A solid Top 5 Update this week from three anglers spanning the transition from March into April. Scroll on down for just over 25 pounds of bass.

Weight: 4-2
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: March 28
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Lipless crankbait
Structure: Submerged weeds

Weight: 4-1
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: March 30
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Lipless crankbait
Structure: Submerged weeds

Weight: 4-3
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: March 30
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Lipless crankbait
Structure: Submerged weeds
Angler Comments: Well, this has been one heck of a March. Another 9 or 10 bass today. All came on lipless crank over submerged weeds. Two biggest were 4-1 and 4-2. Seems to be an abundant population of bass in the four-pound range this year.

Top 5 Weight: 21-14 (5-5,4-3,4-2,4-2,4-2)

Weight: 3-1
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: April 2
Weather: Sunny/very windy
Location: Knox County, IL public strip pits
Lure: Rapala Shad Rap (shad)
Structure: Drop
Angler Comments: After striking out with a bit more active and thumping lure in a chatterbait, I went back to the old faithful Shad Rap. Once again, it was a winner in landing my largest bass of the day as well as my two other Top 5 entries.

Weight: 1-10
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: April 2
Weather: Sunny/very windy
Location: Knox County, IL public strip pits
Lure: Rapala Shad Rap (shad)
Structure: Drop

Weight: 1-13
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: April 2
Weather: Sunny/very windy
Location: Knox County, IL public strip pits
Lure: Rapala Shad Rap (shad)
Structure: Drop
Top 5 Weight: 9-3 (3-1,1-13,1-10,1-10,1-1)

Weight: 1-5
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: April 2
Weather: Sunny/very windy
Location: Knox County, IL public strip pits
Lure: Spinnerbait (brown/orange)
Structure: Drop

Weight: 1-12
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: April 2
Weather: Sunny/very windy
Location: Knox County, IL public strip pits
Lure: Bomber Flat A crankbait
Structure: Drop

Weight: 4-0
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: April 2
Weather: Sunny/very windy
Location: Knox County, IL public strip pits
Lure: Bomber Flat A crankbait
Structure: Drop/trough
Top 5 Weight: 8-14 (4-0,1-12,1-5,1-0,0-13)

Now that was a fun update to put together and submit (and participate). The crazy thing is, the days these bass were landed weren’t particularly pleasant in terms of weather. Things have kicked up a notch for the better in the area so here’s hoping the bite does as well. If you want to get in on the act, send your catches and pics to troy@troyjacksonoutdoors.com with the details noted in the entries above. Date, weight and/or length are required along with a pic while the rest of the details are up to you. Talk to you later. Troy