Hooking Youth on Fishing

Photos by Jim Beaty.

Thirteen teams of Illinois youth sat in their boats watching the sun rise one early June morning, scanning the waters of Johnson Lake at Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area. At the 7 a.m. signal they departed from the boat ramp and the Illinois Bob Kerans Scholastic Muskie Tournament was under way.

Free-of-charge and open to any grade 1-12 student in Illinois, the muskie tournament is sponsored by the Illini Muskies Alliance, Muskies, Inc. and the Illinois Muskie Tournament Trail.

Jim Beaty President, Shawnee Muskie Hunters Chapter of Muskies, Inc., noted that the 11th annual tournament, held in 2024, was renamed the Illinois Bob Kerans Scholastic Muskie Tournament. An educator and principal in Newton, Kerans was actively involved in the Illinois hunting and fishing arena. Among his claims to fame are starting the Illinois Muskie Tournament Trail and being inducted into the Muskies, Inc., Hall of Fame.

Banner Marsh Muskies

As the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ (IDNR) District Fisheries Biologist for the area, Rob Hilsabeck has coordinated the muskie stocking program at Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area (SFWA) since its inception in 2000. Today he is pleased that stocking program has resulted in fisheries that supports muskie anglers and the youth fishing tournament.

Banner Marsh is a 5,524-acre Fulton County site that includes 2,400 acres of water. A moderately density muskie population is found in all three main lakes at Banner Marsh SFWA. An annual stocking of approximately one muskie per surface acre at 12 inches in size occurred from 2000 to 2014 with fish reared at the IDNR Jake Wolf Memorial Fish Hatchery. Since 2014, the muskie stocking has been reduced to a triennial schedule of one fish per surface acre. This change was implemented to maintain a moderate density of muskie in very good body condition and fast growth rate. Recent annual IDNR spring trap net surveys reveal muskies in very good body condition and up to 48 inches in length. The daily harvest limit at Banner Marsh SFWA is one muskie over 42 inches in length per day.

Hooking Youth on Fishing

The Scholastic Muskie Tournament fishing teams often consist of siblings, with the older siblings coaching their younger brothers or sisters.

“Parents have commented about how excited young anglers feel when fishing with an older sibling,” said Beaty.

Young Eli Hopkins is one such tournament angler, fishing with his older brother Luke.

“I like to muskie fish because it’s fun to reel in the fish and spend time with my dad and brother,” the Mill Creek Elementary student said.

Eli caught his 39.25-inch muskie at 8:59 a.m. that day, making it the third catch of the day. The team of Eli and Luke (Geneva High School) took home second place with a total catch of 70.75 inches.

When asked what advise he has for youth interested in learning to fish, Eli recommended that you “Don’t give up if you aren’t catching any fish. Just keep trying – you never know when you might catch one!”

“Most of the tournament participants belong to High School Bass Fishing Teams for various schools so participating in a muskie tournament is a good opportunity to change their routine and try something different,” explained Pat Glavin, Chairman of the Illinois Muskie Alliance. “Such experiences are great as they move youth away from the computer and into the outdoors where they can enjoy a peaceful and stress-free environment.”

When asked why he values serving as coach of a high school fishing team, Brian Hansas, coach of a team from Rockford, said. “A lot of the local fishing clubs are aging and getting younger people involved in the fishing community has been a challenge. High School fishing teams show young anglers that there is fun to be had that doesn’t require a computer screen.”

Rockford High School Team

The Fishing Team at Gilford High School in Rockford has participated in the Scholastic Muskie Tournament for six years. Brian Hansas, the team coach and an eighth-grade science teacher at the Gifted Academy at Thurgood Marshall School in Rockford, said that the bass team originated when a young woman on the school newspaper staff approached him, knowing of his interest in fishing, and asked if he would be willing to organize the school’s bass team. She was the inaugural member of the bass team and made it to the state competition the team’s first season.

The Rockford bass team fishes two lakes in the area, Pierce Lake at Rock Cut State Park and Shabbona Lake State Park, where four state-record muskies have been caught.

“Muskies spawn at Shabbona Lake and occasionally a student will catch one of these toothy fish during a bass tournament,” Hansas explained, noting that it is quite a memorable experience for those lucky young anglers. Hilsabeck noted that while Illinois muskies do try to spawn across the state they are rarely successful.

“The participants have a blast at the tournament as they learn how to target another species and have the opportunity to use larger fishing gear,” said Hansas. “Thanks to the Flatlanders Chapter of Muskies, Inc. that sponsors the team we are able to make this a two-day event, providing the team the chance to do a little fishing in advance of the tournament.” Hansas complimented Jim Beaty and his crew for their hospitality and skills at organizing a quality tournament.

Wrapping Up the Tournament

The 26 Illinois student anglers and their guides returned to the check-in spot by 2 p.m. to have their fish measured by the judges and photographed.

Pat Glavin, Chairman of the Illinois Muskies Alliance, appreciated the unique experience he had as one of four judges for the 2024 tournament. As an avid muskie angler for decades, Glavin has tested waters throughout the state.

“Most folks don’t realize that no matter where you are in Illinois you aren’t too far from a muskie lake,” he explained. “Opportunities like this tournament expand the horizon for many young anglers.”

Seven muskies were caught that June day. Jesse Thompson, an angler from Murphysboro High School earned the Big Fish trophy for a 40-inch muskie and took home the prize of a muskie fishing rod. The traveling trophy was awarded to Byron Gaddy from Home School High School, and the school trophy went to Aaron Salzman, Heyworth High School. The first-place team was Gaddy and Slazman, second-place team was the Hopkins boys and the third-place team was Jesse Thompson and Maggie Beaty-Dingus. All team anglers received individual trophies.

At the end of the day, young anglers left with new skills and experiences to relate to their family and friends. And the muskies were returned to the water to fight another day when a Banner Marsh SFWA angler casts an eye-catching presentation.

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Kathy Andrews Wright is retired from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources where she was editor of Outdoor Illinois magazine. She is currently the editor of OutdoorIllinois Journal.