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.