Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
- Details
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.
- Details
BASS Report
Former back-to-back Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic champion Jordan Lee
Former back-to-back Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic champion Jordan Lee is headed back to the Bassmaster Elite Series in 2024. Lee will return to the Elites via a Legend’s spot in the field, which opened when Larry Nixon announced his retirement.
In just five seasons competing in major B.A.S.S. events, Lee, of Grant, Ala., amassed more than $1.1 million in earnings through wins in the 2017 and 2018 Bassmaster Classic and dominant performances in both the Elites and the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens, notching 21 Top 10s and 36 Top 30 finishes.
“It is great to welcome Jordan back home to the Bassmaster stage, where he built such a fantastic career spanning from college to the historic back-to-back Classic victories,” said Lisa Talmadge, tournament director for the Elite Series.
Lee won two Classics and then left B.A.S.S. to compete on the Major League Fishing (MLF) circuit. When Nixon retired last week, Lee took advantage of his Legend status and returned to B.A.S.S.
The former Auburn University angler, who was an early star in the Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, is ready to get back to the biggest stage in fishing.
“This is really exciting,” Lee said. “I’m really looking forward to the challenge of being back on the Elites. I know, from a competition standpoint, there are a lot of young guys on the Elite Series that are young, hungry and eat, sleep and breathe this sport.
- Details
BASS Report
Bassmaster’s first “Million Dollar Man,” Larry Nixon of Bee Branch, Ark.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Bassmaster’s first “Million Dollar Man,” Larry Nixon of Bee Branch, Ark., is stepping away from the Bassmaster Elite Series in 2024. Nixon decided at the end of the 2023 season that his health would not allow him to compete at his usual high standard.
“The Elite Series grind is more than most people could ever imagine,” said Nixon. “The elements of professional bass fishing are some of the toughest things in all of sports. Over the course of my career I’ve worn out two thumbs, a shoulder, a heart, a knee and an elbow due to competitive repetition.
“My health is OK, but, believe me, everything is just worn out. It’s become really difficult to just do normal things like tie knots and other little things.”
- Details
Polar Bear Report
Chip Harrison and Dave Eggers - 1st Place
Chip Harrison and Dave Eggers teamed up to win the Polar Bear Open on Lake Maxinkuckee last weekend.
Harrison and Eggers beat out 20 other teams with 14.08 pounds. They had mostly largemouth caught on tubes in 8 to 12 feet of water and around sand patches. They won $600.
John Hampel - 2nd Place
John Hampel was second ($300) with 13.01 pounds that included a 5.61-pound largemouth to win the big bass pot ($200).
- Details
Polar Bear Report
Dylan Levin and Dalton Defelice won the Polar Bear Open on the St. Joseph River at 6 Span Bridge Saturday. The winners had 10.25 in bass and won the critter pot with a 3.17-pound pike. They took home a total $440. They fished a run-and-gun pattern, hitting several spots with jerkbaits, blades and A-rigs. Jeremy Bunnell and Eben Lambert were second ($220) with 10.06 pounds. Jourdan Morris and Lee Duracz finished third ($110) with 9.93 pounds and Clay and Brad Sterling were the first team out of the money with 9.92 pounds. Rebecca Hubbard and Jami Young won the big bass pot ($110) with 3.04-pound smallmouth caught on a lipless crankbait. There were 11 teams in the event. The next one is Sunday at Lake Maxinkuckee from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 
Dylan Levin and Dalton Defelice - 1st Place
Jeremy Bunnell and Eben Lambert - 2nd Place
Jourdan Morris and Lee Duracz - 3rd Place
Clay and Brad Sterling - First out of money
Rebecca Hubbard and Jami Young - Big Bass