Lake Shelbyville lands IHSA Fishing Tournament
Photo furnished
Garet Martz and Parker Spellman represented Okaw Valley High School at the IHSA State Bass Fishing Tournament on Lake Carlyle.
•June 19, 2024•
by Sharon Barricklow
Patience and consistency help fishermen land the big fish and the same qualities worked for the Lake Shelbyville area as the Illinois High School Association selected the lake as the next home of the IHSA State Bass Fishing Tournament. The tournament, begun in 2009 has spent 15 years at Lake Carlyle. The new agreement promises the tournament to Lake Shelbyville for five years.
“We are excited to start a new chapter as the IHSA Bass Fishing State Finals transition to Lake Shelbyville in 2005,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson.
Shelbyville High School Principal Kyle Ladd first brought up the possibility of hosting the tournament in 2022. After meeting with the City Council, the U.S Army Corps of Engineers, and the Chamber of Commerce, and the Okaw Valley School District, Ladd said the group decided to bid on the tournament.