if there were cuts in dykes.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_1029.jpg)
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Cuts with water flowing could stack up fish waiting for a meal.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_1037.jpg)
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Just seeing how the river was flowing since the floods was helpful, Jones said.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_1040.jpg)
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Water was still flowing strongly out of the locks and dams.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_1056.jpg)
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Wing dams were visually inspected.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_1061.jpg)
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Jones points out a potential area he wanted to check out.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_1072_0.jpg)
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Jones tells Gallo which way he wants to go.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_09201.jpg)
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Gallo makes a hard left to go back over it.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_1091.jpg)
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If he saw an area he wanted to try in practice, Jones would punch the waypoint into his GPS.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_1077_0.jpg)
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Videotaping would help Jones remember how to access particular backwater areas.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_1094.jpg)
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During the flight, Jones turned to say he was seeing some promising areas that would have taken him days to find in a boat.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_1084.jpg)
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Water flows from the Murray Lock and Dam.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_1125.jpg)
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Anglers in the Diamond Drive could fish in the shadow of Little Rock.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_1130.jpg)
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The tournament weigh-ins will be held under the blue tent of the Little Rock Ampitheater.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_1135.jpg)
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The launch ramp is across the river in North Little Rock.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_1142.jpg)
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Gallo and Jones head back to the terminal after 1.4 hours in the air that Jones said was like '1.4 months in a boat.'</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_1147.jpg)
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With his tools on the counter, Jones pays the pittance of an investment toward the AOY.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_1152.jpg)
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Jones snatches up his notepad, saying he didnât want any other Elites to be able to see his notes.</p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_1153.jpg)
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Alton Jones hires a plane to scout the Arkansas River for the Diamond Drive.