Only two bass joined our project during the month of August, bringing our 2017 total submissions to 61 bass. August is historically the leanest open water month, posting only seven entries over the first three years of the Top 5 (1-3-1 from 2014 through 2016). Late season is always tough as we head towards Fall as participants have typically established a solid creel or begin to put the gear away in favor of other pursuits. Time will tell for our stretch run but here are the latest stats.
2017 Totals (* = new record)
*January = 1 bass (no previous entries)
*February = 13 bass (old record 7 in 2016)
March = 10 bass (record 13 in 2014)
April = 11 bass
May = 13 bass
June = 0 bass
July = 11 bass
August = 2 bass
Top 5 Weight by Month (* = new record)
*January = 2-11 (2-11) no previous record
February = 21-5 (5-2,4-14,4-2,3-15,3-4) record 22-9 in 2016
March = 22-15 (6-2,4-11,4-9,4-3,3-6) record 28-0 in 2016
April = 25-0 (6-0,5-15,5-9,3-14,3-10)
May = 26-14 (6-15,5-8,5-4,5-2,4-1)
June = no submissions
July = 21-0 (5-0,4-12,4-7,3-8,3-5)
August = 8-0 (5-11,2-5) (only two submissions)
August 5 Paul Kessler 2-5 Creature bait
Boat vs. Bank
Boat = 51 bass
Bank = 10 bass
Boat vs. Bank Weight
Boat = 30-11 (6-15,6-2,6-0,5-15,5-11)
Bank = 20-2 (5-2,4-1,3-14,3-10,3-7)
Public vs. Private
Public = 30 bass
Private = 31 bass
Public vs. Private Top 5 Weight
Public = 27-3 (6-0,5-15,5-4,5-2,4-14)
Private = 29-13 (6-15,6-2,5-11,5-9,5-8)
The Baits (* = new record)
Crankbaits = 15 bass (Top Bass 6-0 Randy Sampson Sr.)
Jigs = 9 bass (Top Bass 6-2 Troy Jackson)
Plastic Worm = 8 bass (Top Bass 5-11 Troy Jackson)
Jerkbait = 5 bass (Top Bass 5-4 Jake Bresson)
Swim Jigs = 5 bass (Top Bass 5-2 Jake Bresson)
*Buzzbaits = 5 bass (Top Bass 5-9 Troy Jackson)
Old record 5-8 Terry Isbell 9/14/14
*Creature Bait = 3 bass (Top Bass 6-15 Mark Balbinot)
Old record 6-1 Jeff Marshall 5/23/14
Lipless Crankbaits = 3 bass (Top Bass 4-3 Bruce Zilkowski)
Spinnerbait = 3 bass (Top Bass 2-12 Paul Kessler)
Underspins = 2 bass (Top Bass 5-2 Mark Balbinot)
*Propbait = 1 bass (Top Bass 4-7 Troy Jackson)
No previous record
Swimbait = 1 bass (Top Bass 4-12 Randy Sampson Sr.)
Tube = 1 bass (Top Bass 4-1 Jake Bresson)
Monthly Top Bass (* = new record)
January
*2-11 Mark Balbinot (no previous record)
February
5-2 Mark Balbinot
March
6-2 Troy Jackson
April
6-0 Randy Sampson Sr.
May
6-15 Mark Balbinot
June
No submissions
July
5-0 Troy Jackson
August
5-11 Troy Jackson
August 21 Troy Jackson 5-11 Senko wacky rig
Top 10 Bass (* = new Top 10 all-time)
*6-15 Mark Balbinot 5/13 (#7 all-time)
6-2 Troy Jackson 3/4
6-0 Randy Sampson Sr. 4/15
5-15 Mark Balbinot 4/14
5-11 Troy Jackson 8/21
5-9 Troy Jackson 4/25
5-8 Mark Balbinot 5/13
5-4 Jake Bresson Late May
5-2 Mark Balbinot 2/26
5-2 Jake Bresson 5/20
Angler Weights
27-10 Mark Balbinot (6-15,5-15,5-8,5-2,4-2)
26-13 Troy Jackson (6-2,5-11,5-9,5-0,4-7)
23-11 Randy Sampson Sr. (6-0,4-14,4-12,4-11,3-6)
22-1 Jake Bresson (5-4,5-2,4-1,4-0,3-10)
18-0 Bruce Zilkowski (4-9,4-3,3-15,3-0,2-5)
10-15 Paul Kessler (3-4,2-12,2-10,2-5)
8-4 Brent Jackson (3-2,1-6,1-5,1-5,1-2)
5-6 Terry Jackson (3-5,1-3,0-14)
Bonus Species – Northern Pike
Total = 54.5” Jake Bresson (33.5”,21.0”) both on Tubes
Bonus Species – Green Sunfish
0-13 Jayce Jackson
Bonus Species – Muskie
Total = 131” Jake Bresson (47”,31”,29”24”) on Rapala X-Rap
Bonus Species – Walleye
Total = 118” Jake Bresson (26.5”,26.0”,25.5”,20”,20”) on Rapala X-Rap or jig & minnow
Personally, these next couple months are my favorite time of the year to fish so here’s hoping that you keep on casting in the quest for a late season trophy that lets its guard down. I gave it a shot yesterday and posted a solid limit but just couldn’t find that exceptional bite to boost my total. Report and some associated thoughts coming your way next week. Hope you’ll tune in and keep on casting for a few more Top 5 additions before we call it a year. Best of luck and talk to you later. Troy