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.
“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.”
Sunday’s biggest bass, a 4-8, was brought in by Brian Snowden. But the 6-9 weighed by Day One leader Jami Fralick won the Big Bass of the Tournament competition for a $500 bonus.
FINAL STANDINGS- CAROLINA CLASH
2011 Carolina Clash - Columbia, SC 5/12-5/15
Lake Murray, Columbia SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 20 61-03 310 $101,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 5 15-13 Day 4: 5 15-05
2. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 20 58-01 295 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 5 11-12 Day 4: 5 16-14
3. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 20 58-01 290 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 5 16-06 Day 4: 5 14-12
4. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 20 57-08 285 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 13-01 Day 3: 5 12-12 Day 4: 5 16-07
5. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, KY 20 55-12 280 $14,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 5 15-03 Day 4: 5 13-11
6. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 20 55-02 276 $13,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 10-15 Day 3: 5 16-07 Day 4: 5 13-02
7. Jeff Connella Bentley, LA 20 55-00 272 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 13-05 Day 3: 5 14-11 Day 4: 5 12-12
8. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 20 54-13 268 $12,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 10-10 Day 3: 5 18-08 Day 4: 5 15-01
9. Jami Fralick Martin, SD 20 53-07 269 $12,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 08-12 Day 3: 5 14-15 Day 4: 5 12-03
10. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 20 48-11 260 $11,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 5 11-13 Day 4: 5 09-02
11. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 20 48-08 257 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 10-03 Day 3: 5 14-09 Day 4: 5 09-08
12. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 20 47-02 259 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 18-04 Day 3: 5 07-14 Day 4: 5 08-11
BERKLEY BIG BASS OF TOURNAMENT
Jami Fralick Martin, SD 06-09 $500.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 78 455 1009-07
2 77 446 905-14
3 42 238 569-11
4 12 60 157-08
----------------------------------
209 1199 2642-08
BASSMASTER ANGLER OF THE YEAR POINTS
2011 Points Report
PROFESSIONAL
ELITE SERIES
as of 15-May-2011
Angler Points Lbs-Oz
1 Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 1,490 189- 0
2 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 1,471 187-10
3 Alton Jones Waco, TX 1,471 183- 8
4 Edwin Evers Talala, OK 1,437 176- 6
5 Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 1,392 152- 1
6 Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 1,378 161- 3
7 Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 1,376 169- 9
8 Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 1,373 171-13
9 Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 1,370 169-11
10 Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 1,353 162-13
11 Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 1,331 174- 4
12 Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, NC 1,325 166- 9
13 Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 1,318 162- 3
14 Kevin Wirth Crestwood, KY 1,298 147- 4
15 Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 1,293 172- 2
16 Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 1,291 147- 7
17 Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 1,273 154- 2
18 Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 1,264 172- 1
19 Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 1,264 156- 7
20 Keith Poche Troy, AL 1,254 160- 3
21 Pat Golden High Point, NC 1,250 151-14
22 Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 1,241 164- 2
23 Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 1,230 157-13
24 John Crews Salem, VA 1,230 157-10
25 Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 1,220 156- 4
26 David Walker Sevierville, TN 1,197 160- 9
27 Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 1,191 137- 9
28 Randy Howell Springville, AL 1,183 149- 4
29 Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 1,178 148-15
30 Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 1,173 146-15
31 Peter E Thliveros St Augustine, FL 1,172 143- 1
32 Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 1,165 146- 3
33 Keith Combs Huntington, TX 1,163 146- 1
34 Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 1,163 144-10
35 Shaw E Grigsby Gainesville, FL 1,157 155- 4
36 Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 1,152 151- 3
37 Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 1,133 151- 6
38 Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 1,127 143- 6
39 Kelly Jordon Palestine, TX 1,126 143- 0
40 Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 1,116 133- 2
41 Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 1,107 133- 6
42 Nate Wellman Newaygo, MI 1,100 141- 3
43 Dave Wolak Wake Forest, NC 1,084 143- 7
44 Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, SC 1,082 135- 5
45 Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 1,074 145- 8
46 Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 1,072 141-12
47 Jeff Connella Bentley, LA 1,067 136-10
48 Rick Clunn Ava, MO 1,059 134-12
49 Jami Fralick Martin, SD 1,054 129- 2
50 Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 1,053 135- 7
51 Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 1,050 146-14
52 Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 1,046 137-15
53 Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 1,045 146-11
54 Paul Elias Laurel, MS 1,042 143- 0
55 J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 1,029 151- 8
56 James Niggemeyer Van, TX 1,029 142-14
57 Matt Greenblatt Port St Lucie, FL 1,029 139- 0
58 Craig Schuff Watauga, TX 1,018 131- 1
59 Cliff Pace Petal, MS 1,018 130- 5
60 Rick Morris Virginia Beach, VA 1,016 124- 5
61 Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 1,004 135- 6
62 Clark Reehm Lufkin, TX 1,002 131-14
63 Russ Lane Prattville, AL 1,000 128- 3
64 John Murray Phoenix, AZ 992 135- 8
65 Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 971 131- 6
66 Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 966 125-11
67 Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 964 126- 3
68 James Stricklin Texarkania, TX 957 125- 4
69 Matt Herren Trussville, AL 954 128- 6
70 Morizo Shimizu Matsugaoka, JPN 952 123-10
71 Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 928 124- 7
72 Ben Parker Union City, TN 928 123- 0
73 Terry Butcher Talala, OK 918 120-13
74 Dean Alexander Georgetown, TX 912 124- 6
75 Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 904 129- 1
76 Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 904 125- 6
77 Zell Rowland Austin, TX 904 124- 1
78 Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 899 112- 3
79 Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 894 116- 7
80 Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 892 109-13
81 Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 885 117- 5
82 Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 860 123- 1
83 Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 847 112-12
84 Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 826 117- 4
85 Lee Sisson Winter Haven, FL 824 108-11
86 Grant Goldbeck Boerne, TX 810 99-15
87 Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 808 113- 1
88 Travis Manson De Pere, WI 786 112- 1
89 Russell Parrish Riesel, TX 778 115-14
90 Pete Ponds Madison, MS 764 109- 0
91 Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 746 101-14
92 Chad Griffin Cresson, TX 740 105-13
93 Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 736 101-14
94 Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 732 98-14
95 Ryan Said Wixom, MI 704 97- 7
96 David Smith Del City, OK 702 93- 4
97 Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 698 101- 4
98 Derek Remitz Grant, AL 685 100- 2
99 Brent Broderick Oregonia, OH 514 65- 6