Gone fishin: free fishing clinic in South Beloit
A free children's fishing clinic was held Monday, July 21, at Lake Victoria in South Beloit City Park.
Monday, July 21, 2025 was a glorious, sunny summer day - perfect for fishing. Boys and girls of all ages stood along the banks of Lake Victoria in South Beloit, fishing rods in hand, waiting for a tug on their line. For children who love to fish or have never fished before, this was the place to be. A free all-day fishing clinic was underway at the city park. The event was sponsored by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Fishing program.
Frank Sladek is the Northern Illinois Fish Program Coordinator for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Sladek was pleased with the large number of children and adults who attended the free clinic. "This is the first open fishing clinic we have held at Lake Victoria,” adding, “There have been at least 50 to 60 people so far, and this is just this morning."
Sladek and instructor Lindsey Ballstadt distributed bait and tackle to each child, along with a tutorial on how to bait a fish and how to use a rod and reel. He suggested the young fishermen fish close to the shoreline. He explained that as the sun gets higher in the sky, Northern Pike, Bass, and Bluegills move out into the middle of the lake. His suggestion proved to be true. Bluegills were definitely biting. Sladek said the Bluegill is the Illinois state fish.
The fishing program is available at 50 locations in 30 counties in the region. It is available to communities and organizations in Illinois, year-round, at no charge.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Fishing program, Northern Illinois, is located at 9511 Harrison Street, Des Plaines, Illinois 60016.
For more information, Frank Sladek can be reached at 847-204-2978 or by email at Frank.Sladek@illinois.gov.
