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LIFE SPORTSLocal man is expert on bass fishingBy Jeff KirikNew Castle NewsThere is more to fishing than just buying a rod, reel and tackle, and heading to the nearest water hole.Just ask Kerry Carlo. In the past six years, the 39-year-old New Castle resident has dedicated himself to becoming a top professional bass fisherman. Carlo has spent nearly as much time reading, watching television and learning the sport as he has casting and reeling in fish.“Technique is important,” he said. “You have to know your fish and how they live. You have to know weather conditions and water conditions.”Those factors, as well as lure choice and seasonal conditions, are crucial if anglers expect to catch their limit.The concept of a professional angler may seem unusual to some, but the sport is a popular one and has a large following throughout the country. Pro anglers like Carlo participate in fishing competitions where they try to catch as many fish as possible. Pro anglers gather sponsors, which compensate the anglers either financially or with merchandise. In exchange, the anglers endorse the companies’ products at seminars and competitions.Carlo has snagged four sponsors to date, including New Castle Battery and Castle Valley Enterprises of New Castle. He also has a contract with Abu Garcia Fishing Equipment in New Jersey and Feature Lures in Idaho. From these companies he receives supplies ranging from rods to lures to motor oil to sun screen to money for the competition entry fees.In an average year he com-Kerry Carlo at home with some of his poles and trophies.petes in about 30 tournaments, does four fishing shows and gives numerous seminars.Carlo first became interested in professional fishing in 1986. He had been a fan of television’s fishing shows for a long time but had never become seriously involved with the sport.In 1986 he attempted to join a Mercer fishing club, but club officials encouraged him to start a Lawrence County club instead. A year later, Carlo had formed the Lawrence County Anglers Club.Though the club struggled at first, it now has 17 members, most of whom are tournament fishermen.Since the club’s inception, Carlo has won five of its bass tournaments and has been the Angler of the Year once. Twice he has been named the Lawrence County Anglers Federation Angler of the Year, and on four occasions he has been named Bass Master of the Year.He already calls fishing a fulltime job, but he has another fulltime job at New Castle Battery.“I'd like to become a touring professional on the circuit,” he said, noting that there are numerous pro circuits around the country, including the American Bass Association, the Redman Tournament Trail and the Pennsylvania Bass Federation.Carlo’s specialty is bass -largemouth, spotted and smallmouth. His favorite is thesmallmouth.“It’s a battler.” he said. “It’s a very intelligent fish, a well-adapted predator.”He has reeled in several trophy fish in his career, among them a five-pound, eight-ounce largemouth, a five-pound largemouth and a five-pound smallmouth.Competition is what Carlo said he loves about his sport.“It’s a competition not only against the other anglers but also against the fish themselves,” he said. “I feel like I’m competing more against the fish than the other anglers.”
Newspaper Details
New Castle News Weekend
New Castle, Pennsylvania, US
Sat, May 23, 1992
Page 10
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 13 Jun 2019
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