Anglers try their luck in Lake in the Hills ice fishing tournament

Experts and novices spread out across frozen Woods Creek Lake on Saturday to try their luck during the Lake in the Hills Ice Fishing Tournament.

Bass and bluegill were among the fish caught not long after the 8 a.m. start of the tournament, which included 66 socially distanced participants.

Jim Manzzullo of Plainfield and his son, Dominick, 14, joined friends from the area as they ice-fished for just their second time. Though they've fished before in the summer months, their first ice-fishing experience was two weeks ago when they did a trial run, Jim Manzzullo said.

"Our friends were kind enough to let us use some of their tips and tricks, and they kind of coached us along," Jim Manzzullo said. "Last time, he (Dominick) caught a couple, and today we've had a couple pulls."

Michelle Steffe, of the Lake in the Hills Recreation Department, said seven to eight inches of ice covered the lake. Last year's tournament had to be canceled due to lack of safe ice, she said.

Prizes, donated by the Bait Shanty of Algonquin, were awarded in adult and youth categories.