Hononegah High School Bass Fishing team makes it back to State for a third time

May 4 is known as “May the Fourth Be with You Day” but for the Hononegah Bass Fishing team, it was another tradition of qualifying for the 2023 IHSA Bass Fishing Championship. It was a gorgeous day to be on the water at Pierce Lake in Rock Cut State Park. The Indians finished third out of 15 teams competing at the sectional on Thursday, May 4, 2023.

2023 Hononegah Bass Fishing Team at the Pierce Lake sectional in Rock Cut State Park

Hononegah High School in Rockton, IL qualified to compete in the 2023 IHSA Bass Fishing Championships on May 19 and May 20 in Carlyle Lake, Carlyle, IL.

The Hononegah team that placed third had Colton Boelkes and Mason Lambert as the team of fishermen. The boat was driven by Jeff Boelkes. Colton and Mason qualified for the IHSA Bass Fishing Championships for the third time (2021, 2022, 2023). My guess is that they would have also made it in the 2019-2020 season if the state series wasn’t canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Colton Boelkes and Mason Lambert waiting to launch their boat at the Pierce Lake sectional in Rock Cut State Park

The boats launched onto the water between 6-6:30 a.m., started casting at 7 a.m. and needed to be back in at 3 p.m.

Colton Boelkes and Mason Lambert riding to their stop on Pierce Lake in Rock Cut Stop Park

Rockford Jefferson took home the sectional title with a total of 9# 10.32oz, followed by Poplar Grove with a total of 8# 12.4oz. Hononegah took home third with a total of 4# 14.72oz.

The Future Fishes Here - IHSA

The teams at the Pierce Lake sectional in Rock Cut State Park were:

• Belvidere

• Harlem

• North Boone

• Rockford East

• Rockford Guilford

• Rockford Jefferson

• Rockford Lutheran

• Rockford Christian

• South Beloit

• Boylan

The 2023 IHSA Bass Fishing Championships will be May 19 and May 20 in Carlyle Lake, Carlyle, IL. The IHSA Bass Fishing Championships will be broadcast on the NFHS network. Check the website for details on when and how to view them.

The Hononegah High School Bass Fishing team is always looking for spots to fish and for the use of boats for the kids. Contact Sharon Bowman or Bill Heller for more information on how you can support the team.

Colton Boelkes and Mason Lambert showing off the catches at the IHSA sectional Pierce Lake in Rock Cut State Park

The Hononegah Bass Fishing program has 17 kids total on the roster this season.

Images were provided by Sharon Bowman and Jeff Boelkes.

Information was provided by the Illinois High School Association - IHSA

Illinois High School Association Logo

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