Bass anglers show contest winner a good time

            By the smiles on their faces, it was easy for passersby to tell that the six competitive bass anglers standing on the dock at Lake Mead Marina had just done something that made them feel good about themselves. Sandwiched in between them was Alexandra Dumitru, winner of the 2007 Free Fishing Day Poster Contest sponsored by the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW). This is a statewide contest open to all fourth and fifth grade students annually.

            As the poster contest winner, Dumitru and her family were given the opportunity to go on a guided fishing trip, compliments of the Nevada BASS Federation.

            “Youth and conservation is where we’re focused, as well as getting new people involved in fishing. When the department asked us to help with Alexandra, nobody could say no,” said Tim Myers, Federation president. “I took it to the general meeting of the Federation guys, all the clubs, and everybody said, ‘Go for it. All expenses paid. Get her out there. Giver her a good time, a mini tournament.’”

            Although it was Dumitru’s very first fishing experience, it didn’t take her long to set the standard for everybody. She caught the first two fish of the day, both spunky largemouth bass. And just to make sure Dumitru went home with her very own one-that-got-away story, a very large bass took her bait just long enough to put up a good fight. The fish even cleared the water before spitting out the hook.

            Dumitru said she had a good time and was anxious to go fishing again. She also said she was going to make sure that her dad took her fishing. It was hard to tell who was more excited and proud of Alexandra, her parents Octavian and Nicoleta Dumitru who joined her for the adventure, or the half-dozen professional fishermen. 

            “Getting kids outside is important to the future of wildlife and wildlife management. Fishing is also a great way to keep kids out of trouble,” said Ivy Santee, angler educator for NDOW.

            Speaking of their day on the lake, pro-angler Brent Becker said, “I remember when my dad took me fishing, and I can’t thank him enough for that. So I think you should always take a kid fishing, that’s the grassroots of our sport. I think she’s going to be hooked for life. She caught two or three bass today, and the smile on her face – she said it was fun. So I think she’s hooked. She’ll be going fishing a lot more.”

            Myers was just as excited.  “She did great. She caught that first fish and it was fun for her. I watched her the whole time. She was hooked. She was excited and had a good time,” he said.

            The Nevada BASS Federation has two additional youth events on the near horizon. On July 28, the organization is hosting a Casting Kids event at Peter Piper Pizza on the corner of Decatur and Alta. Participants flip, pitch and cast a hookless lure to a bullseye target. Winners of two age groups will have the opportunity to compete for a trip to the national championship with state BASS champion Jesse Milicevic. The event is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to noon.

            For kids who may want a taste of big time bass fishing, the Federation is also hosting a Junior Bassmaster qualifying tournament for kids ages 11 – 18 at the Kirch Wildlife Management Area August 4-5. The kids will fish from the front of a boat and work for their own five-fish limit like the pros do, said Myers. Winners of two age groups will get a shot at going to the Bassmaster Classic where $21,000 in scholarships is for grabs.

            “Maybe we can turn some kids onto fishing and maybe they’ll want to go on and become fisheries biologists or something like that,” Myers said.

            More information on the BASS Federation can be found on the web at www.nevadabassfederation.com.