David Fritts of Lexington, N.C., takes the lead on the first day of the Berkley Bassmaster Elite at Lake Oahe presented by Abu Garcia, bringing 19 pounds, 7 ounces to the scales on Friday.
June 29, 2018
Fritts Solves Lake Oahe Smallmouth Riddle For Day 1 Lead
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Pierre, S.D. — The mystery of South Dakota’s smallmouth was solved by Elite Series pro David Fritts during the first day of the Berkley Bassmaster Elite at Lake Oahe presented by Abu Garcia. The 1993 Bassmaster Classic champion caught a 19-pound, 7-ounce limit of smallmouth to best the 107-angler field on a body of water that he had never seen before, while battling 4-foot waves.
“Man, I should have had 23 pounds today,” the tournament leader lamented. “I had three giants jump off this morning that would have really improved my weight. But I’m really happy with what I caught.”
The North Carolina veteran found his pattern during the waning hours of the final practice day.
“I was pretty frustrated until about the last hour of practice, when I stumbled on this little deal. It involves a pretty specific structure and Berkley bait combo, so I’m pretty confident that I’ll be able to duplicate this tomorrow,” he said. “I didn’t sit there and burn up a bunch of fish.”
Making Fritts’ catch even more impressive was the fact that he fought through massive waves to land his limit, which made not only the fishing tougher, but also negatively affected the school he had found.
“The wind killed me today. Really, it blew out some of my best stuff and made it just so difficult to make precise casts and then to fight fish that are hooked. If it lays down tomorrow, it will probably be better for everyone.”
In addition to leading the tournament, Fritts also weighed in the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the day. The 4-11 smallmouth was the first bass he caught this morning. If that fish holds on as big bass for the next three days, Fritts will earn $1,500.
Mark Daniels Jr. landed 18-12 to take the second place spot after the scales closed on Day 1. “I had a pretty good practice, but didn’t think I had found an 18-pound limit. So, I’m pretty jacked,” Daniels said. “The wind was brutal. There were easy 5-footers out there, and I ran 50 miles north. But, it looks like the effort was worth it.”
His effort included targeting fish that were both shallow and deep, but he declined to offer more details until after the tournament concludes.
“Although there are a ton of fish in this lake, it seems like they are in very specific areas. So, you can’t just run down the bank and catch ’em. I’m thinking my area has the fish to duplicate today’s weight, but I’m not sure how it would hold up to three or four days of pressure.”
Reigning Bassmaster Classic Champion Jordan Lee sits in the third place spot just a few ounces behind Daniels. Lee weighing in 18-9.
“I caught all the fish on a little spot I found in practice, and it wasn’t all that good, but it was the best thing I found. Today, the conditions really changed, and the wind blew and that spot got better. But, conditions will change again tomorrow and I don’t know what those fish might do,” Lee admitted. “I hope they stay there and bite again.”
Rounding out the Top 6 for Day 1 are Josh Bertrand, 18-8; Justin Lucas, 17-5; and Casey Ashley, 17-0.
This marks the first time for B.A.S.S. — the world’s largest fishing organization — to hold a professional bass tournament on the massive, 370,000-acre impoundment of the Missouri River.
Daily takeoffs will occur each competition day at 6 a.m. CT from the Spring Creek Resort & Marina, and weigh-ins will be held at Steamboat Park in Pierre at 3:45 p.m.
The Bassmaster Elite Series Outdoors Expo will be held in conjunction with the tournament. The Expo will take place at Steamboat Park on Saturday and Sunday beginning at noon. The expo will feature boat demo rides, an aquarium, free prizes and the latest fishing products on the market. All activities are free and open to the public. For more information, visit Bassmaster.com.
2018 Berkley Bassmaster Elite at Lake Oahe presented by Abu Garcia 6/29-7/2
Lake Oahe, Pierre SD.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. David Fritts Lexington, NC 5 19-07 110
Day 1: 5 19-07
2. Mark Daniels Jr. Tuskegee, AL 5 18-12 109
Day 1: 5 18-12
3. Jordan Lee Grant, AL 5 18-09 108
Day 1: 5 18-09
4. Josh Bertrand San Tan Valley, AZ 5 18-08 107
Day 1: 5 18-08
5. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 5 17-05 106
Day 1: 5 17-05
6. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 5 17-00 105
Day 1: 5 17-00
7. Jacob Wheeler Harrison, TN 5 16-12 104
Day 1: 5 16-12
8. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 5 16-11 103
Day 1: 5 16-11
8. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 5 16-11 103
Day 1: 5 16-11
10. Boyd Duckett Guntersville, AL 5 16-09 101
Day 1: 5 16-09
11. Adrian Avena Vineland, NJ 5 16-07 100
Day 1: 5 16-07
12. Brandon Card Knoxville, TN 5 16-04 99
Day 1: 5 16-04
13. Brandon Palaniuk Hayden, ID 5 15-12 98
Day 1: 5 15-12
14. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 5 15-11 97
Day 1: 5 15-11
15. Chad Pipkens Lansing, MI 5 15-01 96
Day 1: 5 15-01
16. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 5 15-00 95
Day 1: 5 15-00
17. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 5 14-15 94
Day 1: 5 14-15
18. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, TN 5 14-13 93
Day 1: 5 14-13
19. Brent Ehrler Redlands, CA 5 14-12 92
Day 1: 5 14-12
20. Jesse Wiggins Cullman, AL 5 14-11 91
Day 1: 5 14-11
21. Shin Fukae Palestine TX JAPAN 5 13-14 90
Day 1: 5 13-14
22. Alton Jones Jr. Waco, TX 5 13-09 89
Day 1: 5 13-09
23. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 5 13-08 88
Day 1: 5 13-08
24. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 5 13-04 87
Day 1: 5 13-04
25. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 5 13-00 86
Day 1: 5 13-00
26. Ott DeFoe Blaine, TN 5 12-14 85
Day 1: 5 12-14
27. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 5 12-11 84
Day 1: 5 12-11
28. Fletcher Shryock Dennison, OH 5 12-10 83
Day 1: 5 12-10
29. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 5 12-06 82
Day 1: 5 12-06
30. Randy Sullivan Breckenridge, TX 5 12-00 81
Day 1: 5 12-00
31. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 11-13 80
Day 1: 5 11-13
32. Seth Feider Bloomington, MN 5 11-12 79
Day 1: 5 11-12
33. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 11-09 78
Day 1: 5 11-09
33. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 5 11-09 78
Day 1: 5 11-09
35. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 5 11-08 76
Day 1: 5 11-08
35. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 5 11-08 76
Day 1: 5 11-08
37. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 5 11-08 74
Day 1: 5 11-08
37. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 11-08 74
Day 1: 5 11-08
39. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 5 11-06 72
Day 1: 5 11-06
39. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 5 11-06 72
Day 1: 5 11-06
41. James Elam Tulsa, OK 5 11-05 70
Day 1: 5 11-05
42. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 11-02 69
Day 1: 5 11-02
43. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 5 10-15 68
Day 1: 5 10-15
43. Chris Zaldain Laughlin, NV 5 10-15 68
Day 1: 5 10-15
45. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 5 10-11 66
Day 1: 5 10-11
46. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 10-10 65
Day 1: 5 10-10
46. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 10-10 65
Day 1: 5 10-10
48. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 4 10-07 63
Day 1: 4 10-07
49. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 5 10-04 62
Day 1: 5 10-04
50. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 10-03 61
Day 1: 5 10-03
51. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 10-02 60
Day 1: 5 10-02
52. Morizo Shimizu Suita, Osaka JAPAN 5 10-01 59
Day 1: 5 10-01
53. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 5 09-15 58
Day 1: 5 09-15
54. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 09-13 57
Day 1: 5 09-13
55. Mike McClelland Bentonville, AR 5 09-12 56
Day 1: 5 09-12
56. Gerald Spohrer Gonzales, LA 5 09-11 55
Day 1: 5 09-11
57. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 09-10 54
Day 1: 5 09-10
58. Chris Groh Spring Grove, IL 4 09-09 53
Day 1: 4 09-09
59. Tyler Carriere Youngsville, LA 5 09-07 52
Day 1: 5 09-07
59. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 5 09-07 52
Day 1: 5 09-07
61. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 5 09-06 50
Day 1: 5 09-06
61. Wesley Strader Spring City, TN 5 09-06 50
Day 1: 5 09-06
63. Dustin Connell Clanton, AL 5 09-05 48
Day 1: 5 09-05
64. Dave Lefebre Erie, PA 5 09-03 47
Day 1: 5 09-03
65. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 5 09-00 46
Day 1: 5 09-00
66. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 4 09-00 45
Day 1: 4 09-00
67. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 5 08-14 44
Day 1: 5 08-14
68. Matt Lee Guntersville, AL 5 08-12 43
Day 1: 5 08-12
69. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 5 08-11 42
Day 1: 5 08-11
69. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 08-11 42
Day 1: 5 08-11
71. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 4 08-10 40
Day 1: 4 08-10
72. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 08-07 39
Day 1: 5 08-07
73. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 08-06 38
Day 1: 5 08-06
74. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 5 08-05 37
Day 1: 5 08-05
75. David Walker Sevierville, TN 5 08-05 36
Day 1: 5 08-05
76. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 08-04 35
Day 1: 5 08-04
77. Kelly Jordon Flint, TX 3 08-04 34
Day 1: 3 08-04
78. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 5 08-03 33
Day 1: 5 08-03
79. Fred Roumbanis Russellville, AR 5 08-01 32
Day 1: 5 08-01
79. Jake Whitaker Fairview, NC 5 08-01 32
Day 1: 5 08-01
81. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 5 08-01 30
Day 1: 5 08-01
82. Roy Hawk Lk Havasu Cty, AZ 5 07-14 29
Day 1: 5 07-14
83. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 07-14 28
Day 1: 5 07-14
84. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 5 07-12 27
Day 1: 5 07-12
85. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 07-11 26
Day 1: 5 07-11
86. Hunter Shryock Newcomerstown, OH 5 07-10 25
Day 1: 5 07-10
87. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 07-10 24
Day 1: 5 07-10
88. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 5 07-07 23
Day 1: 5 07-07
88. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 07-07 23
Day 1: 5 07-07
88. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 5 07-07 23
Day 1: 5 07-07
91. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 5 07-05 20
Day 1: 5 07-05
92. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 07-04 19
Day 1: 5 07-04
92. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 07-04 19
Day 1: 5 07-04
94. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 07-01 17
Day 1: 5 07-01
95. Darrell Ocamica New Plymouth, ID 5 07-00 16
Day 1: 5 07-00
96. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 5 06-15 15
Day 1: 5 06-15
97. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 4 06-09 14
Day 1: 4 06-09
97. Bill Weidler Helena, AL 4 06-09 14
Day 1: 4 06-09
99. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 5 06-07 12
Day 1: 5 06-07
100. John Murray Spring City, TN 3 06-03 11
Day 1: 3 06-03
101. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 5 06-00 10
Day 1: 5 06-00
102. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 4 05-13 9
Day 1: 4 05-13
103. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 3 05-12 8
Day 1: 3 05-12
104. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 4 04-06 7
Day 1: 4 04-06
105. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 3 03-12 6
Day 1: 3 03-12
106. Jonathon VanDam Gobles, MI 3 03-08 5
Day 1: 3 03-08
107. Gary Klein Mingus, TX 3 03-07 4
Day 1: 3 03-07
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 515 1130-08
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93 515 1130-08