SHELBYVILLE, Ill.—Sophomores Hudson Von Qualen and Charles Stevens went to Japanese finesse baits Saturday and it worked.
St. Charles North earned second place at the Illinois High School Association’s state finals for bass fishing on Lake Shelbyville with a two-day total of 10 largemouth weighing 23 pounds, 1 ounce.
Windsor won with 24-14. Sandburg senior Adrius Stankus, fishing solo, took third (23-1). Tiebreaker was big bass (3-13).
The North Stars, who previously earned two third-place trophies with coach Tim Pinks, moved from fourth Friday to second.
“We fished [the Japanese baits] slow on points,” Stevens said.
“We were fishing on the north end and were there all day,” Von Qualen said. “We culled two and caught one short.”
Credit boat driver Dave Fuerst for the Japanese baits. He saw them last year at the Bassmaster Classic in Texas.
“It’s a unique bait; I didn’t think fish down here had seen it,” Fuerst said. “Big attraction was how it came through cover. It makes you more efficient.”
Stankus moved up from fifth Friday with another limit weighing 10-11.
“I caught six bass today, five good ones,” he said. “The 3-3, we were live scoping in 10 feet on a stump in a cove. The others came flipping shallow.”
Stankus is headed to Lewis University, where he hopes to start a bass club.
Antioch senior Evan Schmidt and junior Zach Rubin, in a return appearance at the state, finished 10th (20.0). Woodstock North senior Mason Nicolai and junior Austin Nicolai were 18th (16-12).
Shelbyville showed itself well its first time hosting the finals out of Dam West Recreation Area. Newton’s Gunner James caught big bass (6-2). All boats weighed fish and 17 boats weighed limits both days. Carlyle Lake hosted all previous finals.
Full results are at