Marmion Academy Student Wins Illinois High School Muskie Tournament

It's no secret that high school bass fishing is on the rise, not just in Illinois but across the country.  Students were out again this weekend, hoping to make a name for themselves and their school.  However, this was not a bass tournament, this was the Illinois High School Muskie Tournament hosted by the Shawnee Muskie Hunters.   Anglers went out on a one day adventure looking for the elusive muskie.  

Jim Beaty and his daughter Shannon Beaty-Dingus started this tournament four years ago in hopes to get more students involved in muskie fishing.  Six teams representing northern, central and southern Illinois attended the tournament.  You may ask, why don't they just join the bass fishing team at the high school.  Cole Abbott from Marmion Academy said "I am on the bass fishing team but, I enjoy fishing for muskie." he said. "You need technique and lots of patience."

Jenna & Olivia Vondrak, sisters who attend Marian Catholic High School scrolled through their phones showing me some of the monsters they recently caught this year.  Let's just say these ladies know how to fish.  They echoed what Mr. Abbott said about patience and techniques.  "Usually when we're fishing muskies in Illinois we're using bass gear." they said.  "It increases your odds of catching one" they continued.  

In a sport dominated by males, it was refreshing to see these two anglers and their passion and dedication.  "I feel like the bad ass in the corner when I catch one of these things."  Olivia had some advice for women wanting to get involved in the sport, "Just get out and do it." she said.   

If you know anything about muskie fishing then you know that they are the fish of 10,000 casts.  Between all six teams, only two muskies were caught today at Jim Edgar Panther Creek.  Both measured in at 36 inches and were caught about an hour apart.  With Marmion Academy also catching one bass they took the lead over Aidan Savitski from Hinkley High School and they won the 4th Annual Illinois Muskie Tournament. 

2017 Participants of the 4th Annual Illinois High School Muskie Tournament 

If you are interested in participating in this tournament, you'll have to wait until October of 2018.  Being centrally located their hope is to continue to grow the event and bring the joy of muskie fishing to high schools across Illinois.   

Well done to all who participated and thanks to the Shawnee Muskie Hunters for hosting.