Ashley Signs Country Music Development Contract

By Alan Clemons

PAA Communications

Lucky Craft pro Casey Ashley recently hooked one of the biggest catches of his career and it didn’t involve a boat, lures or water.

The fourth-year pro from South Carolina has signed a development contract with Buddy Lee Attractions, one of Nashville’s largest privately-owned talent agencies. Founded in 1964, BLA’s diverse client list includes Earl Thomas Conley, Edgar Winter, Jamie O’Neal, Jason Aldean, Gallagher, Rhett Atkins, Atlanta Rhythm Section, John Cafferty and Pat Travers.

“It’s just a developmental contract, the beginning stages of it,” Ashley modestly said. “They see potential and will try to carry me to where I need to be, and we’ll see where it goes from there.

“They’re one of the biggest companies in Nashville. They’re good people to be with and have a lot of ties. I think it will go somewhere. They like the fact I have a ready-made audience with fishing fans and have had a pretty good career so far.”

In four years on the Bassmaster Elite Series, Ashley has won once and earned more than $435,000 while finishing in the money 32 times out of 49 tournaments. His win came in 2007 on Smith Mountain Lake. Ashley has qualified for three Bassmaster Classic championships.

Ashley is registered for the PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series presented by Carrot Stix. The season begins July 8-10 on Cherokee Lake in Morristown, Tenn.

“I’ve heard some guys talking about the lake and how it might be tough, which is just fine with me,” Ashley said. “I like tough tournaments, the ones where you have to figure out something and then get with it. Last year I didn’t fish anything after the (Elite) season ended and it just about killed me. I’m a fisherman and need to fish, so this year I’m looking forward competing in the PAA events.”

Ashley began singing “I guess as early as I can remember,” he said, and has parlayed that into appearances at different events. He has performed the National Anthem before tournament launches, played at social gatherings and last week performed for more than an hour at the Triton Owner’s Tournament at Kentucky Lake.

Ashley didn’t learn to play guitar until eight years ago when he was 18 years old, which he regrets starting so late in life. He carries his guitar on the road now, playing when he can, to build on the two years of lessons he took to learn the instrument.

Two years ago Ashley might have just laughed if someone told him he’d be on the cusp of a music development deal.

“Everyone’s always said I could have a career singing, but I love to fish and want to do that, and fishing’s got me where I am,” he said. “But fishing also has presented this opportunity and I’m going to try both. It’s an advantage to have an audience of sorts with the fishing world because so many people who enjoy fishing also enjoy country music.”

Donna Lee of Buddy Lee Attractions said the combination of fishing, the outdoors and country music is a natural fit.

“I have wanted to integrate music and sports on our roster for a while,” Lee said in a press release. “What better way to do so than with the merging of country music and professional fishing fans? Casey Ashley is the epitome of the ‘hometown country boy.’ I look forward to watching him grow into as talented of a singer as he is a fisherman.”

Low-key and humble, Ashley says he’s excited to see what the future holds. He’s talked with fellow angler Boyd Duckett of Alabama, who had a successful career in the Nashville music industry, and already has tasted success with his song “Fisherman.”

“I guess we’ll just see where this takes me,” he said. “Boyd said the tip of the triangle is small and it’s narrow on both sides, and he’s right. You have to work hard to get there.”