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Fall 2018
AU: It is still about the western guys, for me; so, anyone from the West, John Murray, Brent Ehrler, Brett Hite, Mark Daniels, Josh Bertrand – any of our guys. But also, my fishing hero, the most inspirational fishermen ever is Clay Dyer. I ran into some videos with him and I got goosebumps all over, when I saw what he can do. I thought here is a guy with no arms and no legs and he is out there chasing in his dream, being positive and not talking about how life isn’t fair. He inspired me to have a more positive outlook and do better.
WB: So, if money was no object, bass pro would be the job for you?
AU: Absolutely! I cannot think of anything else that I would love to wake up early to go to work for.
be able to focus on their own fishing day and not let anything be left up to a co-angler’s influence.
WB: How long have you been fishing?
AU: Just regular fishing, since I was about 11 or 12. I’ve been tournament fishing since I was 15. A lot of times I ask myself, why do I like to get in the truck and drive so far from home to go out and try to catch this thing with a pea- sized brain; but for me, it is about the competition and the camaraderie and my friends out there.
I just love every aspect of it. It has gotten to the point that even when I am watching an FLW or B.A.S.S. show on TV, I get a knot in my stomach; because, I want to be out there with them.
WB: If you were out there fishing the Tour, how would you feel about the new marshal instead of co-angler sitch?
AU: I like it. I like it a lot. At that level – and really even at the regional level – I think that the co-angler can have too much of an outcome on the fishing. When you’re at that caliber and fishing for that kind of money, you don’t want the co-angler to alter anything. Don’t get me wrong, starting as a co-angler is a great way to get started; but, just not at that level of fishing. I want to see the pros net their own fish to have an even playing field. If you think about it one guy’s co could be better at netting than another guy’s co; so, one guy has an advantage over another, depending on their co.
Plus, if you have a co-angler, you have to fish differently and position your boat differently. It is just better for guys to
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WB: How did you get started fishing as a youngster?
AU: My dad. My parents escaped the communism from South Vietnam to the Philippines. During that journey, they lived in a refugee camp in the Philippines, while they were getting papers to come to the U.S. My brother Vu was born there and they all came here around ’82. I was born here in ’83. My dad had come to Tucson, where his brother lived. Growing up, my dad wasn’t on any government assistance program or anything like that. He would take us out every week and we fished for everything – we fished for food – bluegills, catfish, carp, trout. Sometime around middle school, I caught my first bass. I will never forget it. That day I was hooked on the excitement.
WB: What is your favorite location to fish?
AU: The California Delta, without a doubt. This is a special place for me; because it is where I was having a rough time and the Delta is where I got my passion back for bass fishing again. At that point, I had given up fishing, sold my boat and everything – even most of my tackle. I wasn’t working, and I was living with my baby sister.
My brother Vu convinced me to come and fish the Delta as a co-angler in the FLW. He literally dragged me out of the house to it and paid my entry.
Going into the last day, I had a four-pound lead and was going to win a boat in my very first tournament back. But, I didn’t get it done and I ended up 2nd. Looking back, I am glad I got 2nd, because it gave me back my drive and reignited my excitement for bass fishing again.
WB: If you could only fish one lure for the rest of your life, what would it be?
AU: A Yamamoto Senko; because it works anywhere, everywhere and I’ve made the most money on that bait than anything else. It works year-round. You only have to adapt to thinking about the colors for conditions or situations.
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WB: Do you like to fish for quality or quantity?
AU: I like to fish for bigger fish and fish lakes that hold quality fish. I would take a few big ones over 50 littles ones, anytime.
WB: Tell us something about yourself that no one knows.
AU: I used to be a break dancer. And secretly, I want to make it to the Bassmaster Classic, so that I can fish against Mike Iaconelli and challenge him to a dance-off at the end. •
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