Ashley Expands Lead
Category: Tournament
Mar 8th, 2014 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Mar 8th, 2014 at 12:00 AM
Fog delay, shmog delay. Mercury pro Casey Ashley didn’t suffer any negative impact from Ma Nature. While many of the Top-20 field struggled a bit today, he kicked down the door with a limit weighing 15 pounds 7 ounces and expanded his lead heading into the final day of the FLW Tour event on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, SC.
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Casey Ashley shows off his Lake Hartwell skills. (Joel Shangle)
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Ashley’s three-day total of 52 pounds 11 ounces gives him an almost 10-pound lead over Clent Davis whose total is 43 pounds 1 ounce after three days.
Rounding out the Top 5 are Livingston Lures pro Andy Morgan weighing 41 pounds 9 ounces in third, fourth is held by Shimano pro Cody Meyer with 40 pounds, and in fifth is Ryan Davidson with 38 pounds 9 ounces.
Ashley started fast.
“I was worried about the short day due to the fog delay,” said Ashley. “Each day it is taking me a long time to catch them. I’m catching one here and one there. Today, my first bite was the big fish of the day for me.
“I know the lake pretty well. I am glad to be back home. It is awesome to see so many friendly faces. I know I have a lot of good anglers fishing right behind me. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.
Ashley was using a Zoom Trick Worm on a shaky head this morning along with flipping a jig. His big fish came on the jig.
Davis going big early.
“I’m having an awesome week,” said Davis. “During the first two days of the tournament I caught a big one right away. Today, I broke one off right away. Then I broke another one off. I had to grind out the fish I caught today. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow.”
Morgan wants sun.
“I feel good about my day today,” said Morgan. “I want more sun tomorrow. I’m kind of just winging it out there. I struggled all day and only caught five fish. I only had five bites. It was a tough, short day with the fog delay.
Meyer up early.
“I got up at four this morning,” said Meyer. “I had to drive my buddy J.R. to the college fishing tournament. I didn’t make my first cast until 10:45 this morning. This was the shortest tournament day I’ve had. I had five bites, I was lucky to have them. This has been my toughest day on Hartwell.”