Friday, y, February 2, 2018
B1
THE GROVE SUN | GRANDLAKENEWS.COM
GRAND LAKE NEWS '# t & $# t $ "$ $ t #$) # t t #% # $ "$ $#
COURTESY PHOTO
Theron Asbery shows off two of the 10 bass he caught last weekend on Lake Okeechobee in Florida, during the first stop of the FLW Tour. Asbery, who lives in Grove, placed sixth as a co-angler — his first Top 10 showing of his career.
Grove angler lands first ‘Top 10’ finish Asbery places sixth at Florida FLW stop Kaylea M. Hutson-Miller khutson@grovesun.com
For Grove angler Theron Asbery, 2018 is starting out just fine. Asbery, 25, brought home is first Top 10 finish, as a co-angler on the FLW Tour, with a 10 bass bag weighing 28 pounds, 9 ounces. The catch earned him a $2,500 check during the multi-day tournament stop on Lake Okeechobee in Florida. Asbery finished behind Jeffrey Mathews, Maitland, Florida, who won with a 10-bass bag of 42 pounds, 1 ounce. “This is a great way to start out the season,” Asbery said. “My goal is to win [Co-] Angler of the Year. “I think with this kind of momentum, I’m entering the season in a defensive position, rather than offensive. To finally go down [to Lake Okeechobee] and do well feels good.” This is Asbery’s fifth year to to appear as a co-angler on the FLW Tour. Other tour stops this season include Feb. 22 to 25, Harris Chain of Lakes, Leesburg, Florida; March 8 to 11 Lake Lanier, Gainesville, Georgia; April 12 to 15, Lake Cumberland, Burnside, Kentucky; April 26 to 29, Lewis Smith Lake, Jasper, Alabama; May 17 to 20, Kentucky Lake, Gilbertsville, Kentucky and June 28 to July 1, Lake St. Clair, Detroit, Michigan. In his five years in the FLW, he’s made one appearance at the Forest Wood Cup (in 2015) and fished a total of 61 events. He’s brought in a career earnings of $16,520. More about Asbery The 2011 graduate of Grove High School earned a degree in business marketing from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He has spent much of the last 10 years fishing in various tournaments including the Bass Fishing League (BFL), the Costa and FLW Tour. Like many anglers, Asbery is starting in the “back of the boat,” earning his inital tour experience as a co-angler. During the FLW Tour, as in many tournaments, pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day, with pros supplying the boat, control-
Just The Facts Theron Asbery of Grove placed sixth, in his first Top 10 finish as a co-angler on the FLW Tour with a 10 bass bag, weighing 28 pounds, 9 ounces. He brought home a check for $2,500. Other top 10 finishers during the tournament, which took place Jan. 25 to 28, at Lake Okeechobee in Clewiston, Florida, included: 1st: Jeffrey Mathews, Maitland, Fla., 10 bass, 42-1, $20,000 2nd: Tyler Woolcott, Port Orange, Fla., 10 bass, 37-15, $7,600 3rd: Robby Frashier, Carrollton, Ga., 10 bass, 35-12, $5,050 4th: Shawn Wildt, Bullard, Texas, 10 bass, 32-7, $4,000 5th: Timothy Sisk, Gastonia, N.C., 10 bass, 32-6, $3,250 7th: Howard Poitevint, Bainbridge, Ga., 10 bass, 26-15, $2,000 8th: Kevin Hatfield, Royal Palm Beach, Fla., 10 bass, 26-4, $1,800 9th: Jordan Thompkins, Myrtle Beach, S.C., 10 bass, 26-1, $1,700 10th: George Kapiton, Inverness, Fla., 10 bass, 26-0, $1,600 Overall there were 590 bass weighing 1,127 pounds even caught by 162 co-anglers Friday. The catch included 75 five-bass limits.
Asbery’s sponsors
COURTESY PHOTO
One of swim jig baits Theron Asbery made for himself using Do-It Molds, which helped propel him to a top 10 finish on Lake Okeechobee in Florida.
ling boat movement and competing against other pros. Co-anglers fish from the back deck against other coanglers. A total of 376 pro/ co-angler pairs fished during the first two days of the tournament in Florida. “Being a co-angler is sometimes very stressful because the boaters do really well,” Asbery said. “Sometimes so well, we call them Mops or Vacuums, because they sweep up all of the fish in the front. “But it has been a great learning opportunity. When I pay my entry fee, I look at like college tuition. I get the opportunity to go out and learn how to fish from the best.” During the Lake Okeechobee tournament, Asbery fished behind Wade Curtis, an angler out of California, and William Campbell, a Kentucky angler. In both cases, Asbery said he “out fished” the pros. He credits being around a lot areas with fish, as well as the handmade bait he used using Do-It Molds, one of his title sponsors for this season. “Making my own for nearly 28 cents, which produced a Top 10 finish definitely paid itself off in dividends,” Asbery said. He makes his own bait for three reasons: it helps him fight off cabin fever during the winter/down time months; it saves him money
in a sport which often carries a high price tag, and it gives him a bait which no one else has — or can go purchase. “It’s satisfying because no one else can get their hands on this bait and have the same success,” Asbery said. He also credits the extra effort he put into training for this season, getting himself ready not only mentally, but physically as well. “It feels great to start the season like this,” Asbery said. “It’s great to put all of this work in, and a great way to see the end of the equation. “I plan to stay humble and focused and cognitive of the task ahead.” Looking ahead For now, Asbery is looking towards the next stop on the FLW Tour, at Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Florida. “We went there last year, and I didn’t do very good,” Asbery said. “I wanted vengeance on both Florida lakes and use the momentum to propel me into the tour. “I’m hoping I do as good, or better there, as I did on Lake Okeechobee.” He hopes to finish strong — if not in first place — as a co-angler this season, and then return as a boater — to control the boat — in the BFL and Costa series next year. Asbery’s ultimate goal — earn a spot on the FLW Tour as a professional angler.
In addition to title sponsor, Do-It Molds, Theron Asbery’s sponsors include Gamma Line, Powell Rods, Abu Garcia, Rat-l-Trap, River2Sea, Cuda Brand, Trokar Hooks, Rod Glove and TackleFreaks.com.
COURTESY PHOTO
One of the baits Theron Asbery built using his Do-It Molds for the FLW Tour stop at Lake Okeechobee — a half ounce RatL-Trap in Gold Sexy Zombie.
“Ultimately, I would love to win [a] tour [spot],” Asbery said. When he’s not on the water, Asbery works within the marketing department at Cherokee Casino Grove.
Growing up on Grand Lake Living in Grove and on Grand Lake meant Theron Asbery grew up fishing. In the mid-2000s, when the Bassmaster Elite series came to Grand Lake, Asbery’s father, Randy Asbery, took him to see the tour. Later, he met Professional angler Everett Eaton, who encouraged him to join the BFL tournament. At the age of 16, Asbery won honors during his first year as an angler on the BFL. He joined the FLW tour because of the professionalism the league exhibits both on and off the water. He hopes to serve as a role model for other young anglers. “I think it’s good for the kids to seem me in the crowd, know I’m pursuing an education and still fishing,” Asbery said. “Hard work, dedication and a little luck, along with believing in myself — you can do just about anything. “I hope it teaches kids that whoever they are, they can do something no matter what it is. Believe in yourself and get a good education.”
COURTESY PHOTO
Theron Asbery brings in a fish during a past FLW tournament.