Story and photos by Dan O'Sullivan - Alton Jones is a veteran of 186 Bassmaster tournament entries and 14 Bassmaster Classics. His 2008 Bassmaster Classic Championship at Lake Hartwell in South Carolina cemented him as one of the best anglers in the business. When you add a Classic victory to his 40 top 10 finishes, five Bassmaster wins and more than $2 million in career earnings; Jones is a living hall of famer. That's not to say that he wouldn't enjoy adding a second Classic title to that résumé.

Practice
With the experience of a veteran, Jones spent two days at the Red River before the waterway went off limits in December. But, rather than simply drive through the river hoping to see areas that he might fish; Jones went the extra mile.

"I actually only went on the water one of the days in pre-practice," said the Woodway, Tex. pro "I flew over the Red River in a helicopter on the other day because I can observe areas much more efficiently from the air than from just reading a map, or driving it in my Skeeter." Read More