Elk Grove anglers qualify for state tourney

The water temps were still a little low for bass fishing earlier this week but Elk Grove finished on a high as it led three teams at the Busse Woods Reservoir sectional on Monday.

In the Elk Grove boat were state qualifiers John Hornsberger (junior), Dominic Culbertson (sophomore) and Austin Beaupre (junior). John Hornsberger Sr. was driver of the boat for the Grens.

“We worked hard trying to figure out Busse lake this cold spring, and the boys kept at it during a hard day of tournament fishing,” said Grenadiers coach Matt Snow. “With all the storms and flooding, fishing was tough. However, we made it to state.”

The second and third advancing teams at Busse Woods were Naperville North and Wheaton Warrenville South.

The pre-fish is May 2 with the state finals scheduled for May 3 and 4 at Carlyle Lake, largely located in Clinton County.

It is the largest is the largest man-made lake within Illinois with more than 26,000 acres of water and 11,000 acres of land.

It is 50 miles east of St. Louis, Mo., and offers tremendous recreational opportunities such as fishing for bass, bluegill, crappie, catfish, walleye, sauger, or more than 30 other species.

The tailwater (below the dam) is the most productive fishing area in Illinois, producing 3,260 pounds of fish per water acre. The state record flathead catfish and white bass have been caught in the spillway.

There were 237 teams entered in bass fishing this season.

That is the highest number since the sport began in the 2008-09 school year, when they were 199 teams.

The Grens qualified in one of 22 sectionals in the state.

“We're going to work hard to be successful there,” Snow said. “The boys are all excited and ready to go.”