Bio-Lancaster Farming, Casting Kids Aim High At Lancaster Sports Show ANDY ANDREWS Lancaster Farming Staff LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.) At the Bass Masters Casting- Kids competition last Saturday at the Lancaster Sports and Outdoor Show, all it took was a little prac tice. a good rod and reel, a great lure, and lots of luck. The prize was big—choice of a a brand new rod and reel combina tion courtesy of Rubbermaid and the Lancater County Chapter of Bass Masters. It looked easy in practice. You just grabbed a spincasting reel fit ted with a ’/• ounce Berkley “jig” lure (without the hook, of course) and went fishing. Well, it was a little more com plicated than that You had to strike the BassMas lers target. The closer to the center you landed the lure, the more points you scored. The competitor with the neatest number of points won the prize. Steven Steinberg, 8, Lancaster, launched the lure from the first spot, at 10 feet, and hit the bull’s-eye 50 on the first try. That was the “dipping” distance. At the next spot, 20 feet, the “pitching” distance, he scored a 30. Not bad! But at the “casting" distance of 30 feet, it got trickier, and Steven was only able to hit the edge of the target. Brandi Lund, 14, Lititz, at the practice area, easily hit the center and scored SO at the dipping dis tance. But the longer the distance, the harder it got. She switched reels and was finally able to strike the target for 30 points at the “casting” distance of 30 feet In practice, Brandi’s brother Jared, 8, could hit the target at the casting distance, but couldn’t score high enough on the target. But when it came down to the marker, Jared hit a 30 at the casting level. JJ. Martin, 7, Ephrata, worked with instructor Dennis Lausch to improve the “pitching” distance for quite a while before stepping into the competition area. Ashley Camithers, 9, Columbia, had assistance from Mike Krofchek to improve at the longer distance casting level. With all this competition stir ring, who would emerge the champion? In the end, the 7-10 year-old champion was Ashley Camithers from Columbia, and in the 11-14 year-old category, Dan Dore, 12. Leola, was champion. These champions have a chance to com pete at the statewide competition in February. “The competition serves to promote the work of the local Bass Masters club, which is con servation and youth work,” said Ken Keener, president of the chap ter. “It is important to us to involve more kinds in these events, which promote wholesome activi ties and recreation.” Two age groups competed, including 7-10 years and 11-14 years. The contest was the primer for the state event, to be held in State College in February. The national championship is sche duled July 25 at High Rock Lake in Saturday, February 5,1994 Greensboro, N.C. The big prize at the Greensboro contest? A $5,000 scholarship, according to Keener. Also, second place is a $2,000 scholarship, third is $1,500, fourth is $1,0(X). and fifth is $5OO. Keener said the local club is affiliated with the national club, Ashley Camithers, 9, Columbia, hits the target with the “jig” during practice at the Casting Kids competition last Saturday. She was champion in her age category. Jared Lund, 8, LHitz, scores 30 points at tha long "cast ing” distance while Robert Oberly, Instructor, looks on. the National BASS (Bass Anglet Sportsmen’s Society), which boasts a membership of 23,000 statewide. The local club meets the first Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Lititz American Leg ion. Annual dues are $27. The local club boasts a member ship of 40, and is growing, accord- ing to Keener. This is the second year for the To prepare for the big contests, event at the Lancaster Sports and members meet for a practice ses- Outdoor Show. sionatEastTowneMall in Lancas- If you want to know more about ter. Unfortunately, the session the local Bass Masters club, and scheduled for early January this how it promotes fishing and con year was cancelled because of bad servation, call Keener at (717) weather. 626-6187. Steven Steinberg, 8, Lancaster, competes at the “flip ping" distance of 10 feet with help from Robert Oberly, Instructor. J.J. Martin, 7, Ephrata, competea at, . “casting" tance of 30 fast, whlla Dannls Lauseh, Instructor, looks on.