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Bill Lowen leaves the launch area and speeds alongside the Little Rock skyline. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/4M2Z0242.jpg)
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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>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/4M2Z0244.jpg)
Chad Griffin had an early boat number and was one of the first boats to reach Murray Lock and Dam on the Arkansas River.
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Travis Manson said he broke off two crankbaits before he entered the lock. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/4M2Z0256.jpg)
Travis Manson said he broke off two crankbaits before he entered the lock.
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The lock at the Murray Dam begins to open as several boats wait to make their move up river. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/4M2Z0260.jpg)
The lock at the Murray Dam begins to open as several boats wait to make their move up river.
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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>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/4M2Z0263.jpg)
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.
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The flotilla of boats that had waited in the lock idle from Murray Dam. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/4M2Z0270.jpg)
The flotilla of boats that had waited in the lock idle from Murray Dam.
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After reaching the main river channel, there was a flurry of water and horsepower as anglers took their hole shots. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/4M2Z0279.jpg)
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Jami Fralick started the morning fishing a long stretch of willow weeds along the main river. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/4M2Z0286.jpg)
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Bill Lowen fights a small spotted bass to the boat. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/4M2Z0305.jpg)
Bill Lowen fights a small spotted bass to the boat.
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Lowen said he had caught several quality spotted bass in practice. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/4M2Z0311.jpg)
Lowen said he had caught several quality spotted bass in practice.
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This was Lowenâs third keeper of the morning. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/4M2Z0321.jpg)
This was Lowenâs third keeper of the morning.
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Bobby Lane fishes near a large tree that was deposited on a rock jetty from earlier flooding on the Arkansas River. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/4M2Z0333.jpg)
Bobby Lane fishes near a large tree that was deposited on a rock jetty from earlier flooding on the Arkansas River.
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Edwin Evers speeds north on the Arkansas River. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0080.jpg)
Edwin Evers speeds north on the Arkansas River.
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Arkansas native Greg Hackney has extensive experience fishing the Arkansas River. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0086.jpg)
Arkansas native Greg Hackney has extensive experience fishing the Arkansas River.
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Edwin Evers was fishing just below Murray Lock and Dam early on Day One. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0091.jpg)
Edwin Evers was fishing just below Murray Lock and Dam early on Day One.
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Evers rod bows from the weight of something heavy on the other end. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0105.jpg)
Evers rod bows from the weight of something heavy on the other end.
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Evers gives a mighty tug and feels the disappointment of a large drum coming to the surface. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0114.jpg)
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Eversâ crankbait comes flying from the drums mouth. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0121.jpg)
Eversâ crankbait comes flying from the drums mouth.
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Ott Defoe fishes near the dam before entering the lock. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0123.jpg)
Ott Defoe fishes near the dam before entering the lock.
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Pete Ponds fishes near Murray Lock and Dam as his Marshal, Chris Mask looks on. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0140.jpg)
Pete Ponds fishes near Murray Lock and Dam as his Marshal, Chris Mask looks on.
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Ott Defoe was the only angler in the field that chose to fish from an aluminum boat. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0141.jpg)
Ott Defoe was the only angler in the field that chose to fish from an aluminum boat.
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Anglers begin to file into the lock. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0159.jpg)
Anglers begin to file into the lock.
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Skeet Reese was one of the last boats in the lock. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0163.jpg)
Skeet Reese was one of the last boats in the lock.
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Zell Rowland holds a rope as the water level in the lock begins to rise. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0164.jpg)
Zell Rowland holds a rope as the water level in the lock begins to rise.
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The lockmaster takes a quick survey of the boats in the lock before releasing any water. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0170.jpg)
The lockmaster takes a quick survey of the boats in the lock before releasing any water.
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Several anglers tied off to one anotherâs boats in the lock. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0172.jpg)
Several anglers tied off to one anotherâs boats in the lock.
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Travis Manson ties off his boat as the water begins to rise in the lock. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0180.jpg)
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With the water level in the lock now matching the upper pool, the gates are swung open. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0184.jpg)
With the water level in the lock now matching the upper pool, the gates are swung open.
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John Crews stopped just a couple miles from the lock and began his day of fishing. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0188.jpg)
John Crews stopped just a couple miles from the lock and began his day of fishing.
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A spectator watches Crews fish from the back porch of his home along the Arkansas River. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0192.jpg)
A spectator watches Crews fish from the back porch of his home along the Arkansas River.
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Jami Fralick fishes in view of an Arkansas landmark, Pinnacle Mountain. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0196.jpg)
Jami Fralick fishes in view of an Arkansas landmark, Pinnacle Mountain.
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Bill Lowen was fishing rocks and had to stop several times to re-tie. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0202.jpg)
Bill Lowen was fishing rocks and had to stop several times to re-tie.
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Campers stayed in the shade to watch Bill Lowen fish on a hot Arkansas day. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0204.jpg)
Campers stayed in the shade to watch Bill Lowen fish on a hot Arkansas day.
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Bobby Lane runs a crankbait along the edge of a rock jetty. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0225.jpg)
Bobby Lane runs a crankbait along the edge of a rock jetty.
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<p>
Dave Smith makes a cast at the mouth of Palarm Creek. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0230.jpg)
Dave Smith makes a cast at the mouth of Palarm Creek.
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Zell Rowland was running from jetty to jetty on the main river channel. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0233.jpg)
Zell Rowland was running from jetty to jetty on the main river channel.
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Rowland makes another cast at the end of a jetty. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0241.jpg)
Rowland makes another cast at the end of a jetty.
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<p>
Casey Ashley said he was struggling to get a keeper bite, and only had one small fish. </p>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_0252.jpg)
Casey Ashley said he was struggling to get a keeper bite, and only had one small fish.