Sunday, May 15, 2011

Bassmaster Elite Evan Williams Bourbon Carolina Clash Day 4

Casey croons at Clash

Ashley triumphs at home in South Carolina

By Deb Johnson

Official Bass Press Release

COLUMBIA, S.C. —  Casey Ashley of Donalds, S.C., won the Evan Williams Bourbon Carolina Clash on Sunday with a total weight of 61 pounds, 3 ounces.
Casey's limit bumps Ike and Hite for a win. Mike and Davy
were tied for second and a fish off was pending.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)
The leader on Day Three, Ashley closed the deal with a fourth-day catch of 15-5. He won with a 3-pound, 2-ounce margin over fellow South Carolinian Davy Hite and New Jersey’s Michael Iaconelli, who tied for second place at 58-1.
 Ashley’s prize was $100,000 and an instant entry into the 2012 Bassmaster Classic.
 It was Ashley’s second Bassmaster Elite Series win. His first was in 2007, his rookie year. The two wins feel very different, he said.
 "The win at Smith Mountain Lake was special because it was my first, and in my first year on tour. I really didn’t know then what it meant to win,” he said.  "Now I know they’re hard to come by. I’m glad I won, but I’m real glad I won in South Carolina with all my family and friends.”
 Two 3-pounders in the last 45 minutes of fishing put Ashley over the top. He took both on a shaky head rig after deciding that finesse techniques was what he had to do to correct a day that began slow and shut down quickly.
 He had started fishing Sunday in what he said turned out to be the wrong choice of spots.
Lake Muray Champ!
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)
 “The fish were there, but they just wouldn’t bite,” he said.
 About two hours into his day, he made an adjustment by going to a new spot that got him going with a 3-pounder. He left it, came back, then lost a big one, and came back to catch another fish.
 “And then it was over,” he said. “I had to go totally to finesse fishing after that.”

No comments:

Post a Comment