News and events
Welcome to Illinois Carp Fishing News!
Welcome! This website is dedicated to providing current information about organized carp fishing and catch-and-release carp fishing events in Illinois. I will be happy to include news and announcements about all carping endeavors, including 
events sponsored by CAG, the WCCL, the MWCL, the JTF40CL, the MCAA, and any others. I will also post news of individual carp fishing achievements. Just e-mail me, or PM me on the Illinois Carp Fishing NEWS message board or on the CAG site. I look forward to hearing from you, and I am pleased to have the opportunity to share with you Illinois carp fishing news. --Dr. Frank Rink
Click here for past, archived editions of Illinois Carp Fishing NEWS!
Click here for results and photos from Illinois and Midwest carp fishing events since 2007!
White River still tough on May 16th
It was another gorgeous evening with the exception of a little wind for the second White River Carp League tournament of the year on May 16. The river was not too high, and we had blue bird skies. Expectations were high; however, the fish did not want to cooperate. Overall nine fish were caught by five of the 26 anglers who showed up for the event.
Mitchell Donlan (pictured below with one of his two fish) hit the tournament's first fish of the night with a 6-3, caught just south of the Michigan Street Bridge.
Justin Keaton caught his fiirst of two fish 30 mins later a 6-2. Josh Overman (pictured below) got a 6-5 to take the lead, but it wouldn't hold for long.
The Rink Brothers (Frank and Jim pictured below l to r) each hit one early on to stay in the hunt.
With less than an hour to go Justin Keaton (pictured 
below left) got an 8-7 to take Big Fish and the overall lead. Mitch Donlan hit a second fish, to come within 2 ounces of the leader. Frank and Jim Rink each got another to claim 3rd and 4th positions.
Although the bite was slow, it was still a nice tournament.
Here is a look at the results:
Overall Weight:
1st place: Justin Keaton 2 fish 6-2 and 8-7 (14-9 total) Trophy $90
2nd Place: Mitchell Donlan 2 fish 6-3 and 8-4 (14-7 total) Trophy $75
3rd place: Jim Rink 2 fish 6-0 and 6-4 (12-4 total) Trophy $60
4th place: Frank Rink 2 fish 5-6 and 4-7 (9-13 total) Trophy $45
5th place: Josh Overman 1 fish 6-5 Trophy $30
Big Fish:
Justin Keaton $125 Medal --Story by Jim Donlan
Larry Seeman rules at 2012 Cinco de Mayo Pighunt in Chicago
Despite a fog-enshrouded lakefront and raw winds with temps in the low 50s all day, eighteen anglers participated in the May 5, 2012 Cinco de Mayo Pighunt Carp Tournament at Lincoln Park’s Rowing Lagoon in Chicago.
Weather conditions were not conducive to the usual pre-spawn bite, but 42 carp weighing 527 pounds were captured and released. Average weight was 12 pounds, 8 ounces.
Larry Seeman of Joliet swept the medal categories. His victories were anchored by the capture of atremendous 35-4 (pictured below), which easily took the big fish honors and also served as cornerstone for his Big 3 winning total of 67-10 and Total Weight winning total of 101-5.
Jason Towne was second in the Big 3 contest with 60-7 and also captured second big fish (24-12, pictured below). In addition, Jason won the Jaxon baitrunner reel with the carp closest in weight to 22 pounds (22-3).
Amos Behanna (pictured below) took third place in the Big 3 event with 54-9. Amos also had second high total weight at 89-2.
Marcin Szydlowski won the MAP feeder and mould with small carp of the day at 2-8.
Of the 18 anglers who participated, 11 caught fish.
There were “hits and misses” in each section and angler bait and tactics entered into the equation, but it appeared as if the fish preferred the deeper water on the north end of the venue and it got progressively worse the farther south the pegs were.
Pegs 1-5 (north end) resulted in 264 pounds of carp.
Pegs 6-10 had 147 pounds.
Pegs 11-15 recorded 83 pounds.
Pegs 16-20 (south end) produced only 3 fish at 33 pounds.
In addition, CAG will receive $150 in donations as the result of the extra draw-ticket feature of the event. Thanks to our participant/contributors.--F. Rink
Click here for more May 5 tournament results and photos!
Mike Olinger is 2012 Milwaukee Winter Carp League champion!
It was a close battle all day, as Mike Olinger and Kris Motwicki paired off to determine who would be the 2011-12 Midwest Winter Carp League champion during their final Group D session on April 29.
Mike won the peg draw and chose 1. Kris took peg 5.
Kris landed a 9-14 to take an early lead, but Mike countered with a 9-12 to keep things fairly even.
Kris then caught a nice 16-7, with Mike netting a 10-3.
It was a tough bite at Milwaukee all day, but with three minutes remaining in the contest, Mike pulled in an 11-0 to win the 2011-2012 Winter Carp League Championship!
Mike (pictured above) takes first! Kris takes second and also caught the league's big fish! Marcin Szydlowski is third! Congrats to the winners!
Group winners were Ed Montgomery (Group A), Greg Zaliszewski or Slawek Babiarz (Group B), Frank Rink (Group C), and Ioan Iacob (Group D).
Thanks to Ernest K. and Magdalena for hosting yet another year! As always, it was a lot of fun. --F. Rink
Midwest Winter League website link here!
Only a few bit at "Maybe They Will Bite" Tournament on April 21st at Lincoln Park Rowing Lagoon
Carp quality and quantity were left wanting at our April 21st tournament as a wicked cold front passed through the area on April 20th and continued on April 21st. Nevertheless, 11 hardy anglers faced the windchills in the 20's on the morning of our tournament and braved a cold northeast wind all day to participate in our contest.
It seems as if we have been snakebitten in recent years with cold weather and turned-off fish on the days of our rowing lagoon tournaments. I am hoping things warm up for the May 5th event that features a full house of 20 participants.
The 11 anglers captured 18 fish among themselves totaling 181 pounds, 1 ounce. Most fish were only in the 8-10 pound range--an aberration for the lagoon where the average weight is typically in the teens.
The contest featured a big 3 format; that is, the total weight of the each angler's biggest three captured carp determined final placement in the standings.
Fourteen-year-old Lintaro Kajiwara took the 3rd place medal/money for the big three event with two fish at 26-13, including a nice 19-5 (pictured below).
Mike Olinger was 2nd with his 3 fish at 30-10. Mike also won the side pot for total weight with 7 fish at 63-3 . His high total weight also won the Chub Bait Bucket donated by Jim Donlan and Westside Bait and Tackle. (Mike pictured below with one of his seven carp)
Frank Rink won the event with his big 3 at 43-1. He also took the big fish pot/medal with a 21-11 (pictured below).
Thanks to all who participated and faced some tough weather and a tougher bite: Cory Bohmann, Lintaro Kajiwara, Munenori Kajiwara, Adam Charns, Darren Calver, Mike Olinger, Larry Seeman, Jason Towne, Dan Ramir, Tracy Jourdan, and Frank Rink.
"Top 5" stats:
"Top 5" Big 3 Totals
Frank Rink - 43-1
Mike Olinger - 30-10
Lintaro Kajiwara - 26-13
Dan Ramir - 24-12
Tracy Jourdan - 9-0
"Top 5" Big Fish
Frank Rink - 21-11
Lintaro Kajiwara - 19-5
Frank Rink - 12-2
Mike Olinger - 10-9
Mike Olinger - 10-8
"Top 5" Total Weight
Mike Olinger - 7 fish - 63-3
Frank Rink - 5 fish - 57-5
Lintaro Kajiwara - 2 fish - 26-13
Dan Ramir - 3 fish - 24-12
Tracy Jourdan - 1 fish - 9-0
Thanks to the following who took and/or submitted photos: Larry Seeman, Munenori Kajiwara, Tracy Jourdan. --F. Rink
Final Results website is here!
Jim Donlan hosts successful inaugural contest of White River Carp League
We had 29 people show up for the first WRCL event of the season on April 18th in Indianapolis. It was a beautiful afternoon, and the river was flowing nicely.
Frank Rink (pictured below) caught the tournament's first fish with a 7-12.
A few minutes later Curt Rainey landed a 9-14 to take the lead. Scott Britton (pictured below) got his first fish with a 13-8 about an hour later that would hold on for big fish.
Jim Rink (pictured below) got two fish in a short time to take the overall lead.
However, Scott answered with another 7-14 to take the lead and hold on for the victory. Christine Stout landed a 6-14 to with a minute to go to claim a top 5 position.
Final Results:
Scott Britton - 1st place (21+ pounds, 2 fish) and
Big Fish (13-8)
Frank Rink - 2nd Place (17+ pounds, 2 fish)
Jim Rink - 3rd Place (15+ pounds, 2 fish)
Curt Rainey - 4th Place (9+ pounds, 1 fish)
Christine Stout (6+ pounds, 1 fish)
— Jim Donlan
Great weather and even better hospitality and organization were the marks of this enjoyable event! Thanks, as always, to Jim Donlan for outstanding work to make the White River Carp League fun and challenging. Congrats to Scotty and the other winners, and thanks to all who participated.—F. Rink
p.s. Special thanks to Jim Donlan and Westside Bait and Tackle for donating some great prizes (brand new bait bucket and unhooking mat) for our upcoming April 21 and May 5 contests at Chicago's Lincoln Park Rowing Lagoon!—F. Rink
More photos from the event here