Nation: Forest City Bassmasters hold casting clinic

London, Ontario, Canada — Local kids and their parents and new club members learned some of the basics of casting March 22 during the inaugural Forest City Bassmasters 2016 Casting Clinic & Competition.

“We had close to a dozen kids ranging in ages from about 6 to 16,” said Mark Biesinger, Forest City Bassmasters club president. 

Organizers of the event were club member Fred Gallina, who originated the idea, and Dave Harris, the B.A.S.S. Nation club’s vice president. Club Youth Director Jeff Beacham, Club Conservation Director Cole Bailey, Club Secretary Scott Howe and fellow club members Nate Talaskavich, Tony Hemming and Biesinger helped lead the various learning mini-sessions. 

Some of the mini-sessions included finesse/spinning setups, setting up a baitcaster, general casting techniques and how to flip and pitch.   

“The night finished off with a flipping and pitching competition, won by one of our high schoolers, Spencer Shirley,” Biesinger said. “He not only beat out the other juniors but the regular club members as well.” 

The Forest City club is in its third year of existence and has grown from 10 members to 25. The club also formed an associated high school club that has six members. For more information about the club, visit www.forestcitybassmasters.com.