The roster for the six 2011 FLW Tour Majors was released Tuesday and David Fritts' name was the most notable absence. The cranking legend from North Carolina said there were several reasons he opted out, including financial considerations and a bit of indecision about what he wants to do next.
"I'm a little pushed money-wise like a lot of other people and I'd been waiting around hoping to come up with a sponsor," said Fritts, who won the Bassmaster Classic in 1993 and the Forrest Wood Cup in 1997 and was the 1994 Bassmaster Angler of the Year (AOY). "I've got plenty of assets, but cash flow is a little bit of a problem right now. I'm not mad at anybody or anything – it's just that economics are a little tight with my daughter in college. I guess I've just had to become a little more selective."
He fished under a sponsor-team deal (Tums) in 2009, but paid his own way last year. After a rough start to the season, he staged a strong late rally with a 12th-place finish at Ouachita and a 3rd at Guntersville.
He plans to fish the four FLW Tour Opens next year, along with the four-event PAA Tournament Series. He said he also might try to get into a Bassmaster Open circuit in an attempt to requalify for the Elite Series.
"I've been thinking about that for a while now that Jerry McKinnis has it. I've always thought quite a bit of him and I think he's going to do some good things."
He loves the look of the FLW Tour Opens schedule, which will visit Okeechobee (Florida) in February, the Potomac River (Maryland) in June, Champlain (New York) in September and Guntersville (Alabama) in October.
"I've fished all of those places forever."
