Chicago Public League Sports Blog

3 More CPS Schools Make Bass Fishing Teams - joining Taft and Harlan

A 2 1/2 lb largemouth bass I caught last summer.

Harper, Hubbard, and Lake View have decided to form Bass Fishing teams for this spring. They join Harlan and Taft who had teams last year. Simeon decided to drop it's program this year.

Harlan and Taft made CPS history last year by becoming the first CPS teams to advance to the state bass tournament. Taft advanced to the 2nd day of the tournament and finished 41st in the state. Harlan was tied with New Trier finishing last with 0 fish caught.

Bass fishing continues to gain in popularity. In 2010 there were 216 teams, this year 232 entered the May state tournament.

Harlan OUT- Taft IN after Day 1 of the State Bass Fishing Tournament

After Day 1 of the state bass tournament Harlan is out of the running.

As expected all of the top 10 teams are from downstate including leader Monticello.

Surprisingly, Taft is still in the hunt. Caught 3 fish weighing 3 lbs 14 ounces and is in the top 30 after Day 1.

Taft's faces stiff competition from the downstate teams, many of whom have bass masters as coaches.

Harlan Bass Fishing Getting Some Pub

I admit that I started writing about the Harlan Bass fishing team in this blog as a bit of joke. My thinking was how many bass fishing lakes do you see on the south side of Chicago? Not only that, but who in Harlan knows a single thing about bass fishing. So when Harlan formed a first time team this year, I gave their chances to catching a single fish let alone advancing to state about the same chances as finding a shark in Lake Michigan.

I was wrong (not about the sharks). There are actually a few places to fish in the south side. Not only that but Harlan's first year coach, Vince Ramirez, has bass fishing tournament experience. Ramirez, started the team in February, got the word out in the Harlan halls to join the new Falcon Bass Fishing Team. A few Harlan student bit (pun intended). Ramirez then taught them the basics- like tying knots, selecting lures. Then low and behold the team was formed.

Harlan then shocked everyone - including myself- when they advanced past the Wolf Lake Sectional and advance to state by cathching 3 bass weighing 6.14 pounds.

Word is, Harlan left yesterday towards Carlyle Lake in southern Illinois to get an early look at the site of this weekends state bass tournament. Harlan will be a heavy underdog to do any damage at state. Down state is filled with the hard core bass fisher people. I hear some of those kids regularly take the boat out before a school day to catch a few bass.

Sun-times article on Harlan's Bass Team

Harlan, Taft Advance to State Bass Fishing Championship

The Public League made strides in bass fishing as Harlan and Taft advanced to the state finals.

Harlan, in their first year of bass fishing took the third and final spot in the Wolf Lake Sectional by catching 3 bass for a total of 6.14lbs.

Taft took second in the Skokie Lagoons sectional taking two fish totaling 4.04lbs.

Harlan Makes a Bass Fishing Team

Harlan joins Taft and Simeon as CPS schools with Bass Fishing Teams.

The IHSA created a new sport last year called Bass Fishing. 199 entries state wide participated in the inaugural season. The sport is more popular downstate with 17 down state schools - including state champion West Frankfort  - finishing in the top 20 at state last year. This year, the numbers are up as 226 entries made the November 1, 2009 deadline. New in the Public League this year will be Harlan Academy from the south side. Harlan joins CPS schools Taft and Simeon. Taft and Simeon had teams last year.

New IHSA Bass Fishing Website Added to Links Page

photo from new IHSA Bass Fishing Web SIte : http://www.thefuturefisheshere.org/index.htm

Links Page

Inaugural IHSA state bass sectional tournament starts April 24, 2009 at desginated lakes across Illinois.

Taft and Simeon High Schools are the only CPS schools participating at the first state Bass Tournament.