The Marathon Man, Jeff Kolodzinski, prepares to break another fishing world record
SPRING BAY, IL – Jeff Kolodzinski is a man on a mission – a Marathon Man out to break a record he already holds. Starting at 5:00pm on September 10th and ending 5:00 pm on September 11th at Camp Dallas, outside Spring Bay, Illinois, he will attempt to catch 2,978 fish on hook and line to break his own record of 2,977 set in 2022. The long-standing fishing industry charity event began in 2006, and this year’s is setting up to be the biggest yet!
Not only is Kolodzinski the current world record holder for fish caught in a 24-hour period, but he also represented the United States seven times in international competition at the World Championship of Freshwater Fishing. He currently serves as the Content Marketing – Senior Manager for Fishing at Johnson Outdoors and is a longtime fishing industry professional with dozens of awards and accolades.
Jeff “Kolo” Kolodzinski is not doing it to merely break his own world record. He’s doing it to introduce people and families to fishing and to increase awareness and financial support for Camp Dallas as well as local first response teams.
“My true passion has always been to introduce people – especially families – to the sport of fishing,” Kolo explains.
“Partnering with Camp Dallas is my way of giving back to the sport that’s given me so much, while bringing awareness to a program that supports families of all walks enduring hardships. We hope to raise money – from inside and outside the fishing industry – to fund Camp Dallas’ outreach programs and also help local first responders. Along the way, I think we can show people how great the sport of fishing really is – how it promotes nature, healthy relationships, mental health, camaraderie, and fun. It’s been a huge part of my life, and I want to share it.”
Kolo laughs: “I kind of feel like the Mike Rowe of fishing highlighting these great Americans who are serving their local communities.”
“Since 2006, I have served local charities through the language of fishing. Whether benefitting our military and their families, our first responders, or getting kids into fishing, I love finding amazing people doing extraordinary things in their own communities. The Marathon Man event spotlights their good work and magnifies their impact.”
The goal for 2025 is to raise $50,000 to meet the proceeds raised during the last event in 2022.
The “Marathon Man” event will be hosted live online and livestreamed for all 24 hours on the Marathon Man web site. The live feed is found at https://marathonmanfishing.com.
Kolodzinski set the record at the nearby Giant Goose Ranch in 2022 – 2,977 fish in 24 hours – and he believes it can be broken. To set that record, he averaged more than 90 fish per hour; that’s 1.5 fish per minute! Now he’ll need to average at least 2 fish a minute and expedite his handling and unhooking at a truly unprecedented pace.
And the number 2,977 has meaning,” notes Kolodzinski. “It was on 9/11 where we lost 2,977 loved ones. I want us to remember the families impacted, and this is a way to do that, while honoring our current First Responder and Military Families on 9/11, 2025.”
For his fishing, Kolodzinski will use a 10-foot pole, 10 feet of fluorocarbon line, a small barbless hook, a small float, and live bait. Most of the fish he’ll be catching will be panfish – bluegill, hybrid bluegill, crappie, perch, and the occasional largemouth bass.
“You don’t need a lot of expensive equipment, a lot of time, or a lot of technical know-how to go fishing, or to change lives. All you need are some basics and the desire to get started.”
This year’s event proves to be even more action-packed than previous attempts. Attendees will have the opportunity to groove to the free live tunes of Jake Rebman and the Waitin’ Rounders, savor BBQ delights from Slow Hand, and cheer on the First Responder parade. The night will proceed with fireworks and a heartfelt memorial ceremony featuring a 21-gun salute and a soul-stirring performance of TAPS, remembering our military and their families.
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