Long before CITGO Bassmaster Classic fever struck Western Pennsylvania, the Dick's Sporting Goods Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit was holding fishing tournaments on area lakes and rivers.

As the largest bass tournament circuit in the state, it serves as a starting point for aspiring pros and as a vehicle for casual competitors. Last year, 300 two person "buddy teams" competed in tournaments paying $2,000 for first place and $1,000 for the lunker, said KBBC chairman Ernie Pate of Butler.

The circuit, which comprises seven clubs, also sponsors youth fishing days and raises money annually for Make A Wish, which enables a seriously ill child and his family to take the fishing trip of a lifetime.

KBBC kicks off its 2005 season at noon March 13 at the West Deer Fire Hall No. 2 on Saxonburg Boulevard in West Deer Township. And March 20, the KBBC will coordinate CastingKids competitions at nine Dick's Sporting Goods stores. The contests are free and open to anglers ages 7 to 14 looking to flip, pitch and cast their way to the 2006 state, divisional and national finals and an opportunity to win prizes and college scholarships. Qualifying events are held statewide throughout the year.

Benjamin Tawney, 13, of Stoystown and Bryce Bason, 10, of Mill Hall won the 2005 state finals earlier this month in Harrisburg and are hoping to compete in the 2005 national championship that will be held here in July during Classic week festivities. They first must compete at the divisional level in April at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. As a 10-year-old, Tawney won the 2002 championship -- and a $5,000 college scholarship. He has been to divisionals twice. His advice to other who want to get involved is to practice.

"I do that a lot because that's what it takes to win," said Tawney, a student at Shanksville-Stoney Creek Middle School. "I don't usually get nervous, but, if I do, it's because I've been watching other people and they're pretty good."

Since the program's inception in 1991, 1.5 million children in America and Canada have participated in CastingKids. The contest requires them to flip from 10 feet, pitch from 20 feet and cast from 30 feet toward a two-foot target with a two-inch bull's-eye. They get two shots from each distance, using tackle provided by BASS.

National champions also earn cash for their clubs and for their state BASS Federation, but the greater reward is that they are helping ensure the next generation of fishermen, Pate said. "They're the future of fishing."

Those who want to compete March 20 will find KBBC-sponsored events at Dick's Sporting Goods stores in the following locations: Washington, Pa,, Northway Mall, Robinson Towne Center, South Hills Village, Cranberry, Monroeville Mall Annex, Greensburg, Homestead's Waterfront and West Mifflin. For more on CastingKids, visit www.bassmaster.com or www.pabass.com. The first of nine regular-season tournaments is April 2 at Lake Arthur in Butler County. Applications will be available at the kickoff, at Dick's Sporting Goods stores and on-line at www.kbass.com.

Cabin Fever

Fly anglers wait all year for Cabin Fever, the big show and fund-raiser put on by Penn's Woods West Trout Unlimited, which is scheduled Saturday at the Four Points Sheraton in Mars.

It's a new location for the event, which had been held for years in Monroeville. Besides tackle dealers, rod builders, tiers and guides, Cabin Fever this year will feature seminars by some of best-known names in the fly-fishing community, including Bruce Staples of Utah, author of "Trout Country Flies," who will speak on Yellowstone Park back country trout fishing. Between talks, he will tie some of the patterns featured in his book. Staples is the 2001 recipient of the Federation of Fly Fishers' Buzz Buszek Memorial Award for tying excellence.

Casting demonstrations will be done by Sewickley native Dan Shields, owner of Fly Fishers Paradise in State College and author of books on Spring Creek and Pennsylvania fly-fishing legend George Harvey; and by Tom Ference, product development specialist at Frog Hair, the Washington's Landing based fishing line maker and an ESPN Great Outdoors Games fly-fishing contestant.

David Rothrock, of Jersey Shore, Pa., an expert on Pennsylvania's central and north-central streams, will talk about nymphing techniques, and Jack Mickieviez of Philadelphia will speak about basic rod building. Family Tyes, the Baldwin-based fly-fishing club, will conduct a Kids' Corner, with youth casting contest and fly tying.

According to Cabin Fever organizer and Penn's Woods West Trout Unlimited vice president Bill Hayes of Edgeworth, visitors can expect 40 exhibitors from as far away as New York, Maryland and New Jersey, plus the popular annual flea market.

"It will be the largest concentration of fly fishing information and equipment in western Pennsylvania," he said. "There's something for everyone."

Tickets are $6 for adults ($5 when purchased at tackle shops) and include a chance at a weekend trip for two to Spruce Creek. Kids under 12 get in free. For more information, call 412-741-5150 or visit www.pwwtu.org.