The Herrin Tiger Fishing Team started as a club in 2007. Coached by Mr. Bart Allen, the anglers would fish amongst others from Herrin at Crab Orchard Lake. Since then, we now have a new head coach, Chad Parks. Parks took over in 2017, and assistant coach Kevin Bires started in 2018. We have approximately 30 anglers on the team ranging from 5th grade to high school seniors. The team now competes all over the state of Illinois and has opportunities to fish nationally, going against some of the best anglers in the country.

Our fishing team is extremely successful. In the past 5 years, Herrin has had anglers qualify for the Bassmaster High School National Championship 4 times. Several anglers have received scholarships to help cover their college expenses, along with getting to compete nationally on the collegiate level.

In a fishing tournament, anglers take off from a general location at safe light and will return after approximately 6-7 hours on the water. In each boat there is a boat captain (someone over the age of 18 who drives the boat) and 2 anglers. The anglers keep a limit, normally 5, 12 inch fish of the greatest size caught that day to weigh in. If short fish (less than 12in) or dead fish are brought to weigh in the anglers receive a 1 lb penalty, this is a deduction off of final weight. Awards are given for the top 3 heaviest limits of fish and an award for big bass. 

This past weekend the season kicked off on Sunday the 10th at Lake of Egypt for the Galatia Invitational and the team showed out. Tanner Hall (9) and Rylan Lattuada (9) had a second place finish. Emmarie Bires (11) and Shane Toms (10) also finished top 10, Morgan Restivo (11), Hudson Craig (11), Ian Jilek (9), Chase Crompton (9), and Hudson Mccord (10) fished as well. Hall stated, “I thought we had a very strong day. It was a grind, but we kept our heads down and finished the tournament with a good bag and a second place finish.” You can catch your Herrin Tiger Fishing Team at their upcoming tournaments this Saturday (09/16) at Kinkaid and Sunday (09/17) at Lake of Egypt.