ABA CAST division

[geobass]

I'm the director for district 87 Kentucky Bluegrass. I would love to see the CAST program brought back. What hurt my district was the lack of boaters. If CAST members had brought with them a parent, uncle, aunt, brother,ect he could grow the ABA district in which the CAST members were fishing. I hated to send CAST members home because we didn't have enought boats for them.
My district is blessed with 2 great colleges UK and EKU had very good support for its anglers. I had several CAST members fish my district from other colleges. It has been a slow road to building up this district. I would like to suggest in your e-mails mention that you might be able to help out with membership drives in order to help local directors in building up their districts.
Morris is a very understanding man and listens to ALL ABA members!
I'm not speaking for Morris, but I think he was kind of hurt at the lack of interest in the CAST program. Show him that you care and who knows what will happen.
Good luck and hope too see you at a tournament soon.
George Salov

[EJHick]

The state of Kentucky was well represented in the CAST program. I beleive we had the most participants, as well as consistent full fields in the two divisions I fished. Murray ended up coming in first and UofL took second overall. I guess the main reason why some college students do not fish it, is because the championship is an entire week of school and work. We can afford to miss one week, well not really but we do anyway...But two or three weeks, no way! Some guys this year fished the ESPN and FOX deal and decided not to do the ABA championship b/c there was no way they could miss that much school. If the championship or regional championships were ever held while school was not in session then they would see a tremendous rise in collegiate anglers. I mean it is costly for us, say we fish 4 one days, one 2 day, and the championship...1 days = $20 gas for boater+$truck gas+$food+$lodging = your talking around $75-$100 for a one day, championship over $400 plus work missed(and all the **** school work that you miss and have to bust your butt off just to catch up). I say in the 6 tournaments I fished this year I spent well over $1,000 as a non-boater and did not have a chance to win any money until the championship. I ended up cashing in with a $1000 scholarship and just about breaking even, but the average college student just can not afford all of that. I don't have a solution to the problem, but you will not see as high of numbers that you may expect because this is such a PRICEY sport...or addiction if your like me. Anyway, just my 2

[artcarney_agr]

Yep, it's expensive. You gotta pay to play! All it takes is one extraodinary win and you're in good shape!

The only bad thing that I see that might come from collegiate angling is that there's not as much competition involved and finishing first is a little easier. A first place finish can really go to a person's head, especially if they're just getting into the sport! Next thing you know they're getting cocky and not listening and learning from others any more, which is a very bad thing! A sure sign of this is when they begin using "Bad Draws" as an excuse for poor performance as a non-boater. Geezz Eric, this sounds like you! Ha ha ha!!! Just kidding man. Congratulations on second place in the ABA National! I'd say your focus in the upcoming season should be on winning the Battle in the Bluegrass! We've gotta get that giant lure back in our possession! EKU and Murray have dominated the Bluegrass collegiate angling scene this year...it's time to change that!