Tiara Barrett was exultant about her catch.

“I got a big-mouth bass — 12 inches, I think. I’m just happy to see the fish and catch it. I’m trying to get another one,” said Tiara, 10, a fifth-grader at Deerfield School.

It wasn’t the first fish she’d ever caught, but it was the first one she’d officially hooked as a member of the Crown Casting Club, a Lawrence-based fishing group for youth and their parents.

The club met last Sunday at Bismarck Lake, a privately owned lake in North Lawrence, to practice the fundamentals of angling and try to catch a few largemouth bass, perch, crappie and catfish.

Tiara is one of about 100 Lawrence-area youngsters who belong to the club, which is free and open to all young people. Most members range in age from 4 to 15.

The Crown Casting Club plays an important role in the community, according to Cecil Kingsley, club co-founder and a professional fisherman who lives in Lawrence.

“This club is doing exactly what we are in place to do: Teach kids about the wonder of the outdoors,” he said.

“Fishing doesn’t discriminate (about) whether you’re young or old. Those who find enjoyment in fishing and become involved have a lifetime activity that is good for them and wholesome, and it gives them something to do.”

The club reeled in a trophy catch of its own this past spring, when the Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee selected it as the area charitable organization that would receive a $50,000 check to support its good works serving the community’s children.

Bailey Pattin, 6, of Perry, shows off the 19-inch channel catfish he caught during an outing with the Crown Casting Club, which introduces area children to fishing. Pattin snagged the fish July 10 at Bismarck Lake.

“We think it will fund us for the next 12 to 15 years. Without those funds, our club probably wouldn’t exist today,” Kingsley said. “Every dime of the money that’s donated to us will go to the kids.”

Bonding experience

The initial idea of forming a fishing club for youth and adults was Kingsley’s.

He’s the owner of B G Consultants Inc., a Lawrence-based engineering consulting firm, but he’s also been a pro fisherman competing in national tournaments for 30 years.

In his travels for the sport, Kingsley came to recognize that communities across the country had clubs offering activities — through the support of major corporate sponsors of fishing events, such as Chevrolet — that introduced youth to the outdoors.

But Lawrence didn’t.

That’s why Kingsley approached Miles Schnaer, president of Crown Automotive.

“I went to Miles about eight years ago, and I told him what we could do for kids who don’t have these opportunities (to learn from adults about fishing). Miles is a person who will do anything he can for people in the community,” Kingsley recalled.

“Miles said, ‘That would be good for kids.’ So we formed the club.”

Schnaer and Kingsley believed the organization could make a difference in people’s lives, providing a bonding experience for youth and parents.

“I think the kids get the thrill of knowing that somebody cares enough about them to give them the opportunity to come out and fish. It’s just girls and boys having a good time,” Schnaer said.

It costs about $5,000 per year for the Crown Casting Club to stay afloat. That means providing activities for its members each month, as well as paying for fishing equipment, food supplies for outings and special, club T-shirts and caps for every youth.

Members love the free attire, which helps create a club atmosphere at group gatherings.

Young anglers line the bank of Bismarck Lake in North Lawrence. The Crown Casting Club had an instructional day last weekend to introduce youngsters to fishing.

“They’ll get ’em muddy; they’ll get ’em dirty. They absolutely wear these T-shirts. They wear ’em out, and that’s why we give them to ’em (every year),” Kingsley said.

Casting like a pro

The Crown Casting Club has regular meetings, outings (such as the one last week to Bismarck Lake), field trips and special events. Members learn the basics: casting, pitching and flipping, knot tying and different fishing methods.

But the activity they seem to enjoy most is just plain fishing: casting their lures as far out into the water as they can, patiently (or not) waiting for a nibble — then hauling in the big one.

The club’s outings are strictly catch-and-release, in order to preserve the environment and teach its members about the value of conservation.

That’s fine with Mary Breshears.

“I like the way they care about the fish. They do it for fun, not for eating. If you want to eat fish, go to the store,” said Mary, 10, a fourth-grader at Veritas Christian School.

She has belonged to the Crown Casting Club since she was about 2 years old, according to her dad, Eugene Breshears.

“Let’s just put it this way: When I first started, I knew zip — which means nothing. But now, I could be a pro, dude. I know how to rig poles; I learned how to cast and catch fish,” Mary said at Sunday’s outing at Bismarck Lake.

“The only problem is you have to get up earlier.”