Jake Bussolini, local fishing book author, and his volunteers from the Mooresville Harbour Fishing Club hosted 30 kids to a morning of fishing at the Bass Pro Store pond in Concord. This was the fifth annual event hosted by Bussolini and the first time more girls fished than boys and the girls landed more fish than the boys. Fourteen boys and 16 girls caught a total of almost 50 fish July 13.
Bussolini, with Paul Mack, Skip Weber, Ken Roberts, Rich Doering, Gene Engle, Lou Mintzer, Kerry Murphy and local aspiring bass angler Carson Orellana, helped bait hooks, cast, land and measure fish. Several of the Bass Pro staff were also offering a helping hand. Every child caught at least one fish.
Not one angler got stuck with a hook or fell in the pond and by noon most were putting the worms on the hooks and casting their baits like pros.
Prizes were donated by the Bass Pro Store, Boaters Warehouse and Bussolini. Seven rods and reels, 16 hats, three books, rulers and other fishing gear were awarded to the young anglers.
Sara Clements, 14, caught the most fish and this was the first time she ever caught a fish. Her brother Hal, 6, got the smallest fish and her younger brother Tanner, 4 was the youngest boy angler. The Clements family recently moved from the Chicago area to Mooresville and had six anglers fishing and six children smiling and laughing.
Allen Stone, 13 landed the first bass, 15 inches long. Colton Cox caught the biggest fish of the day, a 17-inch catfish followed by a 13-inch catfish. Logan Cehon took the honors for the most fish, three, by a boy. Bailey McIntyre had a 7¾-inch bream for big fish on the girls’ team. And Gracie Caminiti, 5, was the youngest girl angler.
Lou Mintzer is a freelance writer for Lake Norman News. Have a story idea for Lou? Email him lou_mintzer@hotmail.com.
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