NORWOOD PARK — On a sunny day with temperatures soaring into the 80s, 16-year-old Dean Parker found himself immersed in the tranquility of nature during the regional bass fishing tournament at the Skokie Lagoons.
Parker, a junior at Taft High School, described the eight-hour fishing experience as a refreshing escape, declaring, “It was peaceful, we got to be out on the water, and it was just a very cool day.”
For the first time since the inception of its bass fishing team in 2009, Taft hosted the tournament, making it the only public school in Chicago to have such a program.
The roster of the Norwood Park High School team has seen impressive growth, expanding from four members to an active group of 15.
Scott Plencner, a history teacher at Taft and the team’s coach, recognized the uniqueness of the sport for the students, remarking, “A lot of the kids who are on this team are very squirrelly, but they calm down when they fish. It gives them something to focus on; it’s kind of meditative.”
Early on a Thursday morning, around 30 high school students arrived at the Skokie Lagoons at 6:30 a.m. to begin their day filled with fishing and competition as part of the Illinois High School Association’s regional tournament.
After a day of dedication on the boats, returning at 3 p.m. revealed the shoreline dotted with sunburned competitors and bags of vigorous fish.
Chris Schwarz, assistant executive director of the state high school association, highlighted the physical demands of bass fishing, stating, “Bass fishing is a workout like any other sport. You’re constantly moving, you’re out in the sun for eight hours, but then you’re rewarded with that fish. That is what I think ‘hooks’ kids on fishing. You put the work in, and then you’re rewarded with that fish.”
Illinois made history in 2009 by becoming the first state in the U.S. to host a statewide bass tournament series, with Taft being a founding member of the high school association’s program.
The first tournament series welcomed 220 schools, while this year’s series attracted an impressive 315 teams.
Plencner recalls his own childhood fishing experiences in Jefferson Park during the 1980s and 1990s, a time when few young anglers were seen.
His father introduced him to fishing at a young age, leading them to spend summers casting lines in northern Wisconsin.
Reflecting on his motivations, Plencner said, “Part of it was getting to be with your dad who works all the time, and part of it was the excitement. I always say it’s like unwrapping a present—you never know what you’re gonna catch.”
Today, however, Plencner sees more young people actively involved in fishing than he did.
The early 2000s saw a spike in the visibility of professional bass fishing, as television programs like “BassCenter” gained traction alongside the creation of the Elite Series bass angling circuit.
Such visibility sparked interest in fishing at the collegiate and high school levels, prompting the formation of bass fishing clubs across various schools.
Retired biology teacher Mike Mulligan founded Taft’s bass fishing team after learning about the state’s plans for a tournament program through a Sun-Times article.
This growing trend is reflected not only in the increasing number of high school teams like the newly formed St. Ignatius College Prep team but also in interest from students, including one from Lane Tech, looking to establish a team.
Fishing’s popularity continues to rise, with 57.7 million Americans participating in the sport in 2023, marking a 6 percent increase from 2022—the highest recorded since the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation began tracking in 2007.
Notably, the number of anglers aged 13 to 17 rose to 5.6 million this year, a 14 percent increase from the previous year.
Schwarz and Plencner attribute much of this growth to social media and the influence of fishing personalities online.
Schwarz highlights the accessibility of fishing information thanks to the internet, enabling kids to learn new techniques or watch instructional content on platforms like TikTok.
The Illinois high school association is even contemplating digital tournaments that allow students from around the state to compete virtually through photos of their catches.
The role of social media, however, has sparked a contrasting trend where many children are eager to disconnect from screens.
“Social media is great, but I think it’s even better when kids can get information from social media that encourages them to get outside,” Schwarz remarked.
Among the students involved in Taft’s bass fishing team is Daniel Niewiadomski, an eighth grader at Taft Freshman Academy, who developed a passion for fishing a few years ago.
After discovering Taft’s fishing team, Niewiadomski diligently emailed Plencner for months to join.
At 14, he values the opportunity to connect with nature and learn about the behavior of fish.
To enhance the knowledge of his students, Plencner administers a “fishing IQ test” at the start of the season and organizes trips to the Skokie Lagoons for hands-on learning.
During these excursions, students gain insights into how water temperatures influence fish behavior and where bass are typically located seasonally.
When at the lagoons, the chatter from the Edens Expressway transforms into the peaceful calls of American toads, creating an ambiance reminiscent of fishing trips in Wisconsin, as described by Jim Phillips, a fisheries biologist with the Forest Preserves of Cook County.
Plencner emphasizes the importance of exposing his students to natural environments that they might not usually access.
“When you’re in Chicago, you’re surrounded by the city, and it just like sits on you; and when you’re out in the woods and you’re out in nature, it takes all that off of you,” he expressed.
His mission extends beyond fishing; he aims to instill an appreciation for nature in his students, cultivating future advocates for fishing and conservation.
“It’d be a shame if we lost it,” Plencner added passionately.
In efforts to expand Taft’s program, he hopes to recruit more volunteers.
Currently, the team relies on volunteer boats, but Plencner envisions a day when they will have an official team boat.
Students interested in joining Taft’s bass fishing team are encouraged to reach out to Plencner via email at [email protected].
At the end of the tournament day, the students unceremoniously placed their five largest fish into a plastic box for weighing.
Points were deducted for any dead fish, and once weighed, all bass were carefully released back into the Skokie Lagoons.
While no Taft students managed to advance from the regional tournament, Plencner took satisfaction in the smiles on the students’ faces as they exited their boats.
“That means I did my job,” he concluded with pride. “I don’t care about winning. I just want to get them outside.”
image source from：https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/05/27/meet-chicago-public-schools-only-competitive-bass-fishing-team/
