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Kids Rule At Tolar Fishing Tourney

MARK PINSON/Highlands Today

Seven-year-old Marissa Gincola shows off the bass she caught with her father, Jeff, during Saturday's 25th annual Leon Tolar Memorial Fishing Tournament at HL Bishop Park in Lake Placid.

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By MARK PINSON Highlands Today

Published: March 16, 2009

LAKE PLACID - With picture postcard weather and calm water, the 25th annual Leon Tolar Memorial Fishing Tournament attracted a large number of youngsters and parents to HL Bishop Park on Saturday.

The annual fishing tournament, which is for youngsters ages 4-18, who must have an adult partner, saw a large number of good-sized bass caught, weighed and then returned to the water.

Erik Ellerkee won the overall weight category with a total weight of 9.9 pounds, while Hannah Tucker caught 5.0 pounds and Wil Brantley came in with 4.11 pounds.

The tournament is a fundraiser for the Sebring Downtown Kiwanis Breakfast Club, which was assisted by the Avon Park High School Key Club.

"It was a great day and the weather couldn't have been better," said Leon Tolar Fishing Tournament director Joe Colangelo. "We had an excellent turnout for the tournament and it's great to see all of these kids fishing with their parents.

"Not only did the youngsters get a chance to fish, they all received prizes for competing and we had hot dogs and hamburgers for lunch."

Juanito Rosado won the big bass contest with a catch of 6.4 pounds coaxed from the waters, while Dakota Cardenas caught 4.5 pounds worth of fish.

Each of the winners got to pick a toy or prize from a table full of toys as well as a number of bicycles to choose from.

"We appreciated the support from the community because this is a fundraiser for the Sebring Downtown Kiwanis Breakfast Club," said Colangelo. "This is my thirteenth year doing this tournament and things went very well.

"Last year we had to change the day of the tournament because we had some inclement weather blow through the area on the original date."

Even if the youngsters didn't catch any fish, all of them went home with at least one prize or toy.

"It's so good to see families spending time together fishing," said Colangelo. "I fished with my son when he was growing up and today I got to fish with my grandson.

"There is nothing like being together as a family and enjoying the great outdoors and lakes that we have in this area."

Mark Pinson can be reached at 863-386-5837 or mpinson@highlandstoday.com

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