Lone Star juniors adding younger anglers

The membership of the fast-growing Lone Star Junior Bassmasters club is expected to increase with the addition of a new age group in 2016.

DALLAS-FORT WORTH, Texas — The membership of the fast-growing Lone Star Junior Bassmasters club is expected to increase with the addition of a new age group in 2016.

Club adviser Robert Brown announced the club will be adjusting its membership to allow for 7- to 10-year-olds to join the club. The club was originally set up for 11- to 18-year-olds but will now include the age group of 7-13 so the younger kids can have a chance to advance to the new Junior Bassmaster Championship.

Brown noted the new group will meet for the first time in January.

“We do have interest already from youths who want to sign up,” he said.

The Long Star junior club was formed in December 2012 with six charter members. Membership has since grown to 25 anglers.

“We are getting new kids to join by word of mouth, and the junior club grew so fast that it outgrew the adult club, Tarrant Christian Bass Club,” Brown said.

Brown said he thinks the success of the Lone Star Junior Bassmasters has also helped spur interest in high school fishing in the area.

“We have had several high school clubs started in the area by members who came out of our junior club,” he said.

The club holds 11 tournaments a year from January through November. The 2015 season finale was held Nov. 14 at Lewisville Lake and was won by Jake Soto with 7.67 pounds. The club wrapped up its year with an award ceremony and Christmas party, Dec. 5, held in conjunction with the Tarrant Christian Bass Club. During the ceremony, trophies were presented to the club’s angler of the year, Carson Kirkhuff, and the rest of the Top 6 finishers in the point standings.

To learn more about the club and to get tournament results for 2015, visit the club’s website.