BASS Angler of the Year runner-up Alton Jones is taking the fall off from fishing the Bassmaster Opens. But the Texas pro is still enjoying some excitement.
Jones and his 10-year-old son, Alton, Jr., recently went on a guided alligator hunt to a private East Texas lake and returned with a memorable story.
"It was exiting. We saw probably 100 gators," Jones said. "It was great."
With a little help from his father, young Alton ended up harvesting a 7-foot, 2-inch gator that weighed about 80 pounds.
Both Joneses were happy with their conquest - although it was far smaller than the 13-foot, 850-pound gator that the same lake surrendered last year.
SPEAKING OF BIG CREATURES
All-time BASS tournament winner Roland Martin recently spent a week in Alaska - the only state that does not have bass of any kind.
"We were catching halibut 100-and-something feet deep," he said. "They catch them on bait, but we used big 4- and 5-ounce SPRO saltwater jigs on 80-pound braid SpiderWire.
"We caught about five halibut over 100 pounds. Our biggest one weighed 250 pounds. The guide was so excited because he had never seen sea halibut fishing that good."
DAVID FRITTS, ENTREPRENEUR
Former Classic champion and Angler of the Year David Fritts has been especially busy this fall. He's getting ready to open David Fritts Outdoors in Welcome, N.C., near his home in Lexington.
The 10,000-square-foot operation will include a tackle store and boat dealership. Fritts has two partners in the endeavor.
"I've been throwing the idea around for a while," he said. "Me and another guy bought this land a long time ago. I've been thinking about it, and then I decided I didn't want to do it. But then one thing led to another, and here I am.
"It will be something I can retire on."
Fritts doesn't expect his new business to cut down on his fishing time, which includes competing on the Bassmaster Tour.
IF I WERE A CARPENTER
Texas pro Zell Rowland has spent the past few weeks constructing a separate building for his fishing tackle and boat in Montgomery. He has done most of the work on the 23-by-34-foot building with his own hands. "It will be good when it's finished," he said. "It's too much work for me. I'll be glad when it's done."
DID YOU KNOW?
In the history of BASS, 11 pros have posted back-to-back victories: Bill Dance, Roland Martin, John Powell, Charlie Ingram, Gary Klein, Jim Bitter, Mike McClelland, Denny Brauer, Shaw Grigsby, Dean Rojas and Davy Hite.
PRO BIRTHDAYS
On Sept. 2, Alabama pro Randy Howell turns 30 on Sept. 25, while Art Ferguson of Michigan will be 39 two days later. Kentucky's Mark Menendez becomes 40 on Sept. 28.
IF I HADN'T BECOME A BASS PRO . . .
Veteran North Carolina pro Guy Eaker, 63, would likely be nearing retirement as a supervisor at Carolina Freight in Cherryville.
THEY SAID IT
"In my travels, I am often asked how much of a factor luck plays throughout the fishing year. I typically discount the influence of luck on most endeavors of this nature because I believe if you truly prepare for the things that are going to happen, then very little is left to luck. I believe that if you expect good things and believe good things are going to happen, you manifest good luck. I don't believe that is truly luck because, if you expect and deserve good things to happen, then it's not luck." Former Classic champion Ken Cook.