Lexington’s David Fritts, who recently joined to the Tums Dual Action fishing team, found relief his own way by winning the FLW Tour’s Chevy Open at Lake Guntersville in mid-February.Fritts’ haul of 38 pounds, one once on the final two days of the tournament wound up being worth $200,000.
Fritts opened the event with a bag of 25-11 that put him in second place, and he qualified for the final two days with a 19-7 limit the second day.
A 14-4 limit the third day dropped him to seventh place, but his big sack of 23-13 the final day blew away the rest of the field.
Four other North Carolina pros scored at Guntersville. Chris Baumgarner of Gastonia was 15th, winning $15,000, for a 2-day total of 39 pounds. Tracy Adams of Wilkesboro was one spot farther back, winning $14,000 for a catch of 37-12. Bryan Thrift of Shelby took 24th with 36,10, worth $13,000. Alvin Shaw of State Road took home $5,000 for finishing 53rd with 30-9.
In the Co-angler division, Terry Chapman of Stanley placed seventh with 6-3 and won $3,000; Sam Mitchner of Garner placed 10th with 2-2 and collected $1,750.
Digh wins at Wylie
Robbie Digh of Denver won the Feb. 14 Bassmaster Weekend Series N.C. Division 5 event at Lake Wylie with a 5-fish catch weighing 16.42 pounds. The victory was worth $5,000.
Other top finishers were: Tony Hatten of Huntersville, second with 15.42 pounds for $1,462; Jason Mulkey of Granite Falls, third with 14.19 for $975; Doug Young of Salisbury, fourth with 13.53 pounds for $682; and Robert Morrison Jr. of Winston-Salem, fifth, with 13.37 for $585.
Klaus Hadschen of Granite Falls took the big-fish award of $345 with a 5.11-pound bass.
Robbie Lane of Granite Falls topped the co-anglers with 9.60 pounds, winning $1,228, plus another $133 for a 4.93-pounder that was the co-angler big fish.
Other co-angler money-winners included: Michael Branch of Polkeville, second with 8.77 for $614; Dwanye Condrey of Denton, third with 8.06 for $409; and Ken Fender of Dallas, fifth with 7.68 pounds for $246.
Freeze wins at Murray
Concord’s Maurice Freeze won the Feb. 14 Walmart BFL South Carolina Division tournament at Lake Murray with a 5-fish catch that weighed 18 pounds, 14 ounces. He collected $4,507.
Brent Long of Cornelius was fifth with 17-13, banking $901.
Among co-anglers, Rufus McDaniel of Mooresboro finished third with 13-0, winning $751; Chuck Poovey of Denver took fourth with 11-5 for $526; and Thomas Miller of Black Mountain took fifth with 10-12 for $451.
Wolak gets BASS check
Dave Wolak of Wake Forest had the best showing among Tarheel State entrants at the Jan. 29-31 BASS Southern Open at Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes
Wolak finished 11th with 39 pounds, three ounces, and won $3,940.
David Cooke of Mooresville finished 36th with 20-05, Wayne Hauser of Mooresville was 38th with 20-0, and Ron Wolfarth of Locust took 48th. with 19-14. All three received checks for $563.
Bryan Hudgins of Orange Park, Fla., won the tournament with 68-6, banking $50,657.
Larry Inman of Greensboro placed fifth in the Co-Angler division with 23-10, winning $2,814, and Scott Kerslake of Henderson was 15th with 15-03 for $788.
Seven from NC to fish Elites
Seven pro fishermen from North Carolina anglers have qualified for the 2009 Bassmaster Elite Series.
They are: Guy Eaker of Cherryville, Pat Golden of High Point, Kevin Langill of Terrell, Britt Myers of Lake Wylie, Wolak, Dustin Wilks of Rocky Mount, and Marty Stone of Fayetteville.
BASS TOURNAMENTS
National Bass Circuit Winter Sport Series
Yadkin Division
Badin Lake, Feb. 1
1. Dwayne Saunders (Star)-Scott Threadgill (Troy), 16.15, $580; 2. Rod Poole-Thomas Ludwick (Salisbury), 15.89, $340; 3. Travis Leonard-Justin Goodyear (Thomasville), 14.54, $200. Big fish: Leonard-Goodyear, 6.07, $160.
Catawba Division
Norman, Feb. 7
1. Cliff Kirby (Catawba)-Chris Marshall (Forest City), 13.20, plus 3.27-pound big fish, $400; 2. Scott Beattie (Lincolnton)-Joe Nunn, 8.03, $160.
Norman Winter Team Trail
Lake Norman, Jan. 24
1. Mark Brown (Charlotte)-Wade Smith (Huntersville), 13.45, $1,140; 2. Alfred Kiesling Sr.-Chris Marshall (Forest City), 12.60, $550; 3. Robbie Digh (Denver)-Brent Long (Cornelius), 12.50, $290; 4. Larry Lehwe-Troy Lehew (Charlotte), 11.55, $225; 5. Darrell Atkins-Bryan Silvers, 10.25, $200; 6. Jeff Hager-Darrell Hager, 9.60, $170; 7. Butch Holder, 9.40, $145; 8.Shane Lineberger-Jerry Lineberger (Hickory), 9.15, $130; 9. Craig Chambers-Keith Ogden, 8.80, $110. Big fish: Bobby Gill-Tim Harris, 4.40, $740.
Lake Norman, Jan. 25
1. Nathan White (Shelby)-Matthew Frazier (Kings Mountain), 10.80, $3,000 includes Skeeter bonus; 2. Chad Midkiff, 10.70, $470; 3. Chris Chimiak (W-S)-Al March, 10.60, $250; 4. Grant McPeters-Donnie Woody (Marion), 9.85, $170; 5. Shane Lineberger (Lincolnton)-Hank Cherry (Maiden), 9.85, $160; 6. Dan Duvall-Dennis Jenkins, 8.90, $130; 7. Ed Furr-David Pettit, 8.55, $95; 8. Chris Marshall (Frest City)-Travis England, 8.40, $85. Big fish: Bill Beaty-Dyron Mullis 3.95, $590.
Lake Norman, Jan. 31
1. Mark Brown (Charlotte)-Wade Smith (Huntersville) 17.45, plus 4.90 big fish, $1,555; 2. Chad Atchley-Bucky Helms, 14.55, $465; 3. Brent Long (Cornelius)-Scott Hamrick, 13.50, $245; 4. Steve Addington-Shane Hawkins (Dallas), 10.65, $165; 5. Scott Beattie-Dwight Beattie (Lincolnton), 10.65, $155; 6. Michael Fox (Statesville)-Tony Shook (Claremont), 9.85, $125; 7. Kevin Toler-Rodney Lambert (Statesville), 9.25, $90.
Lake Norman, Feb. 1
1. Shane Lineberger (Lincolnton)-Hank Cherry (Maiden), 11.95, $810; 2. Robert Stiltner (Mt. Mourne), 11.30, plus 6.75-pound big fish, $895; 3. Willie Nichols-Wes May, 11.10, $225; 4. Shane Lehwe-Troy Lehew (Charlotte), 10.45, $165; 5. Darren Kennedy-Johnny Morgan, 10.05, $135; 6. Dave Stevens-Mark Henderson, 9.85, $100; 7. Chris Curtis (Concord)-Roy Winkler (Charlotte), 9.35, $70.
Lake Norman, Feb. 8
1. Wes Paulin-Sarah Paulin (Mooresville), 12.30, $955, plus $1,000 Skeeter bonus; 2. Nathan White (Shelby)-Matthew Frazier (Kings Mountain), 12.15, $435; 3. Jeff O’ Connor (Charlotte)-Jeff Spencer (Cornelius), 12.05, $235; 4. Shane Lineberger (Lincolnton)-Hank Cherry (Maiden), 10.65, $155; 5. John Weise ( Charlotte)-Brandon Williams (Fort Mill, S.C.) 10.40, $145; 6. Shane Lewis-Troy Lehew (Charlotte), 9.20, $115, plus 5.6-pound big fish, $530; 7. Jeff Johnson- Kelly Johnson (Denver), 8.80, $80.
Norman Winter Team Championship
Lake Norman, Feb. 14-15
1. Matt Haywood (Lincolnton)-Matt Wingate (Catawba), 13.80, plus 4.1-pound co-big fish, $3,600; 2. Grant McPeters-Donnie Woody (Marion), 13.05, $1,555; 3. Wade Smith (Huntersville)-Mark Brown (Charlotte), 12.25, $815; 4. Scott Beattig-Dwight Beattie (Lincolnton), 10.95, $410; 5. Darren Sigmon-Brian Huffman, 10.25, $355; 6. Mike Lovelace-Chad Illing, 9.95, plus 4.1-pound co-big fish, $695; 7. Shannon Matthenson-Thomas Anderson (Hickory), 9.75, $300; 8. Robbie Digh (Denver)-Brent Long (Cornelius), 9.75, $270; 9. Shane Lineberger (Lincolnton)-Hank Cherry (Maiden), 9.50, $235; 10. Daniel Weber (Gastonia)-Monte Hopkins (Rural Hall), 9.40, $210; 11. Steve Addington-Shane Hawkins (Dallas), 9.40, $175; 11. Matthew Frazier (Kings Mountain)-Nathan White (Shelby), 8.95, $150. Saturday Trail points champions: Digh and Long. Sunday Trail points champions: Lineberger and Cherry.
CRAPPIE TOURNAMENTS Southern Crappie Association
Clarks Hill Lake, Ga., Feb.7
1. Wil Hinson (Cassett, S.C.)-Todd Hinson (Camden, S.C.), 16.95 pounds, $692; 2. Stokes McClellan (Huntersville)-Dale Wood (Lexington), 15.95, $386; 3. Marc Danque (Chapin, S.C.), 15.57, $199; 4. Ellis Cannon-Jon Cannon (Chapin, S.C.) 15.22, $148; 5. George Cooper (Prosperity, S.C.)-Gary Phillips (Leesville, S.C.) 14.32, $131; 6. Rod Wall-Braxton Wall, (Ninety Six, S.C.), 14.30, $114. Big fish: Cannon-Cannon, 2.72 pounds, $175.
STRIPED BASS TOURNAMENTS
Tarheel Striper Club
Badin Lake, Jan. 24
1. Terry Delagrange (Greensboro)-Daryl Delagrange (High Point), 6.25 pounds, including big fish, $400; 2. David Lucas- Debbie Lucas (Randleman), 4.30, $153.
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