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Day one leader Justin Hamner
Alabama's Justin Hamner has taken the lead on Day 1 of the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors at Grand Lake O' the Cherokees with a total of 22 pounds, 6 ounces. Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S
TULSA, Okla. — “I’m leading the Bassmaster Classic,” said Justin Hamner, sounding as much like he was asking a question as making a statement.
But it was 100% true.
The young pro from Northport, Ala., weighed in 22 pounds, 6 ounces Friday to take the Day 1 lead at the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors. The fourth-year member of the Bassmaster Elite Series found a pattern on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees that placed him just over a pound ahead of Missouri pro Cody Huff and continued the flow of what has been a dream 2024 season.
“This whole year has just been so much fun,” said Hamner, who opened his Elite Series season with a 14th-place finish at Toledo Bend and a third-place showing at Lake Fork last month. “I’ve just been fishing free and doing what I want to do with no stress. I’m just going back to my roots and bass fishing knowing it’s my only job for the first time ever.
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Do you think you have what it takes to compete in a bass tournament on Lake Michigan?
Here’s your chance to win big bucks.
Dennis Banik announces the South Shore Bass Open set for August 3-4 with a launch at the Hammond, Ind. Marina.
Banik said the payout is based upon number of entries and sponsorships, but it has the potential for a $30,000 first-place prize with 150 two-man teams entered. In addition, several charity organizations will benefit from the event.
Entry fee before May 1 is $450 and $500 thereafter.
If you have any questions, contact Banik at 219-512-2924 or email southshorebassopen@gmail.com.
You can find an entry form and tournament rules at www.southshorecva.com/ssbassopen.
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Polar Bear Report
The Polar Bear Open ended its season appropriately with the Bob Evans Classic under cold, snowy conditions and the tournament’s namesake winning two of the prizes on the St. Joseph River at 6 Span Bridge.
Wesson Vint and Chris Brunt - 1st Place
The biggest prize – first place – went to Wesson Vint and Chris Brunt with11.60 pounds that included the biggest bass, a 3.66 pounder. They fished Ned rigs and blade baits around shallower structure to win $340 and the $ 90 big bass pot.
Bob Evans and John Grimm - 2nd Place
Bob Evans and John Grimm - Critter Prize
Bob Evans and John Grimm not only finished second ($200) with 10.5 pounds, but they hauled in the biggest critter fish, a 17.17-pound carp, for a bonus $90. They fished blades and Ned rigs near the dam area. Evans started the annual Thanksgiving Weekend tournament years ago and the Polar Bear Open crew adopted it as the circuit’s season finale.
The nine competing teams said the bite was great early but died off as the day wore on. The water was 38 degrees and most teams reported having a great time in the snowy conditions.
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Polar Bear Report
Steve Martin and John Dixon - 1st Place
Steve Martin and John Dixon teamed up to win the Polar Bear Open last weekend on the Waldron Chain at Duke’s Bridge.
Martin and Dixon made a late day change that got them the big bass ($160) of the tournament, a 5.21-pound largemouth, and boosted their weight to 14.59 pounds to garner the win ($450).
The winners fished jigs and bladed jigs while other top patterns in the tournament were Ned rigs, blades (i.e. silver buddies) and lipless crankbaits. There were 17 boats in the event and the water temperature was 48 degrees.
Steve Kline and Kenny Watson - 2nd Place
Steve Kline and Kenny Watson were second ($270) with 14.57 pounds.
Jourdan Morris and Lee Duracz - 3rd Place
Jourdan Morris and Lee Duracz finished third ($180) with 13.18 pounds.
Devon Fry and Sam Kavanaugh - 4th Place
Devon Fry and Sam Kavanaugh took home $100 for fourth with 12.08 pounds.
Jim Young and Bryan Healey won the critter pot with a 9.53-pound carp.
The next Polar Bear Open is the Bob Evans Classic Sunday on the St. Joseph River at 6 Span. Tournament hours are 8 to 3.
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Professional Angler David Fritts
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After a career that spanned parts of five decades, decorated professional angler David Fritts of Lexington, N.C., has announced his retirement from B.A.S.S. The 1993 Bassmaster Classic champion and 1994 Bassmaster Angler of the Year said his declining health and the rigors of the various B.A.S.S. schedules were the major factors in his decision.
“I had COVID-19 in 2021, and I still have what they call ‘long COVID,’” Fritts said. “I still can’t smell anything. I never got all of my energy back, and it sort of messed my heart up a little bit. My bones and my joints still work pretty well, but I just don’t quite have the stamina or energy I used to have.”
Though Fritts said he may still explore a less rigorous schedule, he doesn’t think he has it left in him to pursue the Bassmaster Elite Series or the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens.
That puts a cap on a star-studded career that began with the 1986 Georgia Invitational on West Point Lake and ended with the 2023 Elite Series event on the St. Lawrence River. Between those dates, he became one of the few anglers to win a Classic, an AOY title and the FLW Tour’s Forrest Wood Cup.