Illinois Fishing News

Anglers will soon have the opportunity to pursue muskellunge at Eagle Creek Reservoir in Indianapolis.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources will introduce muskellunge, commonly called muskies, to the 1,350-acre reservoir late this fall. Muskies are popular sport fish native to Indiana, yet there are limited opportunities to fish for them in the central part of the state. Stocking muskie in Eagle Creek Reservoir is intended to provide anglers with a unique sport fishing opportunity while using the abundant population of gizzard shad.

Bloomington, IL. -- The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) announced on Thursday, April 28 that the 2011 IHSA Bass Fishing State Final Tournament, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, May 6-7 at Carlyle Lake in Carlyle, has been postponed due to dangerous water levels and will be rescheduled to unfold in Carlyle in May or June.

SHELBYVILLE, Ill. - The Walmart Bass Fishing League is headed to Lake Shelbyville April 30 for the first of five stops in the Illini Division. As many as 400 boaters and co-anglers will be competing for top awards of up to $9,500 and $3,000, respectively.

NORMAL, Ill. - Professional bass fisherman Chad Morgenthaler of Coulterville, Ill., is hooked on Special Olympics. He is teaming up with Special Olympics Illinois and the Law Enforcement Torch Run to host the 5th Annual Chad Morgenthaler Bass Tournament presented by Jasper Engines & Transmissions on Aug. 28 at Rend Lake in southern Illinois.

SPRING VALLEY, Ilinois - Pro Mark Courts of Harris, Minnesota, and co-angler Steve Beasley of Macomb, Michigan, brought in five walleyes weighing 8 pounds even Thursday to lead day one of the FLW Walleye Tour Eastern Division tournament on the Illinois River. The pair now holds a 9-ounce lead over their closest rivals in the event featuring pros and co-anglers fishing for top awards of $35,000 in the Pro Division and $7,500 in the Co-angler Division.

SPRING VALLEY, Ill. (May 1, 2010) - Pro Tom Keenan of Hatley, Wis., and co-angler Thomas Kaus of Lake Zurich, Ill., caught five walleyes weighing 9 pounds, 5 ounces to win the FLW Walleye Tour Eastern Division tournament on the Illinois River. Keenan had a three-day catch of 14 walleyes weighing 22-7. He won the event by 8 ounces and took home $27,884 for his efforts.

BENTON, Ill. (April 21, 2010) - The FLW Bass Fishing League is headed to Rend Lake May 1 for the first of five stops in the Illini Division series. As many as 400 boaters and co-anglers will be competing for top awards of up to $8,000 and $3,000, respectively.

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Cheryl Smith loves to fish, and her desire to be on the water is paying off. Her infectious angling passion paid big dividends in the Berkley Big Fish (BBF) Contest for OutdoorGirl1, as she has become known on BerkleyBigFish.com. Smith landed the biggest prize offered - a fishing trip for two with legendary angler Hank Parker.

FINDLAY, Illinois - John Wright of Shelbyville, Illinois, won the Walmart Bass Fishing League® Illini Division two-day Super Tournament on Lake Shelbyville Saturday with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 29 pounds, 12 ounces. The victory earned Wright $4,324 and solidified his ticket to the Mississippi River Regional Championship in Fort Madison, Iowa, Oct. 1-3, where he could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.

GOLCONDA, Illinois - The Illini Division of the $8 million Walmart Bass Fishing League® will visit the Ohio River in Golconda, Ill., August 8 for the fourth of five regular-season events. As many as 200 boaters and 200 co-anglers are expected to compete in the tournament, which will award as much as $45,000 in cash, including a top award of $6,000 in the Boater Division.