As the early morning sky starts to lighten, we pull into the ramp parking lot. We pause for a breath of fresh air and stretch our muscles before quickly preparing our gear for the day's tournament. We then walk over to greet a "good morning" to the Tournament Director and register our presence. After doing so we launch the boat into the water, park the truck, and await the start of the tournament. After a quick prayer and a time check we are released to pursue trying for the largest catch of the day.
Only moments after the trollermotor is lowered into the water, both partners look at each other and speak of how beautiful the weather is and that they hope everyone fishing the tournament that day has good luck. Then one partner turns to me and ask, "Dad, do you think this day will be good for the all of the kids?" With a smile, I reply that I think so.
Whom I am speaking about is my 14-year-old son Mark. What I am speaking about is one morning of a kid's club tournament that he and his friend and fellow club member, Ryan, were fishing. They belong to a Bass Junior club named BASS Kids of Indiana. The youth club is sponsored by the Central Indiana Bass Anglers of Moorseville, IN, an I.B.C.F. affiliated club.
With all the sports activities offered to our youth now days, baseball, soccer, football, etc., the one thing that appears to be missing is a opportunity for young people to get involved in what so many of us hold dear, "bass fishing". Namely "tournament bass fishing". We offer so many great fishing related opportunities, such as CastingKids contest, local one day Kid's fishing derbies, and even once or twice a year open fishing tournaments put on by varies generous organizations such as the Hoosier Bass'n Gals. But what I have noticed is that none of these seem to bring on the full enjoyment of belonging to a club. A club made up of young peers and friends that frequently meet through out the year to enjoy the friendship and "passion" of friendly individual competition against one of nature's best opponents, "Mr. Black Bass".
Almost every fishing organization existing today has something to offer to our youth. But "organizations" can not bring these passions to our youth without the help of individuals that make up these groups. We all talk about protecting our fishing future for our youth, but sadly, there are not many of us that actually get involved in "long term" or more than "one day a year events" that truly teach these kids what we enjoy doing and what Mother Nature has to offer. Children don't go fishing: they are taken fishing.
I am writing this letter to help bring this subject to the attention of all the BASS clubs in this state. Getting a kid's club started is very easy and very satisfying. Remember how excited you were the first time you won a club tournament or caught the largest bass of the day? These kids get that exciting sensation ten times greater than most of us adults.
Competition rules for the kid's tournaments can be very open. For instants the members of BASS Kids of Indiana get credit for every inch of bass they catch. This allows for a higher credited catch rate while teaching different techniques of the sport. And without driving the "win at all cost" or "perfect performance" mentality. Remember that they are just kids! They also can bring in any fish meeting the State or local lake requirements to proudly "show it off" and get their picture taken. Their tournaments average 4 to 6 hours a day, one tournament a month, April through September. Mostly all on small lakes that offer high catch ratios. Their club standings are based on the total inches (rounded off to the nearest inch) of fish caught by each angler for the year.
They pay a very small club dues and tournament dues, which is paid back out to them 100% at seasons end along with trophy awards given out at the sponsoring adult club's banquet. Prizes are also given out to each of them at the individual tournaments for participating. The sponsoring adult club and local business sponsors usually supply these. Also collected from each child is a $5 Bass dues. In return each child is sent a packet from Bass, with gifts, stating that they are an official member of Bass and National Bass
Bass offers easy step by step instruction booklets for getting a Junior BASS club started. Contact Bass or one of the officers of the Central Indiana Bass Anglers, or myself, and we will be very happy to help any interested adult sponsoring clubs get started.
I have a goal of some day in the near future of having a yearly "Junior BASS State Finals" tournament, that hopefully will bring about the awareness to these kids of how many others there are that share the same interest. A "Junior Indiana Team" going to a national level of competition would be absolutely great.
Thank You,
Ken Gibbs
Zone 2 West Director
(317) 745-7404
kgibbs@woodmizer.com
