• Each angler will receive a weigh bag at their first tournament. Anglers will be responsible for their own weigh bag and will not be allowed to participate without a weigh bag or cooler. Anglers competing in the classic can win rods, reels, lures, and other merchandise. The winner of the classic will receive a Pond Prowler Boat!
• A presentation will be given by a local bass professional whenever possible at the end of each tournament. The award ceremony will follow.
• Fishing is from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
• Anglers must preregister for each tournament. Registration must be completed by 3:30 p.m. the Thursday prior to the tournament date. Anyone through the age of 16 may participate in the tournaments. Anglers need to provide their own tackle, and only artificial lures may be used (no live bait). There is no entry fee, only a $1.50 entrance fee into the parks. These are all catch and release tournaments. All fish must be released for points to count. There will be a dead fish penalty for any fish that does not swim away. Anglers must provide either a weigh bag or cooler to transport live fish to the weigh station. A maximum of 70 anglers (35 in each age category) will be allowed to fish in each tournament. There is a three-fish limit, 10 inch minimum. Only peacock and largemouth bass will count in the tournament. Anyone age 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Fishing is restricted to the shore. In the case of a tie, the angler with the biggest fish wins. All tournament committee decisions are final.
• Points will be accumulated from each tournament. Points will be given to each angler for fishing in each tournament even if he/she does not catch any fish. After the last tournament in October, all participants' points will be totaled, and the top 20 anglers will be invited to fish the Classic.
• There will be a wild card tournament in November. The top three anglers from the Wild Card tournament will be invited to fish in the Classic. To be eligible for the Wild Card tournament, the angler must fish in three previous tournaments that year. There will be no age group categories in the Wild Card tournament or the Classic. Anglers already eligible to fish the Classic will not be eligible to fish in the Wild Card tournament. There will be no points awarded for this tournament.
• First through third place prizes will be awarded for both smallfry and junior age categories. Smallfry is through age 10 and junior is through age 16. Angler of the Year awarded to the angler with the most points accumulated after the Classic in December. The winner of the South Florida Junior Classic will win an eight-foot Pond Prowler with trolling motor.
• For additional information, please contact Gary Waingrow at 954-306-3441 or Bob Newland at 954-985-1980 or rnewland@broward.org.

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Junior Bass Tournament Trail

Sponsored by:

If you think you are ready to compete in bass fishing against kids your own age and you have a boat of your own, then the Tenth Annual Junior Bass Tournament Trail may be just for you. Sponsored by the Broward County Parks and Recreation Division along with Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World and Gambler Worms, the program is designed to provide real bass tournament competition experience for ages 12 to 17.

Fishing from electric trolling motored boats in three Broward County parks, the competition will take place January through April 2008. The sites will include Tradewinds Park, Quiet Waters Park and C.B. Smith Park.

Tournament dates and locations:

The second tournament at C.B. Smith Park was an example of how tough fishing can be. Only 24 bass were brought to the scale. Kenny Finley spent all day in one spot to catch his limit, and Tyler Nekolny spent two hours getting his big fish, which was on a bed, to bite. Now that's patience! In both cases it paid off.

Special thanks to Captain Dave Jefford of Crystal River, Florida, who donated 20 hand carved, hand painted lures to the participants. These baits are works of art and no doubt catch fish. To find out more about these beautiful lures, email fisherford@xtalwind.net. Another big thank you to Sean Stickler, local bass pro from the FLW tour, who conducted a fishing clinic for all the participants from his boat and trailer.  Sean provided some great advice, tips and giveaways, along with answering everyone's questions on tournament bass fishing.

Tournament point totals will be compiled over the four months of competition. The participant with the most points at the end of four months will be the Junior Angler of the Year and will win a special prize package. The cost of the program is $60 per participant, and each participant must be accompanied by an adult of eighteen years or older. The adult will not be permitted to fish during the competition. For registration and more information about this unique program, contact Bob Newland at 954-985-1980 ext. 228.

Did you know there are many parks in Broward County that have great fishing areas? With fishing being the second most popular sport in the U.S., it's time you knew what Broward County Parks and Recreation has to offer. (Applicable licenses are required for those over age 16 and under age 65.)

The following information about Broward County Parks fishing comes from John Cimbaro, Biological Scientist III, of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The Plantation Heritage Fish Management Area (in Plantation Heritage Park) has fair to good bream (bluegill and redear sunfish) fishing, good bass fishing, and good catfishing.

There are three fish feeders on site, and near those feeders are the best locations to fish for the bream and catfish. Channel catfish are stocked annually (4,000 fish/year), and catfish up to 12.5 pounds have been caught at Heritage. The area is also very scenic. Fishing is allowed from the shore only, not from any of the rental boats. Because it is a Fish Management Area, there are other restrictions as well, such as only one pole per person-even with a cane pole, and you must have a valid fresh water fishing license if you are older than 16 or under age 65.

T.Y. Park is not good for bream fishing, but very good for bass fishing. The best fishing is from boats (pedalboats and rowboats are available for rent at T.Y. Park). C.B. Smith Park has fair bass with exotic spotted tilapia and a growing population of peacock bass present. There are boat rentals at the marina but lots of shoreline fishing places as well. Quiet Waters Park has good bass fishing, good shorline access, and is a farily scenic location to fish. Boats and food concessions are available at the Lakeview Marina. You may bring your own electric trolling motor for use on the rowboats. Fishing is permitted along any shore except at Splash Adventure Swimming Beach and the Ski Rixen Lake.

For all-around fishing, a good setup is a #8 Aberdeen hook fished about three feet under a one-inch bobber. A small split shot near the hook will keep your bait down where the fish can spot it. Recommended baits include live worms, crickets, cut hot dogs, and doughballs. All these baits, especially the live worms, will catch most kinds of fish but are especially good for bream. Good lures for bream include tiny jigs, beetle spins, or spinners. For bass, use larger hooks (1/0 or larger). The best bass bait is live shiner. Good lures for bass include plastic worms (black works well most of the time), minnow imitating lures, and spinnerbaits. Good baits for catfish include chicken or beef liver and live worms (catfish rarely strike lures). Use 1/0 or larger hooks for catfish and fish on the bottom rather than using a bobber.

Here is some information about other Broward County parks that have fishing areas:

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