KID CASTERS GIVEN CHANCE TO REEL IN SCHOLARSHIPS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, January 12, 1992                   TAG: 9201130250
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
KID CASTERS GIVEN CHANCE TO REEL IN SCHOLARSHIPS
Youngsters who are accurate in casting, pitching and flipping a fishing lure will get the opportunity to reel in college scholarship money as part of the BASSMASTER BP CastingKids program sponsored by the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society.
Competition is scheduled Saturday at the Salem Civic Center and the Burnt Chimney Elementary School. Winners from these events travel to the Bassarama in Richmond Jan. 25 for state competition.
The kids will be scored for accuracy while casting, pitching and flipping a hookless lure to a bull's-eye target, said Rick Moorer, of the Star City Bassmasters. The idea is to teach children the basics of fishing to make the activity more rewarding, he said.
Moorer said his club, and others, will conduct the competition from noon to 6 p.m. at the civic center during the Old Dominion Bass Anglers Show.
Similar competition will take place 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the Burnt Chimney Elementary School, according to Gary Nichols of the Franklin County Bassmasters.
Those who win the following week during the Bassarama at the State Fairgrounds will advance to the CastingKids semifinals scheduled for the Wrangler/B.A.S.S. Federation National championship in April at a site to be announced.
From there, finalists go to the BASS Masters Classic in August to compete for a total of $20,000 in college scholarship money. The site of the '92 Classic, held in Baltimore last year, has not been announced.
There are two age levels of competition, 7 to 10 and 11 to 14, Moorer said. Tackle is furnished. Kids may choose between a push-botton spin-cast outfit or an open-faced spinning reel, both furnished by Abu Garcia. Winners during local competition get to keep the rod and reel and earn a medallion, said Moorer.
Competition has been taking place across the country, said Ann Lewis, director of publicity for B.A.S.S., which is headquartered in Montgomery, Ala. The program is patterned after Punt, Pass and Kick football competition, she said.
For additional information on the Salem and Franklin County events, contact Moorer, 563-2703, or Nichols, 989-0493.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB