This week's Archers Alley "Catch of the Week" comes to us from Zachary Burcham, of Decatur!

From Zachary: "I was bass fishing from the bank on Lake Decatur near Fairies Park on Memorial Day when I caught this 17" crappie!"

Zachary will join us to tell the story this weekend on Central Illinois Outdoors!

Remember to submit your pic & story for our Archers Alley "Catch of the Week!"

This week's Archers Alley "Catch of the Week" comes to us from Ryan Kauzlarich, of Bethany!

Ryan set out on a mission recently to Sangchris Lake to try and catch a monster flathead...Mission Accomplished!  Check out the story from Ryan below!

From Ryan: 

"Sometimes it feels as if everything is coming together and the stars have aligned. That was what tonight felt like.

We caught a mess of bluegill earlier in the day and had planned to filet them. After second thought I decided to keep them for bait instead.

I hadn’t originally planned on going flathead fishing but one of my buddies hit me up and asked if I wanted to meet him and another friend at the regular spot. When we got there he was fishing from the spot I normally cast from, so I had to cast from another location.

About thirty minutes later both of those friends had to leave and there were two of us left. There was a decent storm headed our way so I grabbed my frog togs and decided to stick around.

Not thirty minutes after they left there was a light sprinkle going. I have always heard that fishing right before a storm was good but I didn’t have this in mind!

I had my back turned and my friend yelled “Ryan!” I looked over and my 10ft heavy rod was buckled! My drag started to scream faster than I’ve ever heard before. I had already cranked the handle to set the hook and knew I had him good. Every other flathead I caught has toyed with the bait, but this biggun meant business!

What was only a couple minutes felt like an eternity as my blood pumped vigorously through my veins. My heart was pounding and when it came to the surface I couldn’t believe it. This is the third time I have broke my PB since May 2nd of this year.

I am beyond blessed to have been gifted these experiences by Mother Nature. I’ve started to have a mantra when I go out. I say “Mother nature will provide and I will be forever grateful.” We have to trust that nature will run her course and when she gives us these blessing we must remember to be grateful for them.

I am grateful for my friends and my family that are always there for me so that I can live out my dreams. They are always there to provide me with the support I need to make these outings a reality.

All of the pictures are of the same fish.

A 39lb beast with an awesome forked whisker. It was released to live another day and to hopefully grow into a 90lber so someone can once again break our state record someday.

I love to share all of my fishing experiences with the world and I hope that someone somewhere finds joy in the stories I tell. Us Kauzlarich’s have the fishing gene that’s for sure!

2021 has been a hell of a year!!"

Ryan will join us to tell the story this weekend on Central Illinois Outdoors!

Remember to submit your pic & story for our Archers Alley "Catch of the Week!"

This week's Archers Alley "Catch of the Week" comes to us from Jim Kozak, of Hudson!  

Jim has been shooting nature photography around the Lake Bloomington & Evergreen Lake area for several years, and some of his shots are amazing!!

Jim will join us this weekend to give us some of the stories behind these awesome pictures!  Plus, he'll share some tips & tricks on how he approaches nature photography!

Remember to submit your pic & story for our Archers Alley "Catch of the Week!"

This week's Archers Alley "Catch of the Week" comes to us from 9-year old Stone Stith, of Clinton!

Stone and his dad were out jugging for catfish on Clinton Lake last weekend, and they brought in a mess of catfish!   Plus, a huge 43-pound flathead!!!

Stone will join us this weekend to tell the story of bringing in this monster flathead on the end of a jug!  

Remember to submit your pic & story for our Archers Alley "Catch of the Week!"