Four anglers contribute to this week’s update. Longtime participant, John Kirkemo, is on the board with a pair of quality spotted bass from South Carolina. Jim Junk adds another solid fish to get one step closer to filling out his initial limit. And both Brent and I knock out a lighter fish to add a few ounces to our creels.

Weight: 2-1
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: April 7 (11:00am-3:30pm)
Weather: Almost cloudless skies, air temperature low 70s
Water Temp: 68.3F
Location: Lake Keowee near South Cove County Park, Seneca, SC
Lure: Black and silver 3 ½” shallow running Rapala
Angler Comments: Trolled the Rapala along the South Cove County campground shoreline in 11 feet of water.

Weight: 2-1
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: April 7 (11:00am-3:30pm)
Weather: Almost cloudless skies, air temperature low 70s
Water Temp: 68-70F
Location: Lake Keowee near South Cove County Park, Seneca, SC
Lure: Black and silver 3 ½” shallow running Rapala
Angler Comments: Trolled the Rapala along the South Cove County campground shoreline in 20 feet of water.
Top 5 Weight: 4-2 (2-1,2-1)

Weight: 2-5 (16.5”)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: April 11
Weather: Overcast/windy/light rain
Water Temp: Not available
Location: Hennepin Canal
Lure: Z-Man Chatterbait (sexy shad) with Bass Pro Shops Speed Shad trailer (sight fish)
Structure: Channel
Angler Comments: Midway back on a lengthy retrieve from one of the few points on The Canal, my chatterbait ticked some submerged weeds. I popped the lure to get it free and tried to shake any vegetation and this bass loaded up shortly after that slight change in the retrieve.
Top 5 Weight: 12-9 (2-13,2-10,2-7,2-6,2-5) culls 2-3

Weight: 2-15
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 12
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Dark Sleeper (white/blue)
Structure: Flat
Angler Comments: This long and skinny fish hit on a white and blue Dark Sleeper. Didn’t have a tape measure with me but wonder what the “usual” Banner fish at this length historically has weighed.
Top 5 Weight: 9-9 (4-4,2-15,2-6)

Weight: 1-8
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: April 12
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Chatterbait
Top 5 Weight: 12-7 (4-1,2-9,2-5,2-0,1-8) culls 1-3

Now that’s a fun week when each of our anglers contributes to the update. Hopefully a sign of things to come as we hit the Ides of April. Stay tuned for the latest fishing reports from several trips to The Canal. Talk to you later. Troy