Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Post Falls Youngsters Top Casting Competition

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Revi

Two youngsters from Post Falls came to Spokane recently to give the big city kids a few lessons on fishing.

Trey Russell, 9, and Justin Robison, 11, topped the field of 55 competitors in the Bassmaster CastingKids qualifying event sponsored by the Spokane Bass Anglers at University Mall.

Russell scored 80 points out of a possible 150 to win the 7-10 year old age category. Robison scored 120 points to win the 11-14 age group.

The contest calls for hitting a target from 10, 20 and 30 feet using pitching, flipping, and casting techniques.

Russel said he’s been practicing for the even since last summer, and doing a little fishing with his uncle.

“We fish mostly at Twin Lakes for largemouth bass,” he said, noting that his biggest lunker to date was 2 pounds, 4 ounces.

When a reporter tried to reach Robison at 6 p.m. recently, he was out in the neighbor’s yard practicing his casting techniques - long after dark, with the temperature near 25 degrees.

“I didn’t really practice before the contest (in Spokane),” he said when he finally came in out of the cold. “Mostly I practice when I go fish.”

That adds up to considerable time with a rod, considering that he says he’s been fishing since he was 14 months old. “I have pictures to prove it,” he said.

His favorite spots are Hauser Lake and the chain lakes along the lower Coeur d’Alene River, where he fishing out of a boat with his father, Clyde.

Robison said he’s landed bass up to 4 pounds, 8 ounces, “but I lost an 8-pounder,” he said.

Russell and Robison won rods and reels at the Spokane event and qualify for the state finals at the International Sportsmen’s Expo in the Seattle Kingdome Feb. 11, said Kerry Lynch, Spokane Bass Anglers youth activities chairman. The kids compete in the state of the sponsoring club.

“There’s no sponsor club in North Idaho, so they came to our contest,” said Lynch.

With two more wins, Russell or Robison could compete for up to $5,000 in scholarships and other gear at the Bassmaster Classic, the nation’s premier professional fishing tournament.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review