Step Up to Lake Katherine's Muskie Challenge

Photo: A competitor shows off her bass catch at a Lake Katherine Spring Fishing Classic.

Fishing enthusiasts are gearing up to line the Lake Katherine shoreline for the nature center’s annual spring ‘catch and release’ competition on Saturday, April 11.

The popular fishing event will take place between 7 a.m. andnoon at the Palos Heights park with fishing fans invited to fish the entire shore for muskie, catfish, walleye and bass.

Last year the fundraiser raised $3,500 for restoration, education and animal care at the non-profit park as 35 participants battled it out to reel in the largest whopper.

The biggest fish of the day, a 9-pound catfish, 28.5 inches long, was caught by Curt Pazdro but despite an impressive haul of fish throughout the day, one breed remained elusive—the Lake’s lesser-hooked muskie.

”We host three fishing classics a year but not one muskie was caught by a competitor in 2014,” reveals Lake Katherine Operations Manager Gareth Blakesley. ”In fact the only muskie bite for the entire year came when a little girl participating in our summer camps found a muskie grappling at the hot dog on a string she had dipped into the lake.”

No hotdogs are permitted as bait during the fishing classic but competitors are allowed to use worms and mealworms to tempt their catch.

Registration forms for the event can be found on the nature center’s website. A donation of $100 per competitor includes lunch at noon.