Getting word from my brother that a controlled burn had been implemented on a portion of our strip mine stomping grounds provided incentive to take a hike. My aim was to hit as many bodies of water as I could while they were more easily accessible. Along the way, I was hoping to add some fish to the record book for these waters. And I even stumbled upon a few bass on a couple spots I’d never fished.

Stats
Date: May 14, 2022
Location: Knox County, IL public strip pits (11 lakes)
Time: 5:45am-1:30pm (5.50 hours fishing, the rest waking)
Weather: Overcast to sunny/calm to breezy
Air Temp: 64-86F
Water Temp: not available
Totals: 36 bass, 3 green sunfish, 1 crappie
Lures: 5” Senko wacky rig (blue pearl/silver flake) – 21 bass, 3 green sunfish, 1 crappie, Booyah Buzz Buzzbait (snow white shad) – 10 bass, Rebel Pop-R Zell Rowland Model (rainbow) – 3 bass, Googan Baits 10” Mondo Worm (green pumpkin) – 2 bass
Top Bass: 1-12 Pop-R
Top 5 Weight: 6-2 (1-12,1-3,1-3,1-0,1-0)

7:44am Top Bass at 1-12 on a Rebel Pop-R

Notes and Nonsense

Shifting Gears – After a solid start during a below average weather year on spinnerbaits and crankbaits, an uptick in conditions meant it was time to employ some other presentations. May means topwaters and the Senko wacky rig come into play and both approaches were right on the money, combining for 34 of 36 bass.

Rebel Pop-R and Senko, a pair of good baits for mid-May through the summer

Mondo Minis – There is one particular lake that produced a 4-6 back in 2014 and has hardly produced anything over a pound since. Numbers are good but no quality. In an effort to change things, I employed a 10” Googan Baits Mondo Worm in hopes that a larger worm would eliminate the smaller bites and perhaps land a “good one.” No such luck as those little bass were rather brave. The two I landed on the Mondo Worm were right about the same length as my lure at 10” and 11”. So much for a good plan.

 

11:56am – Mondo Worm bass that is barely longer than the lure

Record Book Update

10:27am – a new Record Book addition for Y Lake at 1-3 on a Senko wacky rig

Y Lake (2017-present)
Top Bass: 1-4 Troy Jackson 9/9/17 Plastic Worm
Best Top 5 Day: 1-4 (1-4) 9/9/17
All-Time Top 5 Weight: 2-6 (1-4,1-2)
UPDATE: added a 1-3 to boost our All-Time Top 5 Weight
NEW All-Time Top 5 Weight: 3-9 (1-4,1-3,1-2)

1:18pm – a new Record Book addition for Convoluted Lake at 1-0 on a Senko wacky rig

Convoluted Lake (2013-present)
Top Bass: 1-0 Troy Jackson 4/10/22 Chatterbait
Best Top 5 Day: 1-0 (1-0) 4/10/22
All-Time Top 5 Weight: 1-0 (1-0)
UPDATE: added 1-0 and 0-12 to our All-Time Top 5 Weight
NEW All-Tine Top 5 Weight: 2-12 (1-0,1-0,0-12)

11:17am – a new Record Book addition on Pound Lake at 1-0 on a Senko wacky rig

Pound Lake (2022)
Top Bass: 1-0 Troy Jackson 5/14/22 Plastic Worm
Best Top 5 Day: 3-12 (1-0,1-0,0-15,0-13) 5/14/22
All-Time Top 5 Weight: 3-12 (1-0,1-0,0-15,0-13)
UPDATE: new lake, first time ever fished

12:16pm – a new Record Book entry on Distant Lake at 0-15 on a Senko wacky rig

Distant Lake (2022)
Top Bass: 0-15 Troy Jackson 5/14/22
Best Top 5 Day: 0-15 (0-15) 5/14/22
All-Time Top 5 Weight: 0-15 (0-15)
UPDATE: new lake, first time ever fished

Nothing stellar but I accomplished my goal of fishing several neglected spots while the access was good. Walking was easy but that is not always the case as most years the grass is already getting wild by mid-May. I covered a lot of ground and even though I could certainly be in better shape, the body handled it pretty well. With that said, it is getting to the point where one of these years I’m going to start eliminating lakes due to a combination of walking distance and lack of quality bites. Several spots that I visited on this outing may be on that list. Then again, there’s that voice in my head stating, “You’ve been saying that for years.” Time will tell. Talk to you later. Troy