BassBlaster

Fritts and…Who Else Sits and Reels?

Everyone knows Paul Elias is the kneel-and-reel guy, ever since he won the ’82 Classic doing exactly that. But what about sit-and-reel?

Doesn’t rhyme, not as catchy, but David Fritts made a pile of money doing it, and I’m betting at least some other Northern Carolina boys do the same – or at least did. Anyone still doing it?

Here’s Fritts fishing the ’96 Bassmaster Top 100 on Lake Minnetonka – from the old “The Bassmasters” show! (Dig the high-tech-at-the-time graphics….)

I still find it fascinating watching him fish and listening to him talk about it. Everything he says triggers about 5 questions on my end. (No offense to the other guy in this footage, Mike Auten, a good buddy now retired from competition….)

Love this quote from Fritts: “Everyone ought to experience catching a good fish…when you need it.” Sniff…. Never has happened to me, but I have had people in my boat catch a fish when I needed it!

Maybe Fritts’ secret is that Mountain Dew patch on his jersey….

6 Comments

6 Comments

  1. Avidbasser

    March 31, 2011 at 8:21 am

    The only time I sit while fishing is when I am catfishing. A curious coincidence, that is also the only time I will drink a beer while fishing.

  2. 5bites

    March 31, 2011 at 8:56 am

    That video was slopping over with awesomeness! From the music to the fishing tip at the end. If the Bassmaster show was still like that it would still be the best fishing on tv. It was also cool to see Fritts excited about the coanglers fish.

  3. Jason

    March 31, 2011 at 9:36 am

    Did he say crankbait fishing “goes down” when the moon starts to “grow”? WTF? I’ve heard a lot of stuff come out of pro’s mouths but that’s a new one on me.

    As a self-proclaimed crankbait addict, I’ve always idolized Fritts. Dude is awesome.

  4. Catch-N-Release

    March 31, 2011 at 1:29 pm

    Is there any other way to fish a deep crankbait? Most NC boys sit and reel.

  5. David X

    March 31, 2011 at 8:53 pm

    Bill Dance still does it.

  6. Joe

    April 1, 2011 at 12:01 pm

    The thing that stood out to me right away was the split grip on Mike Auten’s rod at the 4:30 mark or so. I have a pretty good idea of who built that rod and it definitely wasn’t a factory job.

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