Well, it was a productive stretch on the water during a balmy July the Fourth week and weekend for the Top 5. A trio of anglers boosted their totals and no knock on the submissions of myself and another angler, but our Top 5 leader really reeled in something special with our new Top Bass of 2021.

Weight: 2-8
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: June 30
Weather: Hot and humid, overcast sky
Air Temp: High 80s
Water Temp: 90.8
Location: Sangchris Lake
Lure: Dark wacky worm
Angler Comments: This fish was in four to five feet of water.
Top 5 Weight: 11-14 (2-10,2-8,2-8,2-6,1-14) culls a 1-8

Weight: 2-13 (16.5”)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: July 2
Weather: Sunny/calm
Location: Hennepin Canal
Lure: 5” Yamasenko wacky rig (pumpkin with black flake)
Structure: Weed edge
Angler Comments: A new spot with plenty of open water on the canal came up a winner. Not my first cast of the trip, but the first in this promising looking area. One ounce shy of tying my personal best from the Hennepin Canal.
Top 5 Weight: 16-8 (4-3,3-9,3-1,2-14,2-13) culls a 2-0

Weight: 6-0
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: July 4
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Texas rigged Senko
Angler Comments: Felt like a good fish but as usual at Banner she was deep in the weeds quickly. Had to keep my thumb on the spool and pull in a few inches at a time. Really scared that the line would snap. Got her to the bank with at least 10 pounds of vegetation. Still had not seen the fish and had no idea how big she was until I started pulling off vegetation and got the first look.
Top 5 Weight: 26-0 (6-0,5-5,5-3,5-2,4-6) culls a 4-3

Way to go, guys in getting out there during the dog days of summer. I must say that Jim’s six-pounder still has me shaking my head. Simply impressive as he adds nearly two pounds to a hefty total weight that was already pushing the twenty-five-pound mark. Great stuff. Talk to you later. Troy