‘Fritts Blitz’ hits Clarks Hill
Chevy pro stuns FLW Series field with day-one catch of 23-9
APPLING, Ga. – Everything was going according to plan at the day-one weigh-in of the Walmart FLW Series BP Eastern on Clarks Hill.
A lot of 7- to 10-pound limits were being weighed in; respectable catches in the 12- to 13-pound range garnered applause from the crowd; and as predicted, a couple of 14-pound limits took the early lead.
The Clarks Hill weigh-in was humming along nicely, just as anticipated.
But then the unexpected happened: Chevy pro David Fritts of Lexington, N.C., climb the weigh-in stage and threw down 23 pounds, 9 ounces of bass into the scales.
The patented Fritts Blitz had reigned over the weigh-in crowd, leaving a stunned field in awe.
That’s not to say that David Fritts catching a load of bass was unexpected, but rather that 23 pounds, 9 ounces would be the leading weight at Clarks Hill in the fall of the year.
Many pros predicted seeing a leading weight of 17 or 18 pounds after day one – even a possible limit pushing the 20-pound mark – but it’s safe to say that very few expected what Fritts mined up from Clarks Hill’s depths today.
What was expected, however, was that Fritts would be extremely tight-lipped about his massive catch.
“I’m not saying anything,” Fritts said with a chuckle. “You can forget that; there’s too many people that will look at the Internet tonight.”
What Fritts did give up is that he has found about a dozen key fish-holding locations, and he only hit three of them today.
“I have not even been to my best place yet because there were too many boats in the area today,” he said. “And once I culled a 3-pounder on my third spot, I quit fishing and just went practicing.”
Fritts noted that his best day of practice rendered about 17 pounds, and to catch 23 pounds, 9 ounces was a bit of a surprise.
As for Fritts catching his giant limit on his favorite cranking technique, he held true to his word and would not reveal what he caught the fish on.
“Well, as you know, I always throw a crankbait,” he teased. “But I will say this; the one thing I threw a lot today falls really fast.”
Hackney second
Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., reeled in 15 pounds, 8 ounces for second place after 
day one, but the Hack Attack was still a full 8 pounds behind the Fritts Blitz.
Hackney’s plan is to cover new water each day, and some of his pattern centers on grass.
“Half the fish I caught today came off places where I never even wet a hook in practice,” Hackney said. “I think it’s important to keep moving on these clearwater lakes like this because these fish get fished for a lot, and they wise up to baits in their area pretty quickly; so I don’t think there’s much need in repeating water.
“I really like fishing new water like this because it keeps me filled with anticipation,” he continued. “I’ll fish through a lot of dead water, but then I’ll hit the right deal and catch three or four in a row; I probably went through 20 keepers today.”
Gibbs third
Local pro Dale Gibbs of Martinez, Ga., landed in third place after day one with a five-bass limit for 14 pounds, 15 ounces.
“I basically fished about three places today,” Gibbs said. “I started the day looking for some big bites, but that didn’t pan out, so I changed up and secured a limit. Then late in the day I went back to some of my big-fish stuff and got it working. At about 2:55 this afternoon, I got two bigger bites that helped me cull up.”
Ashley fourth
Another local pro, Casey Ashley of Donalds, S.C., is in fourth place after 
day one with 13 pounds, 15 ounces.
Ashley is very familiar with Clarks Hill’s grass beds and blueback herring, but he chose to avoid both today.
“This time of year I get as far away from that grass as I can, and the bluebacks are pretty much a nonfactor for me,” Ashley said. “This is the time of year the threadfin shad start working into the backs of the creeks, and the bass start keying on them.”
Scott, Wellman tied for fifth
Ricky D. Scott of Van Buren, Ark., and Nate Wellman of Jenison, Mich., round out the top five with limits weighing 13 pounds, 14 ounces, tying them up for the fifth-place position.
Big bass
Chip Harrison of Bremen, Ind., caught the big bass in the Pro Division on day one weighing 7 pounds, 5 ounces.
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top 10 pros in the FLW Series event on Clarks Hill after day one:
7th: Pat Golden of High Point, N.C., five bass, 13-7
7th: Kim Stricker of Howell, Mich., five bass, 13-7
9th: Jake Deeds of El Dorado, Ark., five bass, 13-5
9th: Jonathan Newton of Rogersville, Ala., five bass, 13-5
Lowe leads co-anglers
Matt Lowe of Walhalla, S.C., leads the Co-angler Division of the FLW Series 
event on Clarks Hill after day one with a five-bass limit weighing 9 pounds, 4 ounces.
Jacques Fleischmann of Shell Knob, Mo., is in second place with five bass for 7 pounds, 15 ounces.
Robert Rikard of Lexington, S.C., is in third place with a limit weighing 7 pounds, 11 ounces.
Kim Fischer of High Ridge, Mo., and Kenneth Hunnicutt of Jacksonville, Fla., are both tied for the fifth-place spot in the Co-angler Division at 7 pounds, 10 ounces.
Big bass
National Guard co-angler Michael McGhee of Fredericksburg, Va., caught the big bass in the Co-angler Division on day one weighing 4 pounds, 8 ounces.
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers in the FLW Series event on Clarks Hill after day one:
6th: Ron Fabiszak of South Bend, Ind., four bass, 7-6
7th: Eddie Laster of Morton, Miss., four bass, 7-3
8th: Wally Coward of Beech Island, S.C., five bass, 7-2
9th: Chuck Thurlow of Auburn, Ala., five bass, 7-0
9th: Derek Yasinski of Senoia, Ga., four bass, 7-0
Day two of the FLW Series event on Clarks Hill Lake will begin Thursday at 8 a.m. from Wildwood Park located at 6212 Holloway Road in Appling.