
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, August 14, 1993                   TAG: 9308140191
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BIRMINGHAM, ALA.                                LENGTH: Medium

FRITTS LEADING ANGLER IN BASS MASTERS EVENT

The fish weren't where David Fritts expected them to be Friday in the second round of the BASS Masters Classic, but that didn't seem to bother him.

Fritts caught a limit of seven bass totaling 14 pounds, 9 ounces to take the lead with a cumulative catch of 32 pounds, 3 ounces.

The weather was overcast, and more expected fish to be in shallower water than they were on the first day, which was sunny. But Fritts, a crankbait specialist who was second after the first day, said the fish he found were in deeper water.

"I was at the right place at the right time," said Fritts, of Lexington, N.C. "It took me until one o'clock to catch a limit."

First-day leader Tom Biffle of Wagoner, Okla., dropped back to second, 3 pounds, 4 ounces behind Fritts. Biffle's seven fish weighed 11 pounds, 1 ounce, more than 6 pounds off his initial catch.

"All the fish today seemed more finicky. They didn't want to take my bait," said Biffle.

Biffle said he hoped for a final-day catch of 15 to 20 pounds, providing the weather is sunny.

Larry Williams of Lakeview, Ohio, is in third place with a total catch of 28 pounds, 7 ounces. Next are Shaw Grigsby of Gainesville, Fla., with 26 pounds, 8 ounces, and George Cochran of Hot Springs, Ark., with 26 pounds, 4 ounces.

Cochran, who weighed in four bass, was the only angler among the top five to catch less than the limit. Nine fishermen brought in seven fish during the first day of competition on Lake Logan Martin, and 18 finished with that many on the second day.

Paul Elias of Laurel, Miss., had the day's largest catch with a limit that totaled 21 pounds, 8 ounces. That moved him from 32nd place to sixth.

Elias also picked up the $1,000 big-fish bonus with a 6-pound, 12-ounce bass.

"I fished everywhere I fished yesterday. I didn't do anything different," said Elias. "I don't know why they didn't bite yesterday. I hope they bite tomorrow."

Woo Daves of Spring Grove, Va., is tied for 30th overall. He has caught nine fish for a 10-pound, 10-ounce total.

The three-day tournament concludes today, with $200,000 in total prizes. The winner gets $50,000.

by CNB