In May, also at Pleasant, fishing with his brother Vu, the duo bested the 144-team field to win the 2018 Surprise Ford Open hosted by WWBT. Au adds these awards to his 2016 and 2017 list of accomplishments, which include a 4th place finish in the 186- boat 2016 WON Bass U.S. Open, to rack up the nearly six-figure bankroll for the three seasons.
We checked in with Au to see how he did it and learn a little more about the General Tire pro.
WB: You have been very successful over the past three seasons. What was different these three years?
AU: Well, in 2016, between WWBT and the U.S. Open, I won over $35,000. Then, last year with my WWBT finishes and AOY title, I earned about $48,000. Overall, 2018 may seem like a successful year to some anglers, but since I didn’t win as much as last year, it seems like I’m going backwards.
I’ve been spoiled the last couple of years and I want to make sure that I get back to that. I’ve got three tournaments left for this year, to salvage my season and earn equal to what I did last year. Moving forward that is my struggle to stay at the level that I was and not backslide. As for how I’ve been fishing differently, I would say I pay more attention to the conditions. Not just evaluating them, but also reacting to them. I don’t want to just notice the that I need to do this or that for the conditions, I want to be able to adjust to them and fish them as they are, in the moment. I think that is something that I’ve worked on and done differently.
WB: How does it feel to be a WWBT Pro Angler of the Year and also win the Teams Anglers of the Year title as well?
AU: Since I started fishing, I’ve always wanted to win an AOY and now I have won both a pro and teams, so it is a goal that I’ve finally accomplished.
WB: What is your long-term goal in the fishing industry?
AU: At some point, I want to go to the FLW Tour. Next year, I would say it will be a positioning year, where I will try to do both the Wild West and the FLW to win enough money to try to do the Tour. That would be my ultimate goal.
WB: Is there a western angler that you look up to?
AU: Some one like Mark Daniels. He started out here, just like us and made it, packed it all up, moved back East and is still making it. It is great to see someone from here do that.
He just won a Bassmaster event and now he is enjoying the payoff of that gamble. I look up to guys like that; but for me personally, it is hard to do with a family.
I don’t want to look back and have regrets that I never tried; but I have to set up to have the money and sponsorships when I do give it a try. I would have to have the means to live here with my family and travel to compete in events, because I don’t want to have to move away from family. I want to do it like Josh Bertrand and Brett Hite and the guys that stay here and then go fish events; plus, I really enjoy driving. If I had an opportunity to fish a Bassmaster event in New York, right now, I would jump in the truck and drive out there.
I just want to make sure my family is okay first; because I wouldn’t gamble with my family’s future.
WB: Who is your overall fishing hero – the guy you’re cheering on when you are watching the Classic or the Cup?
Au states his newest hobby is teaching his son Jayden to fish. Here’s Jayden’s PB from Pleasant.
Tai (right) with his brother Vu celebrating their victory at the 2018 Surprise Ford Open presented by WWBT
Tai (right) with partner Daniel Elias
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Fall 2018
page 49