This post slipped by me as I have already kicked off my 2026 fishing. However, the goals have not changed since I initially wrote them up. Instead, I’ve just added a few more numbers to the totals with this year’s early season catches. What follows is a look at the milestones that are within reach, and some historical data for many waters. For the bodies of water, I have broken them up into the Hennepin Canal, Lake Storey, and Strip Mines I, II, and III to reflect different collections of waters.
Hennepin Canal
June 5, 2021 – my first ever bass from the Hennepin Canal
Overview
I have divided The Canal into 25 sections as it runs east from Colona/Rock River to the Feeder Junction just northwest of Sheffield. One lofty aim is to post ten-pound Top 5 weights from each section. At present, I have accomplished this goal on seventeen of the twenty-five stretches, with Top 5 weights ranging from 10-1 to 15-15. Thus, one of my goals is to fill in the blanks for the missing stretches. Another Canal goal is to land Canal Bass #1,000 since first fishing the area on June 5, 2021.
Targets
Two of these stretches I have never visited. The other six stretches have weights ranging from 1-3 to 8-14. I have my work cut out and some transportation issues may limit my visits to the spots that are lacking a double-digit Top 5.
March 31, 2024 – Jayce with a top ten Canal bass weighing 3-4
Records
Hennepin Canal Bass Totals (2021-2026) = 939 bass, target is Canal Bass #1000
All-time Hennepin Canal Top 5 Weight = 17-5
Top Bass Personal = 3-10 (tie)
Top Bass Partner = 3-4 Jayce Jackson
Lake Storey
1988 – Dad with the one-time Top Lake Storey Bass weighng 4-6 (currently #5 all-time from Lake Storey)
Overview
I spent more time on Lake Storey last year that I have in many years with eight visits between August 31 and November 4. Along the way, I landed eighty-six bass which got me to pondering a larger goal of 100 bass for 2026. I also landed my largest ever Lake Storey bass at 4-14 which was a treat after over forty years of bass fishing on the old favorite.
October 12, 2025 – current Top Lake Storey Bass weighing 4-14
Targets
Lake Storey Bass Totals (1997-2026): 588 bass, target is to reach the 600 bass mark
All-time Top 5 Weight = 20-13 (solo)/22-7 (with partners)
Top Bass = 4-14 (Troy) /4-11 (Brent)/4-6 (Dad)
Strip Pits I
September 24, 2023 – Brent with a 4-4 from a Strip Pits I lake
Overview
For these waters, and the rest of the strip mines to follow, I will steer clear of any specifics on location or name. All are Knox County public waters where we have paid our dues over the last thirty-five years, so it is up to fellow anglers to do their own exploration. Two lakes in this batch are within striking distance of landing one hundred bass so that will be an aim when I am in the area. A twenty-pound personal Top 5 is also a goal and will take a few big bites, but I know that they are in there. In fact, Brent has already landed a 4-1 this year to push our all-time combined Top 5 over the twenty-pound mark.
April 3, 2026 – Brent with a recent addition to the Strip Pits I record book weighing 4-1
Targets
Total Bass from Strip Pits I = 201 total
All-time Top 5 Weight = 17-6 (solo)/20-5 (with Brent)
Top Bass = 4-7 (Brent)/4-2 (Troy)
Lake A = 90 bass all-time, target is bass #100
Lake B = 80 bass all-time, target is bass #100
Strip Pits II
April 25, 2012 – A 4-11 from one of the Strip Pits II lakes
Overview
As far as milestones, a boost to 1200 bass is in sight and there is a longshot for a lake (Lake A) reaching the 200 bass mark. Lake A is also shy of a ten-pound Top 5 at 7-7 but it just doesn’t reside too high on my target list among the multitude of pits available.
October 13, 2019 – Brent with a 4-5 from a Strip Pits II lake
Targets
Total Bass from Strip Pits II = 1159 bass, target to reach the 1200 bass mark
All-time Top 5 Weight = 21-10 (solo)/22-13 (with Brent)
Top Bass = 5-2 (Troy)/4-15 (Brent)
Lake A = 163 bass, longshot target to reach 200 bass
Strip Pits III
April 12, 2014 – a 4-6 from a Strip Pits III lake
Overview
The 1500 all-time total bass mark is within reach on this group of strip mines and I also have four lakes that are each a handful of bass from either 100 or 200 bass all-time. Each of these marks is achievable if I wish to invest the energy in a hike as two of them are well off the beaten path.
April 2, 2021 – Brent with a 4-0 from a Strip Pits III lake
Targets
Total Bass from Strip Pits III = 1446 Total, target to reach the 1500 bass mark
All-time Top 5 Weight = 23-13 (solo)/24-11 (with Brent)
Top Bass = 5-4 (Brent)/5-3 (Troy)
Lake A = 189 bass
Lake B = 188 bass
Lake C = 96 bass
Lake D = 88 bass
Recent Overall Totals
October 11, 2024 – Bass #600 of 2024 landed at Lake Storey
Overall Totals for the last five years
Totals from 2020-2025 = 2,319 bass
2025 = 359 bass
2024 = 626 bass
2023 = 468 bass
2022 = 553 bass
2021 = 313 bass
Top 5 Project Weights from 2021-2025 (my weight and winners’ weights)
(NOTE: 20 pounds is the target goal)
2025 = 20-11 (Top 5 Winner Jim Junk 24-9)
2024 = 16-5 (Top 5 Winner Brent Jackson 17-14)
2023 = 21-10 (Top 5 Winner Jim Junk 25-9)
2022 = 16-10 (Top 5 Winner Jim Junk 27-13)
2021 = 20-0 (Top 5 Winner Jim Junk 26-0)
March 5, 2023 – Jim Junk with a 5-1 from his public strip pit stomping grounds
Top Bass 2021-2025 (my Top Bass and Top Bass for all Top 5 anglers)
2025 = 4-14 (2 fish) and Top 5 Top Bass Jim Junk 5-7
2024 = 3-10 and Top 5 Top Bass Jim Junk 4-6
2023 = 5-3 and Top 5 Top Bass Jim Junk 5-9
2022 = 3-10 and Top 5 Top Bass Jim Junk 6-9
2021 = 4-10 and Top 5 Top Bass Jim Junk 6-0
Stay tuned for the rest of 2026. Talk to you later. Troy