Author: Troy Jackson

Resolution – Kid Fishing

Posted on by Troy Jackson

A welcome refrain as I ready my gear these days on the eve of a bright and early fishing trip departure is the question, “Dad, can I go fishing with you?”

Music to a fishing dad’s ears but not always feasible or logistically possible.  Won’t get into the particulars on the reasons or excuses but last summer wound up with pretty much constant work from the Fourth of July through Labor Day really making a mess of things.  As a result, we only had two opportunities in June to get the kids on some fish but were quite successful during those outings.

But from a parent perspective it’s not simply about how many and how big the fish are.  It’s also been cool to see the progression from stubby Mickey Mouse kiddie poles to regular sized spincast combos and more recently getting the hang of a spinning rig.

The evolution from having mom or dad cast to nowadays winging out a slip bobber setup with increasing distance and accuracy has also been a treat.

And simply looking down a stretch of bank to see four young anglers casting, reeling, laughing, hollering, smiling and catching is about as good as it gets.

Looking forward to the day when they get the hang of baiting their own hooks and taking off their own fish so mom and dad can expand that line of anglers for a little friendly grown up vs. kid competition.

So for 2017 we gotta get in some more of that family fishing time.

Only six more days of school for this bunch and a summer with a few less activities this time around mean that there’s no excuse for anything short of a record year of reeling ‘em in.

Waxworms and bluegill beware…Talk to you later.  Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

When it rains, it pours as we get a much needed dose of Top 5 submissions from a pair of past champs. Way to go guys, especially since there’s been a lot of raining and pouring as of late around Illinois.

Weight: 6-15
Angler: Mark Balbinot
Date: May 13
Location: Fulton Co. IL strip mine
Water Temp: 66F
Lure: Texas rigged Zoom lizard (black/chartreuse)
Structure: Flooded bush in about 3’ of water
Angler Comments: Weather was fairly good and fishing was pretty slow there, water was up a little and stained. Caught a few fish and was heading to the ramp to call it a day. Along the way I decided to make one more stop before going. I was throwing a Texas rigged Zoom lizard in black/chartreuse. Boat was about 10′ from the bank and threw that lizard in front of a flooded bush in about 3 foot of water. I lifted the line and it slowly moved to the right. After setting the hook a bass surfaced on its side and started doing donuts on the surface of the water. Around the bush, to the bank, then jumped, another donut, jumped again, dove down circled the bush and I finally netted it.

Weight: 5-8
Angler: Mark Balbinot
Date: May 14
Location: Fulton Co. IL strip mine
Water Temp: 66F
Lure: Texas rigged Zoom lizard (black/chartreuse)
Structure: Laydown in about 5’ of water
Angler Comments: Decided to go back the next day with my girlfriend and try again, it was Mother’s Day and it was her idea anyway. We caught some small ones on Black and Blue Flaked Wave Worms to start. I switched over to that lizard and caught some bigger fish. My best of the morning was a 5 lbs. 8 oz.
Top 5 Weight: 27-10 (6-15,5-15,5-8,5-2,4-2) culls 3-14 and 3-0

Weight: 4-1 (19.5”)
Angler: Jake Bresson
Date: May 20
Location: Northern IL creek
Lure: Tube
Angler Comments: I went to check one of my creeks last night and when I got there conditions were less than favorable. Actually they were quite high with visibility about a foot. Initially I was just going to go back home but something was nagging as I walked back to the car. I decided screw it I’m fishing since the wife was at work and I had plenty of time to start getting things ready for my Canada trip. I walked down to the one spot I really wanted to fish because even though I was expecting to catch nothing it was the only place I felt I might have a real chance at a fish. I only had the tube on the end of my rod so there was no changing lures. On the third cast dragging the tube on the bottom I felt a thump and set the hook. I brought this 19.5 inch 4.1 smallie to hand.

Weight: 2-1 (16”)
Angler: Jake Bresson
Date: May 20
Location: Northern IL creek
Lure: Swim Jig
Angler Comments: After a few more casts I snagged something on the bottom. In my efforts to free my tube the hook actually broke off so that seemed to be the end of fishing. I walked back to the car and drove home to get my gear ready for my Canada trip at the end of the week. While I was preparing everything I kept feeling this itch to go back so after I finished up I drove back to the creek. This time I decided to try a swim jig figuring the thump of the tail might help in the murky water. I tried initially bringing the swim jig upstream with no success. I repositioned to the downstream position and I was quickly rewarded with this 16″ 2.1lb smallie.

Weight: 5-2 (20.25”)
Angler: Jake Bresson
Date: May 20
Location: Northern IL creek
Lure: Swim Jig
Angler Comments: A few more casts in the same area and I pulled out the biggest largemouth bass I’ve ever caught on this creek. Prior to last night I had never caught anything over about 12-13″ until I caught this behemoth. She went 20 1/4″ and 5.2 pounds!
Top 5 Weight: 18-5 (5-2,4-1,3-10,3-7,2-1)

Bonus Species – Northern Pike

Length: 31.25”
Angler: Jake Bresson
Date: May 20
Location: Northern IL creek
Lure: Tube
Angler Comments: After a few more casts and what felt like small pecks I decided to change casting angles and let the current bring the tube towards me. I was rewarded with this 31 1/4″ pike.

Length: 30”
Angler: Jake Bresson
Date: May 20
Location: Northern IL creek
Lure: Swim Jig
Angler Comments: Just for grins I decided to switch to the tube which netted me another real nice smallie. I guessed it at around 16-16.5″ but she swallowed it really deep and was bleeding. I promptly cut the line and released her to give her the best chance at survival. At that point it was back to the swim jig so I retied. A few casts and I could feel fish bumping it but not taking it when suddenly another big thud. It ended up being another nice northern that taped 30″.
Top 5 Length: 115.75” (33.5,31.25,30,21)

Well done, further proof that “the best time to go fishing is any time you can.” Thanks, fellas, and keep ‘em coming. Good luck and talk to you later. Troy

Resolution – Spring Stroll

Posted on by Troy Jackson

I’ve got a collection of public walk-in only lakes that I have fished since 2013.  Through the 2016 fishing year I had wandered the miles of strip mine terrain on seven trips during the last four years with diminishing results in the last two years.  While 2013 and 2014 produced four bass at four pounds or better in five trips, 2015 and 2016 only had a 1-11 to show for Top Bass in two outings.

Last year was particularly ugly as I was eaten alive by mosquitoes and fought armpit high weeds across the entire site once stepping off the interior road that bisects the area.  On top of those nuisances, the quality of the bass that I fooled left much to be desired with only four at 12” or better for a Top 4 weight of 4-13.  Just not my day and I began to wonder if I would pull such a stunt again, vowing to re-read the blog posting I submitted about that misadventure when pondering a 2017 visit.

My late summer 2016 visit featured far more bites from mosquitoes than bass, bad move, tore up.

The pictures I’ve included below aren’t of our best catches from the area but instead are intended to highlight the terrain during the different months I’ve visited the site (along with my brother, Brent, on a couple occasions).  It’s more important to look behind the bass and their anglers to get the point.

September 29, 2013

April 12, 2014

May 23, 2015

September 18, 2016

As you can see from the 2014 photo, the vegetation is definitely more friendly to walk-in only access before spring gets a chance to hit full stride (site doesn’t open until April 1 each year by the way).  Therefore, the resolution was to add the site to my list for the fifth straight year but to do so nearer to opening day rather than closing time (site also shuts down after September 30).  Here’s to short weeds, no skeeters and an overdue boost to my all-time Top 5 from the site that presently sits at an even 20-0 (4-6,4-3,4-2,4-0,3-5).

Update: I’ve already put this resolution behind me with a pair of successful visits on April 8 and May 13 (see fishing reports posted previously for the pics and specifics).  Overall totals as follows:

Total fishing hours: 6.25
Miles walked (per iPhone app): 6.5
Bass: 33
2017 Top 5 Weight: 12-1 (3-6,3-5,2-1,1-12,1-9)
All-time Top 5 Weight:  20-1 (4-6,4-3,4-2,4-0,3-6)


2017 Top IRAP Bass 3-6 April 8 Jig & pig

Oh yeah, and zero mosquito bites.  Good decision on this resolution.

We’ll see what the rest of the resolutions have in store as we continue to run down the list.  Talk to you later.  Troy

Outdoor Resolutions

Posted on by Troy Jackson

So what do Alabama, swimming, a state record, little anglers, a blogging blowout, uncharted waters and a stupid stunt all have in common?

Well, they are all part of a series of “resolutions” that I offered up at my old blogging grounds back on New Year’s Day.  And since I’ve got some new digs and hopefully some new readers thanks to my eventual breakdown in finally finding some “friends” via social media, we’re gonna revisit these items to finish the month of May in my quest to submit a blog a day.

As we are headed towards the half way point of 2017 (believe it or not), I also get a chance to add a few details to these revamped original posts in regards to any of the items that I have managed to check off the list.

Here’s hoping you’ll take a look at these prospects for outdoor adventures as well as a couple other postings to wrap up May, including one of my favorite subjects slated for my May 28 submission.

In addition, check out the Facebook page for the weekly look back in outdoor history, outdoor activity updates and whatever random things appear in a cluttered mind.  Also feel free to send me some fish via the email link above for the Top 5 as I’m gonna need a little help since it may be tough for me to get back on the water this month (see the May 2 posting for details on the Top 5 project).  Good luck, hope you get outside and talk to you later.  Troy

Strip Mine Report 5/13

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Got my first May fishing trip in the log last weekend. As usual I faced the dilemma of which location(s) to hit and in the end my choices were both hit and miss.


6:56am First bass 13″ 0-15 Senko , quick results, will the success continue?

Stats
Date: May 13, 2017
Locations: Little John (private) and IRAP (public)-Knox Co.
Time: 6:45am-12:05pm (4 hours fishing, the rest walking/relocating)
Weather: Sunny/calm-windy
Air Temp: 55F-75F
Water Temp: no reading
Totals: 17 bass
Lures:
Senko weighted wacky rig (green pumpkin/black flake) – 15 bass
Booyah Buzz Buzzbait (snow white shad) – 1 bass
3/8 oz. Fish Head Underspin (white) with 4” Keitech Swing Impact (electric shad) – 1 bass
Top Bass: 3-5 Senko
Weight (only 4 at 12″ or better): 6-11 (3-5,1-9,0-15,0-14)


8:20am 12.5″ 0-14, only buzzbait bass as I cannot replicate the late April buzzbait bite

Notes & Nonsense

Rough Start – I wound up making my first cast about 45 minutes later than expected. Reason one was my fault as 4:30am didn’t work out and it was rise and shine at about 5:00am instead. Reason two was a road block on my normal route causing an off the beaten path, guesstimate of a re-route that worked out relatively effectively but still caused an unexpected delay. And then once I got on the water at Little John Conservation Club I could only manage four bass in a couple hours of casting.

IRAP Saves the Day – I figured things could only get better with a change of scenery so I headed to the IRAP ground east of Victoria, IL and was rewarded with thirteen bass in an hour and a half, twelve coming from one lake in only 45 minutes of fishing. Several were on back to back casts and even logged two within the same minute (10:36am). The downside of this dozen was that only one topped 11” but at least the oddball of the bunch was a pretty good one.


10:41am Top Bass 17.5″ 3-5 Senko, same lake where I fooled a 3-6 on April 8. May have to do some forensic photo analysis to see if it’s the same fish. Actually have some stories like that stashed away for another day.

Top Bass – The feeding frenzy noted above featured eight bass in ten minutes all while standing on one spot on the bank. As the fish were all between 7.5”-10” I was on the verge of relocating to another lake in search of a bigger bite. Before doing so, however, I changed the direction of my casting a bit further down the bank to my right and was immediately rewarded with a heavier bite resulting in Top Bass for the day at 3-5. Hoping to duplicate my success I later moved a bit farther down the bank but wasn’t meant to be as I only fooled three more dinks.


11:40am 15″ 1-9 Underspin, turned out to be my last bite as the final chapter of this trip did not work out as planned (see next photo and paragraph).


Mautino State Fish & Wildlife Area – much needed project but sure never saw it coming.

Rough Finish – IRAP features at least a couple dozen walk-in only lakes and after hitting two of my favorites I wavered on hiking deeper into the ground which would mean a longer walk back to the truck, tough call. After logging over five tiring miles on my previous visit I decided against the extra exercise and opted to drive to Mautino State Fish and Wildlife Area about 40 minutes to the northeast where I could finish my day casting from the boat. Just my luck, the gate was closed just past the first lake on the site prohibiting access to my best spots so I decided to just call it a day. Much needed road repair looks to be the reason and I sure hope they are actually in the process of doing the job and not just planning it. The road sure wasn’t going to get any worse so I’m gonna be a little angry if they drag their feet and lock me out while nothing improves. But this is Illinois, not holding my breath…

May gets kind of crazy so not sure if I will get back on the water before we head into school break and the unofficial start of summer. However, I have been known to find some other rambles to fill blog space even if I’m not fishing. Talk to you later. Troy

Around the Horn III

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Today we finish off our lineup with a look at what baseball types refer to as “The Battery.”

Catcher

Lure = Senko wacky rig
Fittingly, this thing just looks “wacky” but it flat out catches fish. I ignored the testimonials from the fishing magazines for a few years before giving it a go and now have one tied on every time out once the water warms in the spring. An all-time great.
17 bass with Top Bass 3-5

1974 & 1985 Before my time so only saw as a manager

Player = Yogi Berra
An undisputable all-time great, Yogi gets the nod on this bait for the humorous and sometimes perplexing collection of quotes that bear his name as “Yogisms.” For a few good laughs give it a search on the internet sometime.

Starting Pitcher

Lure = Booyah Buzz Buzzbait
While not always the best choice if you’re looking for numbers, this noisy contraption can make your day with one, heartstopping strike. Those strikes can be addictive so proceed with caution before tying one on.
5 bass with Top Bass 5-9

1978 Real name was Lee, kinda like the “Yogi” fellow above was actually Lawrence.  Dig the hair, Dad had a ‘fro like that about that time.

Player = Buzz Capra
No doubt on this pick, everything to do with the name and nothing to do with similarities in bait and ballplayer. And get this, while playing with the Atlanta Braves in the 1970’s he teamed up with catcher, Biff Pocaroba. A battery of Buzz and Biff, folks, gotta love baseball, you can’t make this stuff up.

Relief Pitcher

Lure – Underspin
This one is new for me in 2017 and joined my arsenal after some impressive late season success by our 2016 Top 5 Champ, Mark Balbinot.
2 bass with Top Bass 1-9

1974 Strange how some of these obscure players leave a mark and gotta chuckle at the “baffled American League batters” in the description as his stuff was a hit for National League hitters sending him back to the AL in July.

Player = Horacio Pina
This submarining slinger (near underhand pitching delivery) joined the Cubs in 1974, appearing in 34 games before being dealt to the California Angels at mid-season for Rick Stelmaszek. However, that weird underhand delivery made such an indelible impression on the mind of a seven year old Cubs fan and baseball card collector that Pina now achieves yet another few minutes of fame 43 years later.

There you have it, for better or worse. I had fun, hope a few others did as well during a bit of a stretch for an “outdoor” blog. Yogi Berra famously stated that “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over” but this one is. Latest fishing report due up tomorrow. Talk to you later. Troy

Around the Horn II

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Part II of our lineup takes a look at the outfield.

Outfield

Lure = Strike King KVD 2.5 Rattling Squarebill Crankbait
This largish squarebill is built differently than most of its sleeker crankbait counterparts and shines in relatively shallow water and snaggy conditions where other crankbaits just can’t hang.  Well, actually they do, whereas the squarebill deflects, kind of a different animal…
3 bass with Top Bass 0-14


1987 Dig the picture in profile to show that you don’t have to be a physical specimen to succeed in my favorite game (and this is a young Kruk, he filled out later).

Player = John Kruk
Stout in stature, steady in performance and one of the things I dig about baseball is you can look like a little rough around the edges and still be able to just plain get the job done.  Yep, indeed he was an outfielder before that stature likely got him relocated to first base and later, fittingly, designated hitter.

Outfield


Lure = Chatterbait
Also referred to as a bladed jig this bait has a lot going on with a flashy, vibrating blade, an undulating skirt and generally a thumping trailer of some sort.
1 bass with Top Bass 11.5”

1977 How do you fit a batting helmet on that hairdo?  Pretty cool (also see Oscar Gamble of this era).

Player = Jose Cardenal
Growing up as a Cubs fan it just seemed that this guy had a lot going on in an entertaining sort of way and always some chatter and a smile.  Silly stories abound with this fellow and looking back at his baseball cards, his ‘fro still brings me a smile too.

Outfield


Lure = Alabama Rig
This wild concoction was all the rage several years ago to the point that it was banned in tournaments and regulated in some states (including Illinois).  Being a creature of habit, I have caught one fish on the lure.  However, it is on my list of 2017 resolutions (likely another catch up series of postings later this month).
No bass in 2017 but needed another outfielder

1971 “Sweet Swinging” Billy Williams, the all-time Williams hits leader (2711 to Ted Williams 2654 due to military serice) 

Player = Billy Williams
As a blogger with a Cubs bias, I gotta go with this legend and Hall of Famer who hailed from Whistler, Alabama.

One more round tomorrow to round out the lineup. Talk to you later.  Troy

Around the Horn I

Posted on by Troy Jackson

A couple months ago on my previous blogging gig I submitted a posting entitled “Starting Lineup.”  The premise was to combine two of my favorite pastimes, fishing and baseball.  For that posting I offered up a starting lineup of the lures I had tied on for my March 4 outing and provided a baseball player comp for each bait based on the qualities, appeal and success of the lure.

Well, I’m at it again as we go “Around the Horn” with a look at the lures that have reeled in my catches this year paired up with some diamond greats (and otherwise) from yesteryear.  Three parts over the next three days, beginning with the infield.

(Note: 22 hours of fishing for 59 bass and all lures and cards are from my collections)


First Base
Lure = 3/8 oz. Booyah Blade Spinnerbait (white/chartreuse) with twin tail trailer (salt & pepper)
The dual blades on this bait provide plenty of thump and just enough flash to get a reaction.
15 bass with Top Bass 2-1

A little carried away with George Scott cards but hard to find a better mix for a player as these samples cover 1973-1977 Topps and feature action shots, killer facial hair and a crazy necklace Scott desribed as “second baseman’s teeth.”

Player = George “Boomer” Scott
The bulk of this spinnerbait combined with the added thump of the blade combo just got me to thinking of the fellow they called “Boomer.”

Second Base

Lure = Strike King Red Eye Shad
3 bass with Top Bass 1-15
A favorite that can hold its own throughout the year tangling with bass of all sizes, an ingenious mix of attention grabbing flash and noise that works quite well with what I call a “brainless’ retrieve; cast it out and crank it in.

1972 Always something to say as evidenced by his grip on the bat.

Player = Billy Martin
A second baseman before I came around, I only knew the stories and saw him as a feisty manager.  Comparison arises from slight frame, plenty of commotion, “Red Eye” lifestyle and ready (no, eager) to take on anybody (see George Brett below as well as Reggie Jackson, Bert Campaneris…); brash and noisy, ingenious and brainless at the drop of a hat.

Third Base


Lure = Strike King 3/8 oz. Rattling’ Jig (black/blue) with pork frog trailer (black/blue)
12 bass with Top Bass 6-2
My go to bait in cold water and sticky situations (beaver lodges, laydowns, brushpiles), reliable and can produce some big hits.

1975 Rookie Card for future Hall of Famer and 3,000 hit club member

Player = George Brett
On the short list of guys who I would want at the plate when the chips are down, willing to get dirty and seemed to always come through, quite memorably in a sticky situation as well with good old Billy Martin (google “Pine Tar Incident” if unfamiliar, Brett’s reaction is one of my all-time favorite baseball highlights).

Shortstop


Lure = Ned Rig
This unassuming bait can get them when nothing else seems to fool them and is also effective in pulling another bass or two out of a spot that’s already been worked over.
1 bass with Top Bass 11” (kind of fitting)

1973 Another of the action cards in landscape orientation that were always a favorite

Player = Freddie Patek
Short in stature (5’5”) but long on heart, Patek was a mainstay at short for some successful Kansas City Royals clubs of the 1970’s covering the left side with our third base choice, George Brett.

There you have it, first to third and as with anything baseball, always up for debate.  Feel free to offer up any suggested changes to the lineup and tune in tomorrow as we take a look at our outfield.  Talk to you later.  Troy

 

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Fortunately for some Top 5 continuity I was able to get on the water this weekend and find a bite that qualified for my creel.  Here’s the details.


Weight: 3-5
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: May 13
Location: IRAP public strip pit – Knox Co. IL
Lure: 5” weighted Senko wacky rig (green pumpkin/black flake)
Structure: Dropoff/weed edge
Angler Comments: I was about to relocate from this small, prototype strip pit even though I had landed seven bass in ten minutes since they were all quite small.  Instead I made a cast a ways to the right of where I had been working them over and lucked into my only decent catch on the day.  Tried the lake for a few more minutes and a few more short fish before calling it good, happy with a bass that bumped me over the 20-pound mark, just what I was after.
Top 5 Weight: 20-7 (6-2,5-9,3-6,3-5,2-1) culls 1-15

Icing on the cake from here I suppose as my annual goal since kicking off this project back in 2014 is to hit the 20-pound mark.  The cool thing is that I’ve still got probably six months to surpass my all-time Top 5 best of 22-12 from 2015.

Email troy@troyjacksonoutdoors to join the fun.  Talk to you later.  Troy

Unsung Outdoor Hero

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Mom (in blue, right of center) with a bunch of her crew

While there’s no pictures of this outdoor MVP holding a big bass or posing at the tailgate with a load of fur, there’s no doubt that Mom was highly involved and played the crucial roles behind the scenes.

Kind of like, well, being a mother.

Travel Planner – Traditional Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend camping trips for a family of six required an incredible amount of attention in terms of food, clothing and gear especially when some of the crew weren’t very big.

Cook – Equally adept with campfire, Coleman stove or kitchen, Mom always provided plenty of grub whether traditional fare or a wide variety of wild game.  Normally you’ve gotta be leery of a cook who won’t eat their own meal and while Mom elected to forego the wild game portion of the menu after prep, I guess it was just the unselfish motherly quality of making sure there was enough to go around.

Cleaner – Creek mud, grass stains, fish slime and various other interesting outdoor grime tracked into the house on kid or clothing was yet another unenviable task (by the way, Dad should probably just count as a fifth kid in some of these items).

Physician – Bites, scrapes, cuts, bruises and so on were ailments that fell under her care and were dealt with in the effective manner a good mother possesses.  Poison ivy was another nemesis for some of us kids that generally succumbed to Calamine but ran rampant a few times.  In those cases, mom was chauffeur to the clinic.

Zookeeper – Corralling four youngsters can be rather taxing no matter indoors or outdoors but our backyard also provided lodging for coon dogs and even some coons way back when.

Photographer – Thinking about it now, there’s an understandable reason why mom isn’t in that bunch of outdoor photos that used our backyard or driveway as a backdrop.  You see, once upon a time there were no timers, let alone selfies, on what were actually, and strictly, cameras so somebody had to sit it out and push the button for the subjects to bask in the glory.

Plenty more stuff, of course, but I’ll leave it with one final bit that will always convey that Mom knew how important time spent outdoors was for this kid.  One evening back in the early 80’s while I was in high school, the catfish were really biting at Lake Bracken on a school night.  Well, you can’t just walk away from a situation like that so I end up pulling in the driveway with my three years younger brother, Brent, in tow, a bit after 11:00pm.  At this point we’re finally both a little worried about how this is going to go down with Mom and Dad.  Mom is awake, of course, and pulls me aside saying, “In the future, try not to keep your brother out so late.”

Thanks, Mom and Happy Mother’s Day.

You know, the mother of my kids has remarkably similar motherly qualities…weird.  Happy Mother’s Day, Julie, and thanks for all you do in getting us outside.

Talk to you later.  Troy