Fishing can be solo endeavor, a quiet, contemplative few hours hopefully interrupted by a few splashes and the sound of reeling in a good catch. Or it can be a time to gather with family and friends, share some stories and help one another land a catfish or bass big enough to brag about at home.
On Saturday, fishing is also a way to raise money for Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Garden, during the park’s annual Spring Fishing Classic, a catch-and-release competition. Trophies go to the anglers with the largest catch of each species that day. Fishermen may even score bragging rights for catching one of the elusive muskies that have been spotted, but not caught, in Lake Katherine. Registration is underway for this weekend’s event; it is not necessary, but space is limited to 125 people.
Lake Katherine is thriving. It was stocked a number of years ago, and is a good spot for bass, bluegill, catfish and walleye. Gareth Blakesley, Lake Katherine operations manager, said that last spring, walleye were observed trying to spawn by the artificial waterfall, a sign they’re doing well. It had been several years since any walleye were caught, he said.
More Top Picks Best Jumperoos For Babies
“(The lake has) been able to maintain a decent population,” Blakesley said. In the next few years, the lake may again be stocked with more native fish as part of the park’s ongoing ecological restoration work. Some species that attract sport fishermen would likely be kept, too, he said.
Participants may only use lures, worms or mealworms, Blakesley said. Minnows, crayfish and other bait cannot be used, as the park works to prevent non-native species from invading the lake. Bait is not sold at Lake Katherine.
The 10-acre lake is only open to fishing during the spring and fall fishing classics, a summer family fishing day, and a few times during summer camp programs. In fact, the closest someone got to catching a muskie at Lake Katherine in 2014 was when a young girl in one of the park’s summer camps used a hotdog on the end of a string and attracted a few bites.
The fishing events help fund the park’s efforts each year. Last spring’s classic netted about $3,500.
“This really helps Lake Katherine function,” Blakesley said. “It supports education programs and ecological restoration.” Lake Katherine is owned by the City of Palos Heights and managed by the nonprofit Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens. In addition to the lake, the park includes 85 acres of prairie, woodlands, wetlands, gardens and a nature center. Fishing is done from the shore, but canoe and kayak rentals are available at other times.
Curt Pazdro, of Morris, will be back along the shore this year with his son, Wyatt, 12, and a friend. Both have participated in previous fishing derbies at Lake Katherine and elsewhere. Last spring, Curt reeled in the largest catfish and Wyatt the largest bluegill. He plans to arrive about two hours early and grab a good perch along the shore and enjoy the early morning.
“One year, we had about five deer come up and walk around us,” Pazdro recalled.
“Most people are going for the bass; we try to go for the other stuff,” Pazdro said. He likes that he never knows what he’s going to catch. Lake Katherine, which gets about 15 feet deep at some points, is home to channel catfish, bluegill, largemouth bass, tiger muskie, walleye, northern pike and crappie.
Pazdro and his kids (his 14-year-old daughter isn’t much of a fisherman) spend a lot of time walking around the area. “We go there to walk around the lake all the time, not just fishing. It’s an all-around thing we can do with the kids.”
“It’s special to go fishing at a place that doesn’t get fished a lot,” Pazdro said.
Does Pazdro have an ideal spot in mind to drop his line April 11?
“I won’t tell you where, but I have one,” he said.
Paige Fumo Fox is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown.
Lake Katherine Spring Fishing Classic
When: 7 a.m. to noon April 11
Where: Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens, 7402 w. Lake Katherine Drive, Palos Heights
Reservations: Donation of $100 per competitor includes lunch at noon.
More information: 708-361-1873, http://www.lakekatherine.org Advance registration recommended; space is limited to 125.
Try It! Fishing Day
If you’re looking to give fishing a try or want to introduce it to your kids, Monee Reservoir, part of the Forest Preserve District of Will County, is hosting Try It! Fishing Day April 11. It’s a chance to get reel – or real – experience with casting, fly fishing and other basic fishing skills and techniques. Safety and ethics are also covered. All equipment and bait are included.
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 11
More Top Picks Best Snow Blowers For Driveways
Where: Monee Reservoir, 27341 Ridgeland Ave.,
Registration: The event is free; no registration required; open to ages 10 and older
More information: 708-534-8499 or 815-727-8700, http://www.reconnectwithnature.org/visitor-centers