BOATER ON BOATER NO ISSUE FOR KEITH ASHLEY
By Mike Whatley
4/5/08 Lake Greenwood, SC - Being in a Boater on Boater pairing for the second event for of the Division 9, 2008 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series didn’t have much of a detrimental effect on local angler Keith Ashley of Greenwood, SC. Ashley was able to put together a five fish limit weighing in at 19.23 lbs and surpassing his closest competition by almost 2 ½ pounds. His 1st Place victory earned him the guaranteed $5,000 purse plus 200 points toward his qualifying for the Year-end Championship worth over $200,000 and a slot in the prestigious “Bassmaster Classic”.
Keith was able to compile his outstanding catch by throwing a floating worm and letting it settle about three feet before starting it back to the boat. His fish were transitioning post spawners, pulling off the beds and staging on the first piece of structure they came to in slightly deeper water. After spending his four hours of controlling the boat, Keith had only four of his five fish, which included his biggest and Big Bass of the event at 7.97 lbs. His Boater partner had fish in deeper water and opted to go after them, where Ashley finished off his limit on a shakey head worm fished around the base of a bridge piling. Along with his earnings, Mr. Ashley is also eligible for additional Motorguide monies for owning a new Motorguide trolling Motor.
The remaining top five boaters were 2nd Will Dickens of Laurens, SC, (5 bass, 16.78 lbs, $1080); 3rd Phillip Anderson of Saluda, SC (5 bass, 16.55 lbs, $720); 4th David Heatherly of Buffalo, SC (5 bass, 16.09 lbs, $504) and 5th Mike Brehm of Rock Hill, SC (5 bass, 16.02, $432).
On the Co-Angler side of competition, Steven Walker of Timmonsville, SC gave all the thanks to his boater partner, who concentrated completely on getting Steven his 3 fish limit before working on his own. Walker was about to accumulate a total weight of 10.16 lbs and also had the Big Bass for the Co-Anglers at 4.86 lbs. For his efforts, Steven cashed a check for $936.
The remaining top five co-anglers were 2nd Andy Wicker of Pomaria, SC (3 bass, 8.23 lbs, $468); 3rd Christopher Malone of West Columbia, SC (3 bass, 6.31 lbs, $312); 4th Kieran Daly of Hodges, SC (3 bass, 6.24 lbs, $218) and 5th Jeffrey Woods of Waterloo, SC (3 bass, 6.13 lbs, $187).
Larry Rollings of Hartsville, SC finished 9th overall and qualifies for an additional contingency from Triton Gold for being Highest Finishing Non-Winner in the event and being a Triton Black Gold member, having bought a new 2008, Triton, Mercury, Motorguide package.
About American Bass Anglers and the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series----
Bassmasters Angler Champion Keith Ashley
Bassmasters co-Angler Champion Steven Walker