SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Three anglers with stellar careers in B.A.S.S. were inducted into the National Bass Fishing Hall of Fame (BFHOF) on Thursday.
Davy Hite, David Fritts and Mark Davis, who are among the 12 anglers who have won a Bassmaster Classic and Angler of the Year titles in B.A.S.S., went into the BFHOF at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium.
“One thing that applies to all three,” said Bassmaster TV host Tommy Sanders, who was inducted last year. “Whenever you tell anybody, or hear for the first time, they’re going into the hall of fame, you think, ‘Wait a minute, aren’t they already in there?’”
The three headlined a night that included two posthumous honors. Ed Chambers, founder of Zoom Bait Company, and illustrator Chris Armstrong filled out the 2019 induction class of five.
Fritts, 62, of Lexington, N.C., won the 1993 Bassmaster Classic on Logan Martin Lake out of Birmingham, Ala. He followed it up the next season with his AOY. Fritts also won the FLW Championship and has six victories and an AOY on that circuit. He has fished 192 Bassmaster events, recording five wins and six Classic berths while earning almost $1 million.
“I’m floored. That’s probably the biggest thing in my life,” Fritts said. “We’re all obviously getting older, and I’m thinking, ‘Boy I sure would like to get in that before I die.’ I’m shocked. I don’t believe it.”
Fritts, who fished B.A.S.S. for 20 years before moving to FLW in 2006 and returning to the Elites in 2017, is probably best known as the sport’s top deep crankbait angler. He was the dominant offshore angler before the advancement in electronics, and he also helped develop an array of products and continues in those endeavors.
“He has a list of accomplishments as big as your leg, as David Fritts would say about so many of those bass he cranked up over the years,” Sanders said.
“He educated the world about cranking,” Hite noted.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to do what I like to do for a living … and be blessed,” Fritts said. “And I’ve been fortunate to have a good family.”
In 1995, Davis became the first angler to win the AOY and Bassmaster Classic in the same year, the feat earning an invitation to the White House. Adding titles in 1998 and 2001, Davis stands as one of only five anglers with three or more AOYs in B.A.S.S.
“My career has really been based on just a real simple love of fishing,” he said, adding he was 10 when he informed his father he wanted to make his living with a rod and reel. “He told me I might as well try to grow corn on the moon.”
Bobby Murray’s 1971 Classic win and $10,000 payday gave Davis hope that his dream could be realized. In his 285 Bassmaster tournaments, Davis, 55, of Mt. Ida, Ark., recorded five victories, 20 Classic appearances and $1.9 million in earnings.
Davis guided in Arkansas for about a decade before fishing his first Bassmaster event at 23 years old. He went on to compete for more than three decades with wins on multiple circuits, but sadly, he said his father never got to see his success. Davis has designed a number of lures, and he helped popularize products, including the Bomber Fat Free Shad. Davis is involved in youth activities, helping grow high school fishing in Arkansas as he led the Mt. Ida Fishing Club to several titles.
Hite, 54, of Ninety-Six, S.C., left a career in the National Guard to pursue the dream of competitive fishing. Despite starting in his late 20s, Hite excelled, winning Bassmaster AOY titles in 1997 and 2002. He added his Classic title in 2002 on the Louisiana Delta, and he also won the 1998 FLW Forrest Wood Cup.
In 253 Bassmaster events, Hite won eight times to stand tied for ninth all-time, qualified to 14 Classics and earned $1.9 million. While still competing, Hite worked interviewing anglers in a popular “First Look,” segment, and retired when he was offered the opportunity to become analyst alongside Sanders on Bassmaster LIVE and The Bassmasters TV show.
“I wasn’t quite ready to stop tournament fishing,” he said of his move from competition after the 2016 Elite season.
He added it was quite the honor to be inducted alongside Fritts and Davis.
“It’s so special. It’s so special,” he said. “These guys were my heroes.”
Like the other inductees, Hite spoke of how he couldn’t have been as successful without the support of his wife, Natalie, and said he was so proud of their two sons. Family is huge for Hite, who serves on the Board of Trustees for the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, a charitable organization that helps fathers work to be great dads.
Chambers is among those in the fishing industry who turned their hobby into a career. Chambers, who died in 2018 at the age of 78, was selling and fixing jukeboxes and pinball machines when he discovered a need. As a hobby, he poured his own plastic worms before realizing he could fill a much-needed niche, which started Zoom Bait Company.
“He was a tinkerer,” son Eddie told the banquet crowd.
With wife, Faye, and other family and friends, Zoom plastics became one of the most popular in the sport. Chambers developed various colors as well as lure styles like the Brush Hog and Super Fluke. Eddie divulged that the now prevalent pumpkinseed color was actually a mistake due to a supply error, but tackle stores clamored for it in the various styles.
“We had all eight machines running pumpkinseed,” he said.
Chambers’ products have led to millions in tournament earnings for untold number of anglers. Chambers expanded Zoom with another of his hobbies, carving hand-made crankbaits. His WEC (William Edward Chambers Sr.) line of lures are among the most desired custom crankbaits.
“The crankbaits were a passion of his. He did all the airbrushing,” his son said.
Armstrong, a prolific artist who died in 2014, was a stalwart in B.A.S.S. publications for more than three decades. Raised in Florida, Armstrong took his degree from the Ringling School of Art to work at the Jacksonville Times-Union before beginning his lengthy freelance career for numerous outdoor publications.
He made bass fishing come to life, illustrating techniques, lures and the lifestyle of bass fishing for more than 30 years since he began work at Bassmaster Magazine, which featured him in almost every edition. His art also graced the pages of B.A.S.S. Times, In-Fisherman, Outdoor Life, Field & Stream, North American Fisherman, Western Outdoors and many others. He also illustrated numerous books on bass fishing and produced educational materials for both tackle retailers and manufacturers.
“I’m sure he impacted your life,” acceptor Gary Guidice said of the self-described hippie from Florida who worked out of his Backwater Studio.
Guidice told how Armstrong showed off a Rembrandt and Picasso in his studio. Often asked if they were real, Armstrong would reply, “Hell yes. I drew them myself.”
The night was also a boon for the Hall as the silent auction drew big money for several items. Hall of Famer Stacy King brought a special Rebel Pop-R he had in his shop for the past 27 years. It was tweaked by Kevin VanDam from modification specs taught to him by Zell Rowland. Phoenix Boats founder Gary Clouse purchased the single lure for $1,000.
The biggest ticket item ended up being fishing trips with VanDam that was promised to include cookies from his wife, Sherry, big smallmouth and a walk on the beach holding hands with KVD. Each went for $10,000, which will help fund the nonprofit BFHOF.