Fritts Seizes Lead At Oahe, Could've Had 20-Plus

By Todd Ceisner
BassFan Editor

For a period of time this morning, the wind howled across Lake Oahe, leaving some Elite Series anglers to wonder if they were on the Great Lakes. It made navigating around the massive Missouri River reservoir a chore and sloshed the water up against the seemingly endless silty banks, blowing out several areas that had held smallmouth during practice.

While others scrambled, David Fritts quietly expanded upon something he’d found toward the end of the final practice day. The 61-year-old, who has not made a top-50 cut since making three in a row to start the 2017 season, started the day with a 4-11 kicker and wound up with 19-07 to take the day-1 lead in the first Elite Series event ever held in South Dakota.

“It feels great,” said Fritts, one of five anglers to have won the Bassmaster Classic and Forrest Wood Cup. “I’ve had three tournaments this year I thought I could’ve won. I don’t know why I’ve been snake-bit. Maybe it’ll come back together because I don’t think I’m fishing any worse than I was. The competition is keener now and it’s hard to find fish others haven’t found.”

Three other anglers cracked the 18-pound mark with Mark Daniels, Jr. leading the way in Fritts’ wake with 18-12. Reigning Classic champion Jordan Lee is 3rd with 18-09 while Josh Bertrand is an ounce back in 4th with 18-08.

Justin Lucas caught 17-05 and occupies 5th. The rest of the top 12 all caught 16-04 or better. Just as today was a big mystery in terms of what was going to be considered a good stringer, tomorrow seems to be another unknown as the fish continue to be scattered throughout various depths and phases of their post-spawn transition.

Here's a look at the top 12 after day 1 on the Missouri River, with deficit margin from Fritts indicated by red numbers in parentheses:

1. David Fritts: 19-07
2. Mark Daniels, Jr.: 18-12 (0-11)
3. Jordan Lee: 18-09 (0-14)
4. Josh Bertrand: 18-08 (0-15)
5. Justin Lucas: 17-05 (2-02)
6. Casey Ashley: 17-00 (2-07)
7. Jacob Wheeler: 16-12 (2-11)
8 (tie). Bradley Roy: 16-11 (2-12)
8 (tie). Caleb Sumrall: 16-11 (2-12)
10. Boyd Duckett: 16-09 (2-14)
11. Adrian Avena: 16-07 (3-00)
12. Brandon Card: 16-04 (3-03)

There were 93 limits weighed in with half the field stuck in single digits weight-wise. Angler of the Year points leader Brent Chapman was among them, catching 9-15, which has him in 53rd. Ish Monroe, the winner last week at the Mississippi River, bagged a petite limit of 6-15 and is 96th.

A violent storm carrying golfball- and baseball-sized hail roared through the Pierre, S.D., area Friday evening, the fallout of which won't be known until the field heads back out on Oahe. Saturday’s weather could feature some scattered thunderstorms in the morning with winds in the 10- to 15-mph range out of the northwest.

The field will be reduced to 50 after day 2 and then dwindled to the top 12 for Monday’s final day of competition, when the winner will be determined by highest cumulative weight.

Fritts Has Big Ones Figured Out

> Day 1: 5, 19-07

If Fritts had executed at 100 percent, he thinks he could’ve had a stringer in the 23-pound neighborhood.

“I caught three, then lost three big ones,” he said.

He stopped short of calling his way of fishing a pattern just yet because Oahe is a tough lake to read.

“It’s sort of a pattern, but the problem is it’s hard to duplicate,” he said. “I know what to look for and what to do, but the banks are impossible to read. They’re nothing banks, but off the bank a ways is a rock that you can’t see. It’s crazy how it sets up.”

Despite having the lead, Fritts said the conditions coupled with the phase of the spawn the fish are in made for a challenging day.

“They’re in all different phases and there are not a lot of fish in any single place,” he said. “The wind was terrible. I was lucky to catch any, to be honest.”

If the big ones aren’t cooperating tomorrow, he has confidence he can catch 15 to 20 pounds in one specific area. He had no other competitors around the area he fished and said he has “several different things” working.

“The big fish are definitely on something a little different,” he added.

2nd: Daniels Sore, But Satisfied

> Day 1: 5, 18-12

Daniels didn’t sit still for too long today and when he did move around, he felt every wave. That had him trying to fashion something Friday night that would ease the beating on his back and tailbone should he encounter rough water again this weekend.

Aside from the discomfort, he was enthused about how today played out. He caught fish throughout the day and totaled about a dozen keeper bites.

“I’m definitely happy about my outcome,” he said. “I had some good bites in practice and that gave me a lot of confidence in what I was doing. It might turn into something, but you never really know, especially with smallmouth, because they move so much. Plus, with their post-spawn movements, they’re hard to pinpoint.”

And that would explain, at least partially, why it was rare for him to find groups of fish together in a small area.

“A lot of them are singles,” he said. “Occasionally, you’ll find a couple with it, but for the most part they’re singles.”

He believes this will turn into a tournament that requires constant moving to fresh areas or to areas that fish are funneling out to.

“You’ll have to keep moving and keep coming across them,” he said. “I also lost one or two today and there’s not a big margin for that stuff.”

3rd: Lee Caught ‘Em Off One Spot

> Day 1: 5, 18-09

Lee didn’t know what to expect after launching his boat today. He had areas marked that encompassed a good variety of depth ranges from practice and he happened to start on a spot that produced in a big way.

“I’m pretty surprised,” he said. “I chose the right place to start and it just happened to worked out they were the right-sized fish. I didn’t know that kind of fish was where I was at.

“The spot I fished had a lot of fish there, but 99 percent of the other places I haven’t seen anything.”

While today was more of a spot scenario for him, Lee thinks he’ll have to incorporate a lot more water if he’s to hang near the top of the leaderboard.

“You have to keep moving,” he said. “Today was a spot thing, but I didn’t have much to go on. I’m going to have to find new spots. It’s just hard to get on the right deal. They’re shallow and there looks to be good stuff in 15 feet and stuff that looks good in 40 feet.

“I don’t know if there’s a rhyme or reason to the depth they’re in. I’m sure guys are deep and shallow. On the lower end of the lake, there’s deep rock and the middle part is different. It’s just a unique place.”

4th: ‘Another Day 1’ For Betrand

> Day 1: 5, 18-08

Bertrand, who’s made every cut so far this season and came into this tournament 5th in points, will be on the hunt tomorrow for more productive water as he senses he may have maxed out the spots he hit today. Still, he’s excited to get off to a good start at a place that was virtually a mystery prior to this week.

“I didn’t know what to expect because no one knows anything about this place,” he said. “Today was the windiest day so thankfully, it went as smoothly as it could’ve gone.”

He didn’t lose any fish and tallied roughly 10 bites and the action tailed off in the afternoon as the wind reached its peak.

“I’m going to have to keep an open mind,” he added. “I’m filling the boat up with gas to run anywhere so I’m treating tomorrow like another day 1. I wouldn’t be surprised to go back to the same area and they not be there. These fish are in one of those funky phases. There are some on beds and some out deep, and there’s definitely a lot of movement.”

5th: Lucas Trying to Stay On Top of Them

> Day 1: 5, 17-05

Based on his practice, Lucas couldn’t be more pleased with how day 1 went. He’s conscious of the fact, though, that the fish seem to be in the midst of their post-spawn migration and that will require frequent adjustments throughout the tournament.

“Today went better than expected,” he said. “I’m not totally surprised because we’ve heard about the size of the fish that live here. It’ll be interesting to see what happens the next few days. It’s warm and fish are moving deep. I think a lot are coming and a lot are leaving the bank.”

The key will be identifying the pathways they’re using to reach their summer haunts.

“You have to find where they’re moving out deeper,” he said. “That’s not easy and there’s a ton of dead water. You have all these miles of shoreline and then all that water.”

He said several of the spots he fished today were productive in practice, but no longer held fish.

When he did get around fish, he employed a typical finesse technique with a new Berkley MaxScent worm that is set to be introduced at ICAST in two weeks.

“It’s the first time I’ve used it in a tournament and it’s deadly,” he said.

67th: Frustrating Start for Lane

> Day 1: 5, 8-14

For Chris Lane, this week has been a struggle and he plans to be a little more methodical with his tactics on day 2.

“It’ll be a lot of new water for me tomorrow,” he said. “It’ll be more keeping my bait in the water. You can’t get reaction bites so I’ll have to let it soak. That will be my go-to deal for tomorrow.”

Today, he boated six keepers and took note of numerous fish short-striking his bait.

“These fish are really picky from what I can see,” he said. “A lot of the swimbait fish are biting the tail off and that’s not like normal smallmouth.”

In practice, he noticed a few fish still along the bank, some guarding fry, but it was a challenge to find key areas that might hold other fish.

“To me, there’s a not a lot of smallmouth in here,” he said. “They love being around rocks and you can go for miles without a seeing rock, but when you see one on the bank you’re going to find a boat there.”

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 107 anglers, 93 limits, 8 fours, 6 threes.

Weather Forecast

> Sat., June 30 – Morning Thunderstorms, Then Cloudy - 80°/58°
- Wind: From the NW at 10 to 15 mph

> Sun., July 1 – AM Sun, PM Rain - 83°/61°
- Wind: From the SW at 10 to 15 mph

> Mon., July 2 – Partly Cloudy - 87°/66°
- Wind: From the ESE at 10 to 15 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 5, 19-07 -- 110
Day 1: 5, 19-07

2. Mark Daniels Jr. -- Tuskegee, AL -- 5, 18-12 -- 109
Day 1: 5, 18-12

3. Jordan Lee -- Grant, AL -- 5, 18-09 -- 108
Day 1: 5, 18-09

4. Josh Bertrand -- San Tan Valley, AZ -- 5, 18-08 -- 107
Day 1: 5, 18-08

5. Justin Lucas -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 17-05 -- 106
Day 1: 5, 17-05

6. Casey Ashley -- Donalds, SC -- 5, 17-00 -- 105
Day 1: 5, 17-00

7. Jacob Wheeler -- Harrison, TN -- 5, 16-12 -- 104
Day 1: 5, 16-12

8. Bradley Roy -- Lancaster, KY -- 5, 16-11 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 16-11

8. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 5, 16-11 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 16-11

10. Boyd Duckett -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 16-09 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 16-09

11. Adrian Avena -- Vineland, NJ -- 5, 16-07 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 16-07

12. Brandon Card -- Knoxville, TN -- 5, 16-04 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 16-04

13. Brandon Palaniuk -- Hayden, ID -- 5, 15-12 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 15-12

14. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 5, 15-11 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 15-11

15. Chad Pipkens -- Lansing, MI -- 5, 15-01 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 15-01

16. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, OK -- 5, 15-00 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 15-00

17. Andy Montgomery -- Blacksburg, SC -- 5, 14-15 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 14-15

18. Brandon Coulter -- Knoxville, TN -- 5, 14-13 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 14-13

19. Brent Ehrler -- Redlands, CA -- 5, 14-12 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 14-12

20. Jesse Wiggins -- Cullman, AL -- 5, 14-11 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 14-11

21. Shin Fukae -- Palestine TX JAPAN -- 5, 13-14 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 13-14

22. Alton Jones Jr. -- Waco, TX -- 5, 13-09 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 13-09

23. Brett Hite -- Phoenix, AZ -- 5, 13-08 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 13-08

24. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 5, 13-04 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 13-04

25. Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu City, AZ -- 5, 13-00 -- 86
Day 1: 5, 13-00

26. Ott DeFoe -- Blaine, TN -- 5, 12-14 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 12-14

27. Drew Benton -- Panama City, FL -- 5, 12-11 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 12-11

28. Fletcher Shryock -- Dennison, OH -- 5, 12-10 -- 83
Day 1: 5, 12-10

29. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- 5, 12-06 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 12-06

30. Randy Sullivan -- Breckenridge, TX -- 5, 12-00 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 12-00

31. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 5, 11-13 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 11-13

32. Seth Feider -- Bloomington, MN -- 5, 11-12 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 11-12

33. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 5, 11-09 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 11-09

33. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- 5, 11-09 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 11-09

35. Rick Morris -- Lake Gaston, VA -- 5, 11-08 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 11-08

35. Cliff Pace -- Petal, MS -- 5, 11-08 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 11-08

37. Michael Iaconelli -- Pitts Grove, NJ -- 5, 11-08 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 11-08

37. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 5, 11-08 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 11-08

39. Marty Robinson -- Lyman, SC -- 5, 11-06 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 11-06

39. Jason Williamson -- Wagener, SC -- 5, 11-06 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 11-06

41. James Elam -- Tulsa, OK -- 5, 11-05 -- 70
Day 1: 5, 11-05

42. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, TX -- 5, 11-02 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 11-02

43. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, FL -- 5, 10-15 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 10-15

43. Chris Zaldain -- Laughlin, NV -- 5, 10-15 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 10-15

45. Skylar Hamilton -- Dandridge, TN -- 5, 10-11 -- 66
Day 1: 5, 10-11

46. Russ Lane -- Prattville, AL -- 5, 10-10 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 10-10

46. Keith Poche -- Pike Road, AL -- 5, 10-10 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 10-10

48. Kyle Monti -- Okeechobee, FL -- 4, 10-07 -- 63
Day 1: 4, 10-07

49. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 5, 10-04 -- 62
Day 1: 5, 10-04

50. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 5, 10-03 -- 61
Day 1: 5, 10-03

51. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 5, 10-02 -- 60
Day 1: 5, 10-02

52. Morizo Shimizu -- Osaka, Japan -- 5, 10-01 -- 59
Day 1: 5, 10-01

53. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, KS -- 5, 09-15 -- 58
Day 1: 5, 09-15

54. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 5, 09-13 -- 57
Day 1: 5, 09-13

55. Mike McClelland -- Bentonville, AR -- 5, 09-12 -- 56
Day 1: 5, 09-12

56. Gerald Spohrer -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 09-11 -- 55
Day 1: 5, 09-11

57. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, AR -- 5, 09-10 -- 54
Day 1: 5, 09-10

58. Chris Groh -- Spring Grove, IL -- 4, 09-09 -- 53
Day 1: 4, 09-09

59. Tyler Carriere -- Youngsville, LA -- 5, 09-07 -- 52
Day 1: 5, 09-07

59. Randall Tharp -- Port St. Joe, FL -- 5, 09-07 -- 52
Day 1: 5, 09-07

61. Jacob Powroznik -- North Prince George, VA -- 5, 09-06 -- 50
Day 1: 5, 09-06

61. Wesley Strader -- Spring City, TN -- 5, 09-06 -- 50
Day 1: 5, 09-06

63. Dustin Connell -- Clanton, AL -- 5, 09-05 -- 48
Day 1: 5, 09-05

64. Dave Lefebre -- Erie, PA -- 5, 09-03 -- 47
Day 1: 5, 09-03

65. Paul Elias -- Laurel, MS -- 5, 09-00 -- 46
Day 1: 5, 09-00

66. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 4, 09-00 -- 45
Day 1: 4, 09-00

67. Chris Lane -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 08-14 -- 44
Day 1: 5, 08-14

68. Matt Lee -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 08-12 -- 43
Day 1: 5, 08-12

69. Shaw Grigsby Jr. -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 08-11 -- 42
Day 1: 5, 08-11

69. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 5, 08-11 -- 42
Day 1: 5, 08-11

71. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 4, 08-10 -- 40
Day 1: 4, 08-10

72. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 5, 08-07 -- 39
Day 1: 5, 08-07

73. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 5, 08-06 -- 38
Day 1: 5, 08-06

74. Bobby Lane Jr. -- Lakeland, FL -- 5, 08-05 -- 37
Day 1: 5, 08-05

75. David Walker -- Sevierville, TN -- 5, 08-05 -- 36
Day 1: 5, 08-05

76. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 08-04 -- 35
Day 1: 5, 08-04

77. Kelly Jordon -- Flint, TX -- 3, 08-04 -- 34
Day 1: 3, 08-04

78. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 5, 08-03 -- 33
Day 1: 5, 08-03

79. Fred Roumbanis -- Russellville, AR -- 5, 08-01 -- 32
Day 1: 5, 08-01

79. Jake Whitaker -- Fairview, NC -- 5, 08-01 -- 32
Day 1: 5, 08-01

81. Robbie Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 08-01 -- 30
Day 1: 5, 08-01

82. Roy Hawk -- Lk Havasu Cty, AZ -- 5, 07-14 -- 29
Day 1: 5, 07-14

83. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 5, 07-14 -- 28
Day 1: 5, 07-14

84. Greg Vinson -- Wetumpka, AL -- 5, 07-12 -- 27
Day 1: 5, 07-12

85. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 5, 07-11 -- 26
Day 1: 5, 07-11

86. Hunter Shryock -- Newcomerstown, OH -- 5, 07-10 -- 25
Day 1: 5, 07-10

87. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 5, 07-10 -- 24
Day 1: 5, 07-10

88. Alton Jones -- Lorena, TX -- 5, 07-07 -- 23
Day 1: 5, 07-07

88. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 5, 07-07 -- 23
Day 1: 5, 07-07

88. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- 5, 07-07 -- 23
Day 1: 5, 07-07

91. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, CA -- 5, 07-05 -- 20
Day 1: 5, 07-05

92. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, OK -- 5, 07-04 -- 19
Day 1: 5, 07-04

92. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 5, 07-04 -- 19
Day 1: 5, 07-04

94. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 07-01 -- 17
Day 1: 5, 07-01

95. Darrell Ocamica -- New Plymouth, ID -- 5, 07-00 -- 16
Day 1: 5, 07-00

96. Ish Monroe -- Hughson, CA -- 5, 06-15 -- 15
Day 1: 5, 06-15

97. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 4, 06-09 -- 14
Day 1: 4, 06-09

97. Bill Weidler -- Helena, AL -- 4, 06-09 -- 14
Day 1: 4, 06-09

99. Randy Howell -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 06-07 -- 12
Day 1: 5, 06-07

100. John Murray -- Spring City, TN -- 3, 06-03 -- 11
Day 1: 3, 06-03

101. Kelley Jaye -- Dadeville, AL -- 5, 06-00 -- 10
Day 1: 5, 06-00

102. Tim Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- 4, 05-13 -- 9
Day 1: 4, 05-13

103. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 3, 05-12 -- 8
Day 1: 3, 05-12

104. Cliff Crochet -- Pierre Part, LA -- 4, 04-06 -- 7
Day 1: 4, 04-06

105. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 3, 03-12 -- 6
Day 1: 3, 03-12

106. Jonathon VanDam -- Gobles, MI -- 3, 03-08 -- 5
Day 1: 3, 03-08

107. Gary Klein -- Mingus, TX -- 3, 03-07 -- 4
Day 1: 3, 03-07