MINNEAPOLIS (March 31, 2009) - Tune in Sunday, April 5 to "FLW Outdoors" on VERSUS for complete coverage of the season-opening FLW Tour bass fishing tournament on Lake Guntersville in Huntsville, Ala. The show, which highlights Tums pro David Fritts' fifth FLW Tour victory, will be broadcast in high definition.
Although Fritts began the last day of competition in sixth place with 14 pounds, 4 ounces, he rallied for the $200,000 win with a final-day catch of five bass weighing 23-13. While a dominate grass bite kept the majority of the top 10 occupied with rattling lipless crankbaits, Fritts snuck off and worked rock with a Rapala DT-10 crankbait. The Lexington, N.C., pro is one of only five anglers in the history of the sport to have won both the Forrest Wood Cup and the Bassmaster Classic. His latest win pushed his career FLW Outdoors earnings over $1 million.
Despite weighing only four bass on both days three and four, Berkley pro Sam Newby finished the tournament in second place with 37 pounds even. Each of the last two days Newby lost fish that would have won the tournament for him. His consolation prize was $55,000.
Finishing third was pro David Dudley, the all-time FLW Outdoors money winner. The Lynchburg, Va., native started the final day in ninth place but rocketed up the leaderboard with a 26-pound, 12-ounce stringer. The $45,000 he earned pushed his career FLW Outdoors earnings to over $2.4 million.