Bloomington bass expert Terry Brown of Bassfan.com has been instrumental in a decision last week by the Illinois High School Association to look into the possibility of offering competitive bass fishing at the high school level.

Brown dreams of a day when high school teams from Illinois would be in place to fish against one another, eventually moving toward regional, state and national tournaments. High school level bass competitions can also be a training ground for students who go onto the college level, where bass teams are already in place through the Collegiate Bass Anglers Association. The University of Illinois ranked sixth nationally in the CBAA and was first in the Big Ten in 2007.

Brown hopes the first high school events would be held during 2009.

"I'm excited as heck," said Brown, who hooked IHSA assistant director Dave Gannaway on the idea a couple of years ago. "He said, 'Let's do it.' "

They discovered the idea was a popular one in early contacts with schools, fishing clubs and the fishing industry.

The vision is to create a way to reach kids through fishing who wouldn't take part in other competitive sports such as football, baseball or basketball.

"What we found out there was a strong need for this kind of the program," Brown said. "It's out of the box and it reaches students we wouldn't reach."

Some kids already fish and hunt but have no outlet for the sports at school, he said.

Teachers also favored the concept, Brown said. Though students must perform academically to take part in other sports, Brown said angling is more school friendly because science classes can be designed to teach fishing-related topics such as aquatic ecology, fish behavior and more.

Education officials also like the plan because fishing is a way to introduce inner-city kids to outdoor experiences, he added.

Brown said the time wasn't right to launch high school fishing programs as recently as three years ago. Companies in the fishing industry had little or no money for youth programs.

But that has changed, and potential sponsors that will be needed to make the program self-sufficient have cash in their budgets.

Since the IHSA board gave the green light to investigate the plan last week, Brown has approached several corporations and found them to be very receptive.

Brown also thinks high school fishing will gain needed support from fishing clubs. Fishing organizations on the local, state and national levels will provide the angling teachers, coaches and mentors that the program will demand for success, he said.

"That really is what our bottom line is. We have to enlist the help of people who love to fish," Brown said.

Tournament notes

- The Illinois Walleye Trail gets under way on the Illinois River on Oct. 14 with an event at Hennepin. The circuit continues Nov. 25 at Henry, Dec. 2 at Ottawa, and March 16 and April 6, both at Spring Valley. Cost is $140 for two-angler team. Visit www.prairielandeyes.com.

- Jerry Martoglio and Rick Huette won the Bloomington Normal Bass Club's two-day Tuesday Night Classic at Lake Taylorville over the weekend with 16.99 pounds, including big bass of 5.18 pounds. Terry Brown and Mike Blake were second with 11.57 pounds. Ken Peterson and Andy Wegner were third.

- John and Romas Sutton of Chicago won the Lake Shelbyville Fall Classic sponsored by the Illinois Muskie Tournament Trail over the weekend with muskies of 46-, 39- and 41.5 inches. Brandyn Shepherd and Joe Andrews of Yorkville were second with three fish of 38-, 40- and 41 inches. Dave Eichelberger and Tony Carswell of Champaign were third. Mike Witkowske caught the tournament's big fish of 47.5 inches.

Fish talks

- PrairieLand Anglers host fishing educator Jim Crowley at 7 p.m. today at the UAW hall on Illinois 9 just west of Bloomington. Crowley will speak briefly about smallmouth fishing before taking questions on a variety of fishing topics.

- The Towanda District Library hosts Fish 'n Tips with Jerry Martoglio, a top area angler and guide, at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 15. Martoglio will discuss successful approaches to area lakes for several species, including saugeye, crappie, muskie, bluegill and bass. Register by calling (309) 728-2176 or e-mail towandalib@yahoo.com.

Scott Richardson is Pantagraph outdoor editor. Phone (309) 820-3227 or e-mail srichardson@pantagraph.com. Read past outdoor and fishing columns or take part in online discussions at www.pantagraph.com/blogs.