Chicago Fishing School
Chicago Fishing School (various suburban ponds and lakes), Downers Grove, IL
About
Chicago Fishing School offers kids’ fishing camps, group fishing classes, guided fishing and guiding sessions, fishing lessons, and fishing parties. The program also offers kids’ parties, corporate fishing events, and scout group fishing events, including options like a 2-hour fishing session, half day fishing trip, full-day fishing lesson, boat guided lesson, and two half day sessions.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
• Schedule: Weekend sessions available from 6:00AM–8:00PM, with weekday sessions by appointment; options include 2-hour, half-day, full-day, and two half-day fishing lessons or trips
• Price: Larger groups can pay under $100 per person for a half day of fishing
Chicago Fishing School features Chicago fishing guide Johnny Wilkins, a 3-Time USA Fishing World Championships Team member and US Fishing Team member. Johnny Wilkins has been a Chicago fishing guide and teaching fishing for over 20 years and has taught over 1,500 people how to catch more fish. He fished three World Championships for Team U.S.A. in Portugal, Belgium, and Italy after qualifying as one of the five best American anglers. He holds the world record for most fish caught from shore in a 24-hour period, with 2,011 fish caught on one hook, and is described as an expert in catching fish on any water from shore and boat and as a top fishing tackle expert in the region.
The program uses Speedfishing™ patent-pending fishing that eliminates the waiting and specializes in catching fish and action, all-species fishing, and live bait tactics for bluegill, walleye, crappie, trout, catfish, and carp. Kids and families have been learning to catch fish without a boat, from shore or using a boat, and one scout group of 13 landed 385 fish in 2 hours on a day described as horrible in October. Chicago Fishing School teaches and guides around Chicago and other locations and can travel in the US and Canada by appointment. Participants do not need any equipment, as the program provides all needed gear, tips, and premium live fishing bait, including for fishing parties.
Chicago Fishing School is connected with the online fishing tackle stores LiveBaitFishingTackle.com and LiveBaitTackle.com, which offer fish-catching tackle not found in other stores. The program also offers Chicago Suburban Kid's Fishing Camps and Fishing Party Chicago Suburbs for kids from 4–84.
Last updated May 25, 2026.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
• Schedule: Weekend sessions available from 6:00AM–8:00PM, with weekday sessions by appointment; options include 2-hour, half-day, full-day, and two half-day fishing lessons or trips
• Price: Larger groups can pay under $100 per person for a half day of fishing
Chicago Fishing School features Chicago fishing guide Johnny Wilkins, a 3-Time USA Fishing World Championships Team member and US Fishing Team member. Johnny Wilkins has been a Chicago fishing guide and teaching fishing for over 20 years and has taught over 1,500 people how to catch more fish. He fished three World Championships for Team U.S.A. in Portugal, Belgium, and Italy after qualifying as one of the five best American anglers. He holds the world record for most fish caught from shore in a 24-hour period, with 2,011 fish caught on one hook, and is described as an expert in catching fish on any water from shore and boat and as a top fishing tackle expert in the region.
The program uses Speedfishing™ patent-pending fishing that eliminates the waiting and specializes in catching fish and action, all-species fishing, and live bait tactics for bluegill, walleye, crappie, trout, catfish, and carp. Kids and families have been learning to catch fish without a boat, from shore or using a boat, and one scout group of 13 landed 385 fish in 2 hours on a day described as horrible in October. Chicago Fishing School teaches and guides around Chicago and other locations and can travel in the US and Canada by appointment. Participants do not need any equipment, as the program provides all needed gear, tips, and premium live fishing bait, including for fishing parties.
Chicago Fishing School is connected with the online fishing tackle stores LiveBaitFishingTackle.com and LiveBaitTackle.com, which offer fish-catching tackle not found in other stores. The program also offers Chicago Suburban Kid's Fishing Camps and Fishing Party Chicago Suburbs for kids from 4–84.
Last updated May 25, 2026.
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