Spring Lake North

34 contestants came to Spring Lake North near Manito Illinois for the annual IMTT event at Illinois’ brood stock lake for muskies. Facing heavy cloud cover with temperatures from 31 to 42 degrees and W to NW winds gusting to 20 mph on Saturday, four teams managed to hook up and boat a mere four muskies.

Post cold front conditions and continued clouds on Sunday allowed only one team to have success as contestants braved temperatures topping out at a chilling 34 degrees and facing a steadily driving 20-25 mph north wind.

Taking home $800 the First Place Team of Randy Hilger and Mike Jacob boated one muskie on Saturday (33) and two muskies on Sunday (35 & 36.5…the Big Fish of the tournament)

Second Place honors and $400 went to IMTT newcomers Brandon and Ryan Schorle of Bartlett IL. The brothers boated their 35.25″ muskie on Saturday morning.

Also new to the IMTT is the father and son team of Tommy and Shaun Kersting of Geveva IL boated a 32″ muskie on Saturday to take home $240 and a Third Place finish.

Mike Bolt of LaGrange Park IL and teammate Anthony Fazio of Downers Grove IL rounded out the leader board with a 30″ muskie caught just after moonrise Saturday. The Fourth Place team earned $160 for their first tournament.

A great time was had by all who attended the raffle and dinner held at McCritter’s Bar and Grill in Pekin. 310 non perishable food items were donated by tournament entrants and guests to support the local food pantry.