Invasive carp tournament brings wild action to Browning
Boaters battle jumping invasive carp on the Illinois River, creating an unusual competition worth an overnight trip to rural west-central Illinois.
Event details
The Redneck Fishing Tournament turns the removal of invasive carp into an unusual, high-energy Illinois River competition, with boats collecting fish as they leap from the water around them. For 2026, the event has moved from its longtime home in Bath to Browning, an important detail for returning visitors mapping out the trip.
The spectacle itself is what draws travelers who might otherwise skip a fishing tournament: rather than a quiet day on the water, this is a loud, physical event built around fish launching themselves out of the river in reaction to boat traffic, with crews working to net them mid-air. The rural setting means the closest lodging sits some distance away, making an overnight stay the more practical choice than a same-day drive.
Because the tournament runs across more than one day, groups have some flexibility in choosing which session to attend rather than committing to a single narrow window. For anglers, outdoor travelers, and anyone drawn to a genuinely local, unconventional summer event, the move to Browning offers a fresh setting for a competition that has become one of west-central Illinois’ more distinctive river traditions.
Information not accurate?
Help us improve by making a suggestion.
