(Editors Note: During Day 1 of the 2019 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite Series Tournament at Lake Guntersville, we caught up with David Fritts and climbed into his boat while he was working on upgrading a solid limit of largemouth bass. During our visit, we learned where David’s heart is at, and how his future looks.)
“The natural way of things is you get older and you get wiser.” — David Fritts
David Fritts’ legacy is already cemented into the history of professional bass fishing. Not only from a 1993 Bassmaster Classic title, but also a handful of other victories on the Bassmaster trail over a long and impressive career beginning back in 1986.
Interestingly, his most recent recent major title took place on Lake Guntersville with the FLW Tour in 2010.
Over the years Fritts has implemented his renowned crankbait prowess into countless research-and-development projects that likely impacted crankbait designs currently in your tackle collection. The results have been nothing short of impressive, including Berkley’s now famous hardbaits — packaging that clearly bears his name.
“We spent over three years fine-tuning the Berkley Dredger series,” he said. “We made sure it was up to the standards of scrutinizing bass anglers across the country, and we did it. The bass agree, too.”
Coming to tackle-store shelves this summer is a brand new crankbait he and Berkley engineers collectively developed: The Berkley Frittside. The flatside crankbait features the same proven action that won Fritts the Classic. The whole idea was to present a unique crankbait to sluggish bass at a multitude of depths.
The bait will be available in three sizes, tons of awesome colors for an easy $8.99.
“One of my goals with this crankbait was to make it affordable, but have it run and look like a collector’s item, and I think we did that,” he said.
(Fritts paused to set the hook on a keeper bass that nicely complimented his Day 1 limit.)
He has accomplished many things throughout his lengthy career, but when it comes to family, “that’s No. 1.”
In January, his 81-year-old mother, Francis Sink, suffered a stroke and lost sight in her right eye. Then late last month, his stepfather, Bobby Sink, had to have a toe amputated due to complications from diabetes.
Guntersville excluded, Fritts hasn’t pre-fished for any of the other five Bassmaster Elite Series events this year — and if it hadn’t been for his sister, Wanda Jean Sink, he said he wouldn’t have been able to fish at all.
“I’m in no way complaining,” he said. “Lord knows mom took care of me long enough. But here’s the reality of it: All I’m doing is showing up for practice and then fishing the tournament three days later. Basically I’m fishing blind — and it’s certainly shown in my results.”
He’s finished no higher than 63rd in a tournament this year and currently ranks 75th — last place — in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings.
There have been times when he’s wondered how much longer he can fish.
“I’ve really had to think hard about it this year, especially,” he said. “I keep thinking, ‘Maybe I can make one more year.’ But here I am getting my butt whipped pretty regular. My mindset is not where it needs to be to compete — and that’s what it’s all about.
“But the bottom line is you do what you have to for family, and I don’t regret it.”
How do you climb out of a bass-fishing slump?
“You catch ‘em!” he laughed. “My time isn’t up just yet.”
Fritts’ days competing at the highest level may be numbered, but he firmly believes he’ll still have plenty to offer the sport he’s loved since he was a child.
“I still want to win as much as anyone out there, but mainly I want to do stuff for the sport. I want to promote the sport, and I want to help people who have helped me,” he said.
In looking at the next generation of tournament anglers, and incoming freshman Elite Series pros, Fritts offered this advice:
“Keep your priorities in line, be honest and don’t pretend to know something you don’t. Always strive to learn, and believe in the people you represent.
“Don’t set unrealistic expectations,” he added. “And look for ways to turn the sport over to the next generation better than when you started.”
At this point, the 62-year-old angler is not ready to hang it up.
“I think my ability to catch bass is as good as anybody else’s,” he said. “They may run up to the front of the boat a little faster than I do, but I can cast just as far and my retrieve is still the same.
“I’m not done yet.”