Ashley at home on Hartwell

Of the 56 competitors, Casey Ashley might be the most anxious to hit Lake Hartwell for the 2015 GEICO Bassmaster Classic.

Of the 56 competitors, Casey Ashley might be the most anxious to hit Lake Hartwell for the 2015 GEICO Bassmaster Classic.

“I’ve been waiting six years for this,” said Ashley, who finished 17th in the 2008 Classic there. “That was my first Classic. I’ve been waiting on this chance again. And here it is.

“I’m super excited, and the closer it gets the more excited I get, especially now since I can’t be on the water, it makes it even worse.”

Close to Hartwell

It’s understandable Ashley is chomping at the bit. He lives in the small town of Donalds, S.C., and can’t wait to drive past its one gas station, post office, small bank and caution light toward the “big city” of Anderson and Lake Hartwell.

“I can be on the water in 30 minutes,” he said, noting that Clarks Hill is his home lake. “I spent most of my time learning how to fish on Clarks Hill.”

But Hartwell has been more on the radar for Ashley since 2008, and he’s hoping his prophetic preparations end with a Classic title.

“I knew it would be back because it was an awesome event, and I have spent a lot of time on Hartwell,” he said. “I know it pretty good now.”

Last March, Ashley won the FLW event on Hartwell in conditions that could be similar to this year’s Classic, Feb. 20-22. Things have set up to put him among the favorites.

“There’s a lot that goes into any event,” he said. “You just can’t ever figure who’s going to win the Classic, or any tournament, but it being that close, I feel like my chances are better than anybody else.”

Much of that is predicated on his knowledge of Hartwell. While hometown anglers don’t have a great history in Classics, he said the information he’s obtained certainly boosts his confidence.

“You ain’t going to get much of a bragging deal out of me, but there aren’t too many people, even around here, who know it as good as I do,” Ashley said.

He won last March fishing brushpiles 25 to 40 feet deep, and said they should come into play this year.

“I know a pile of them, and I’ve made a pile of them,” he said.

Elite reputation

Ashley, who turns 31 on Feb. 1, has won two Elite Series events since joining the Bassmasters in 2006. He’s had 16 Top 10 finishes, earned $850,000 in 101 tournaments and has qualified to five Classics, with his best finish 11th last year on Guntersville.

He’s been through the pro bass grind, and said experience at the highest level is critical for success.

“That’s the main thing that’s going to be the different between this Classic and the first one I fished,” he said. “I was still in the shock and awe of being around the pros that I watched on TV for years since I was as kid.

“This is my ninth year on tour, so that’s kind of gone away and I can just concentrate on what I do.”

Classic conditions and competition

Hartwell was in drought conditions in 2008, and Ashley said the fishing will be much improved for the upcoming Bassmaster Classic.

“When we were there the first time it was about 17 feet low. It’s come up and went back down several times,” he said. “Last year it got really full and that’s really good for the lake.”

He said plant life grew on the banks and provided cover when the water rose back up. With no grass like there is on Guntersville, the growth aided the spawn and fry survival. He said there have been two good spawns and the fishery is as healthy as it’s ever been.

“Now it’s down about 6 foot and that’s going to make it really good,” he said. “There’s going to be a lot of fish caught all different ways, from shallow to deep. Hartwell’s probably at its best right now.”

But Ashley would prefer difficult conditions, like the first day of 2008 when anglers were treated to frosty temperatures and sleet and he stood in fifth place. He’d like it cold, rainy and nasty this go around.

“I do not want a warm front,” Ashley said. “I want it to stay cold and I want it to be tough. Essentially on that lake, in early spring, they rush the bank and they bite. If that happens, it can be anybody’s tournament.

“If it stays tough, I know where to be, which brushpiles to make one cast to and roll on. That will really play into my game a lot.”

While Alton Jones missed qualifying for this event, 2008 runner-up Cliff Pace is back from injury hiatus and should be strong, Ashley said. Other anglers Ashley thinks should do well include Gerald Swindle and reigning Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Greg Hackney.

“Just because he’s so hot, it seems like he can do no wrong,” Ashely said. “And he’s a super good fisherman, can’t take that away from him.

“He will tell you he hasn’t done anything different, that he fishes the way he always fished, he’s just rolling. You can’t explain it, when you just get there, you know you’re there and you just ride it as long as you can because you don’t know when it’s going to leave.”

Maintaining momentum

Ashley would love to ride his momentum at Hartwell. He caught 68 pounds, 5 ounces in the four-day FLW event last March, winning by 14-8. 

“It really means a lot to win at home,” he said afterward. “When you win at home, everybody you know is here. I think the whole town of Donalds (pop. 348) is here. It’s just an awesome feeling.”

A perfect first day for Ashley would end not necessarily with him in the lead, but at least in the hunt. He offered the standard line that you can’t win the Classic on the first day, but you sure can lose it.

“This is a lake where you can’t make up 10 pounds very easily,” he said. “If I was in the Top 5, 5 pounds back or less, after the first day, I’d be happy.”

With six years in the waiting, Ashley is ready, willing and able. He’s done everything he can to fulfill his life-long dream of winning a Bassmaster Classic. And he just can’t wait to get on the water and let the chips fall.

“I’m pretty well set up as good as I can be set up, I’ll tell you that,” he said.