Twenty-one bass fishermen from the area incorporated the Hanging
Rock Bass Club March 19, 1997, in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. Joe
Hadra was the first president of the club and is still active
today. Don Wagner is the current president and was a charter
member of the club. The club has had members from eight counties
in southern Illinois. Seven charter members are still active
with the club and are looking forward to our tenth year as a
club.
The club has eight to 10 club tournaments a year, a club
classic tourney, and the State Top- 6 tourney. Favorite lakes
are Newton Power Plant, East Fork Lake, Rend Lake, Bora Lake,
Sam Parr Lake, Smithland Pool on the Ohio River, Kentucky Lake
and Barkley Lake. Most tournaments are within an hour’s drive of
Mt. Carmel. There is usually one, two-day tourney a little
farther away. Once in a while the club will have a fund raising
money fishing tourney or a raffle for some sports item. The club
uses a point system for tourneys, meetings and special projects
to determine the eight members to qualify for the Illinois Bass
Federation’s Top-6 team event each year. To fish the club
classic a member must fish one more than half of the club
tournaments.
The club has sponsored fishing days for kids at
Beall Woods State Park, Raffle boat sales for the State
Federation at the annual three-day Ag Days Festive, and many
casting events for kids in schools. One of the casting events
was for over 700 kids in one week.
Boys and girls have received trophies, rods, reels,
certificates, food and drinks at these events. The Hanging Rock
Bass Club and its sponsors donated everything at these events.
Every year the club has a banquet to honor and recognize
outstanding members of the club with their families. Our club
prides itself on helping each other, the community, kids, and
promoting sportsmanship and bass fishing in our area. Hanging
Rock Bass Club is dedicated to improving our skills as bass
anglers through fellowship of friendly competition and sharing
of knowledge with members.
Club membership is open to anyone in the area interested in
bass fishing. The members meet the third Wednesday of each month
at 411 E. 9th Street, Mt. Carmel, IL or at near by Mesa Lake.
Visitors are welcome to the meetings. If you would like more
information about the Hanging Rock Bass Club, check out our
website at
www.hangingrockbass.homestead.com.
Twenty-one bass fishermen from the area incorporated the Hanging
Rock Bass Club March 19, 1997, in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. Joe
Hadra was the first president of the club and is still active
today. Don Wagner is the current president and was a charter
member of the club. The club has had members from eight counties
in southern Illinois. Seven charter members are still active
with the club and are looking forward to our tenth year as a
club. 
