Local teen heads out on pro-bassing tour

PRO BASSING — Joey Nania, 19, of Liberty Lake headed out of the region this week with fellow Inland Empire Bass Clubber Art Acuff of Spokane Valley to begin the 2011 professional bass fishing season at the Central Open in Texas.

After that, Nania plans to make a base in Birmingham, Alabama, to be close to major tournament venues.

Nania, the nation’s only two-time Junior Bassmaster Champion, debuted on the pro bass tour last year. He finishing 9th in the BASS Central Open on Lake Amistad and first on the Washington State BASS Federation Nation Team while slipping to 24th in a field of 55 anglers at the Federation Nation National Championships.