Author: Troy Jackson

Hennepin Canal Report – June 5

Posted on by Troy Jackson

I altered my work schedule on June 5 to get out a couple hours early to put in a full evening on The Canal. The aim was to celebrate the fourth anniversary of my first Canal catch with some more bass from the same spot. Unfortunately, not many bass were in a festive sort of mood.

June 5, 2021 flashback photo of my first bass caught on The Canal

Stats
Date: June 5
Location: Hennepin Canal
Time: 4:30pm-8:15pm
Totals: 2 bass
Weather: Sunny/calm to breezy, 72F
Lures: Spro Flappin Frog 65 (leopard) – 1 bass, Booyah Buzz Buzzbait (snow white shad) – 1 bass
Top Bass: 1-3 Frog
Top 2 Weight (only two bass at 12” or better): 2-2 (1-3,0-15)

Starting lineup

7:34pm – Took a while but mission accomplished with an anniversary bass at 1-3 (13″) on a frog

Tune of the Trip
Happy Anniversary – Little River Band (1977)
Revisiting the spot where I caught my first Canal bass seemed like a good idea, but it turns out that I should have “celebrated” somewhere else.

8:06pm – Second and final bass of the evening at 0-15 (13.5″) on a buzzbait

Notes and Nonsense

Fizzled Festivity – Three hours into casting, I was seriously concerned that no bass were going to show up for our reunion of sorts. Up to that point, I had gotten four strikes on a frog but failed to get any of those fish into the boat. Two were only briefly hooked after the topwater explosions and the other two came unbuttoned midway to the boat. With about forty minutes of fishing remaining, I avoided the shutout with a frog bass and managed to eke out one more on a buzzbait about ten minutes before ending my evening.

Cottowood fuzz is terrible in some spots

The Fuzz – The stretch I chose to fish was ugly with cottonwood fuzz. In the windblown areas, the surface was a nasty, white, slimy mess. This resulted in numerous backlashes, abrupt endings to many casts, and frequent attention to the gobs of gunk on my line, lures, level wind, and spool. There is no way to rid your gear of this stuff when it is wet, so you must grin and bear it or find some water with less cottonwood congestion. Mother Nature just doing its thing, I guess, but an annual bane for anglers.

An errant cast also produced what we call a “log salmon”

Winning lures

In the end, I was able to celebrate the date with a couple fish and always good to get on the water and take my shot. A recent conversation with Dad featured one of those old fishing adages that we dredge up from time to time that summed up this trip. Such an evening reinforces why our hobby is called “fishing” instead of “catching.” Talk to you later. Troy

Did I mention that the cottonwood fuzz was ugly?

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

June is off to a solid start with a pair of bass via two of the usual suspects from a couple of their regular stomping grounds. And no matter how you rig it (wacky style or Texas-rigged), the Senko is a winner.

Weight: 3-4
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: June 7
Weather: Hazy/calm, 72F
Location: Hennepin Canal
Lure: 5” Yamasenko wacky rig (blue pearl/black hologram)
Structure: Drop
Angler Comments: My lone cast of the day with a Senko came up a winner. It was also my final cast of the trip. The rest of the story is headed your way in an upcoming fishing report.
Top 5 Weight: 17-3 (4-14,3-13,3-4,2-11,2-9) culls 2-6

Weight: 4-0
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: June 7
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Texas rigged Senko
Structure: Stump
Angler Comments: Totaled three bass with one worth weighing. 4-0 on a Texas rigged Senko on a stump in flooded timber.
Top 5 Weight: 22-9 (5-7,4-15,4-7,4-0,3-15) culls 3-13

For any Illinois readers out there, don’t forget that next week features a series of Free Fishing Days from June 13-16. Good luck and talk to you later. Troy

Hennepin Canal Report – May 31

Posted on by Troy Jackson

I was able to work in a trip on the last day of May and chose a stretch of The Canal that needed a boost to reach a double-digit Top 5 weight. Prior to the trip my all-time Top 5 for the stretch sat at 7-7, so it would take a good fish or two to reach the ten-pound mark.

Stats
Date: May 31
Location: Hennepin Canal
Time: 7:25am-10:40am
Totals: 6 bass
Weather: Sunny/calm to breezy, 63-74F
Lures: Spro Flappin Frog 65 (redear) – 3 bass, War Eagle Spinnerbait (white/chartreuse) – 2 bass, Booyah Buzz Buzzbait (snow white shad) – 1 bass
Top Bass: 1-10 Buzzbait
Top 3 Weight (only three bass at 12” or better): 4-9 (1-10,1-8,1-7)

Starting Lineup

Tune of the Trip
Dirty Water – The Standells (1965)
I couldn’t get this song out of my head as cast after cast landed in the dingy water. Like last year, The Canal gets increasingly stained as I head east.

7:36am – Top Bass #3 at 1-7 (14.5″) on a frog

Notes and Nonsense

Pros – This section of The Canal has more exposure to wind than many other stretches due to sparser tree lines on some portions. As such, this morning worked out well in terms of not having to fight any wind. Conditions featured only a light breeze which made for less attention to boat control. This generally results in more casts, more precision in those casts, and the opportunity to slow down my presentations if I choose. Each of these factors are favorable but rarely are fishing conditions “perfect.”

9:03am – Top Bass #2 at 1-8 (14″) on a spinnerbait

Cons – While I did not have to fight the wind, there were several other challenges. The cottonwood trees that line The Canal are having a banner year in terms of distributing “fuzz” which gets stuck to your line and lures. It is nearly impossible to remove and adversely effects casting. The water clarity was also lacking making it tougher to locate targets and to avoid lures fouling in the weeds. Beyond the water, the gnats were out in full force and the poison ivy has taken over the banks, including my makeshift boat ramp.

10:14 – Top Bass at 1-10 (15.5″) on a buzzbait

Lure Selection – Three bass on the frog in the first thirty minutes had me thinking that I was onto something but then the frog bite shut down. I shifted to a spinnerbait amidst the abundant wood targets but could only muster two bites. To finish the morning, I swung for the fences with a buzzbait hoping for a big bite or two but only fooled a lone bass for my Top Bass of the trip at 1-10.

Winning lures

Top 5 Update – I did not find the bites that I needed to reach the double-digit mark. In landing the 1-10 and 1-8, I was able to cull a 1-4 and a 1-3 but the boost was only eleven ounces. This pushed the Top 5 on this stretch to 8-2 meaning that a return trip will be required.

Lost & Found on The Canal – These “chip clips” seem to disappear from my house but found one on The Canal although it was a litle sprung. 

Overall, a tough morning on the water as I fell short of my goal. However, I have plenty of other missions to accomplish on The Canal and I have been able to work on those in June. Stay tuned as I have some catching up to do on the fishing reports. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Stats

Posted on by Troy Jackson

A new month means a look at the Top 5 Stats for the year.

Bass Totals (largemouth, smallmouth and spotted)

2025 Totals
March = 10 bass
April = 16 bass
May = 22 bass

Top 5 Weight by Month
March = 11-3 (2-15,2-8,1-15,1-15,1-14)
April = 18-9 (4-14,4-10,3-13,2-14,2-6)
May = 22-9 (5-7,4-15,4-7,3-15,3-13)

Boat vs. Bank
Boat = 22 bass
Bank = 26 bass

Boat vs. Bank Weight
Boat = 12-14 (3-1,2-9.2-8,2-6,2-6)
Bank = 24-5 (5-7,4-15,4-14,4-10,4-7)

Public vs. Private
Public = 46 bass
Private = 2 bass

Public vs. Private Top 5 Weight
Public = 24-5 (5-7,4-15,4-14,4-10,4-7)
Private = 6-11 (3-13,2-14)

The Baits
Chatterbait = 9 bass (Top Bass 4-14 Chatterbait)
Jerkbait = 9 bass (Top Bass 2-8 John Kirkemo)
Lipless Crankbait = 7 bass (Top Bass 4-10 Brent Jackson)
Frog = 6 bass (Top Bass 3-1 Brent Jackson)
Plastic Worm = 6 bass (Top Bass 4-15 Jim Junk)
Underspin = 4 bass (Top Bass 5-7 Jim Junk)
Popper = 2 bass (Top Bass 2-4 Brent Jackson)
Swimbait = 2 bass (Top Bass 3-13 Jim Junk)
Grub = 1 bass (Top Bass 2-2 Troy Jackson)
Propbait = 1 bass (Top Bass 3-13 Troy Jackson)
Spinnerbait = 1 bass (Top Bass 1-8 Troy Jackson)

Monthly Top Bass
March
2-15 Jim Junk
April
4-14 Troy Jackson
May
5-7 Jim Junk

2024 Top 10 Bass
5-7 Jim Junk 5/17
4-15 Jim Junk 5/25
4-14 Troy Jackson 4/19
4-10 Brent Jackson 4/6
4-7 Jim Junk 5/30
3-15 Jim Junk 5/2
3-13 Jim Junk 4/6
3-13 Troy Jackson 5/16
3-10 Jim Junk 5/30
3-3 Jim Junk 5/30

Angler Weights
Jim Junk 22-9 (5-7,4-15,4-7,3-15,3-13)
Troy Jackson 16-5 (4-14,3-13,2-11,2-9.2-6)
Brent Jackson 14-13 (4-10,3-1,2-8,2-6,2-4)
John Kirkemo 9-10 (2-8,2-4,1-14,1-10,1-6)

Other Species

Walleye
Brent Jackson 1-6 (1-6)

Almost halfway to one hundred submissions and our first twenty-pound limit of the year is in the books. 2025 has been a solid year and plenty of fishing remains. Good luck out there and send your submissions to troy@troyjacksonoutdoors.com if you want to join the crew. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

We have our first twenty-pound limit as Jim Junk finished the month of May with a flurry of quality bass. Read on for the details on his latest submissions.

Weight: 4-15
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: May 25
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Texas rigged Senko
Structure: Dense weed bed
Angler Comments: The first one, 4-15, came from dense weeds that were all very close to the surface. Saw him take the bait and a good fight ensued before landing.

Weight: 2-9
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: May 25
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Texas rigged Senko
Structure: Pocket in weed bed
Angler Comments: The second one, 2-9, hit in a small pocket in the weeds.

Weight: 3-3
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: May 30
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Texas rigged Senko

Weight: 3-10
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: May 30
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Texas rigged Senko

Weight: 4-7
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: May 30
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Texas rigged Senko
Angler Comments: Came after work and fished for a little over three hours. Same scenario as last report. One came with fifteen mile per hour wind at my back, one throwing into the wind, and the last one after the wind calmed down.
Top 5 Weight: 22-9 (5-7,4-15,4-7,3-15,3-13) culls 2-15, 2-14

That is one impressive batch of bass and congratulations to Jim on hitting the coveted twenty-pound mark. Next up is a rundown of the current Top 5 stats as we begin a new month. Talk to you later. Troy

Strip Mine Report – May 25

Posted on by Troy Jackson

I made two Sunday stops on the Knox County strip mines, starting with Brent and finishing with a solo shot. A fast start did not translate into a strong finish, but we got a few decent ones while the early morning bite was on.

Stats
Date: May 25
Location: Knox County public strip pits (3 lakes)
Time: 6:30am-11:50am (4.00 hours fishing)
Totals: 23 bass (Troy – 14, Brent – 9) NOTE: I fished an extra 90 minutes
Weather: Overcast/windy, 53-56F
Lures: Spro Flappin Frog 65 (redear or leopard) – 14 bass, Z-Man Chatterbait (sexy shad) – 5 bass, Whopper Plopper 110 (bone) – 3 bass, 5” Yamasenko weighted wacky rig (blue pearl/black hologram) – 1 bass
Top Bass: 2-9 Troy (Frog), 2-8 Brent (Frog)
Top 5 Weight: 9-11 (2-9,2-8,2-0,1-5,1-5)

Troy starting lineup, all produced except the lipless crankbait

Tune of the Trip
Welcome to the Jungle – Guns N’ Roses (1987)
As we near June, the hike to some of the walk-in strip mines gets more interesting. Taller weeds, abundant thistles, ample ticks, and hidden gullies make for tough decisions when choosing a destination.

7:00am – Top Bass at 2-9 (17.5″) on a frog, edging out Brent’s Top Bass by one ounce

Sent Brent a screenshot of my weight as proof that I had an official 2-9 compared to his 2-8

Notes and Nonsense

Chilling Out – At 6:30am, it sure did not feel like Memorial Day weekend and my fingers were bordering on numb. Overcast skies and wind resulted in the “feels like” temperature reading at 47 degrees. And it never got noticeably warmer. Brent commented that when the wind hit the water surface just right it would cause a warm blast as the water was warmer than the air. This year continues to be odd in terms of weather.

Stop One – My first cast bass of the morning resulted in a bass which is sometimes seen as a bad omen. After all, the bass/cast percentage will certainly not remain one hundred percent. For the next thirty minutes or so, the bite stayed hot, but I only landed one other bass from a total of seven strikes on the frog. Such is frog fishing though as hooksets and the aim of the bass can suffer in weedy water. Brent had better hookup success in landing four bass on the frog in addition to fooling five others on a chatterbait.

7:20am – Brent’s Top Bass at 2-8 on a frog

Stop Two – After hitting a pair of lakes, Brent called it a morning while I stuck around as I had some time before heading to my folks to catch the Cubs 12:40pm start. I ditched the boat in favor of a five-minute walk to a productive lake. The lake is odd, however, as there is an incredible amount of little bass mixed in with the occasional quality catch. As I write this report, my largemouth bass total for the year stands at 132 bass and exactly half of them (66 bass) have come from this lake. Unfortunately, only three of the bass have been “keepers” at 12” or better. Those three bass weighed in at 4-14(20.5”), 3-13 (20”), and 1-3(14”). Every other bass measured between 7.5” to 11.5”. Over the last dozen years, Brent and I have posted an impressive all-time Top 5 from the lake of 22-9 (5-4,4-14,4-10,4-0,3-13). But we’ve had to weed through several hundred small bass along the way.

While this trip did not live up to the quality we were looking for, we did land a decent number of bass. The day ended on a good note as the Cubs staged an exciting comeback to defeat the Reds 11-8. Dad and I were a little frustrated at times, but we hung in there. I had to laugh though as Mom said that if I hadn’t come to watch the game with them, Dad likely would have had enough and turned them off after the first few innings. I suppose being a Cubs fan will never be easy. Stay tuned for an impressive Top 5 Update tomorrow and talk to you later. Troy

Hennepin Canal Report – May 24

Posted on by Troy Jackson

A couple hours were available for a Saturday evening getaway, so I packed up my bike and a couple poles and hit The Canal. Turns out, I only needed one pole and one lure as I only caught one bass. But it was a good one and an important one. Read on for the result and reason.

Stats
Date: May 24
Location: Hennepin Canal
Time: 3:10pm-4:40pm
Totals: 1 bass
Weather: Partly cloudy/breezy, 70F
Water temperature: Not available
Lures: Spro Flappin Frog 65 (redear) – 1 bass
Top Bass: 2-11 Frog

Winning lure

Tune of the Trip
“Why Can’t We Be Friends” – War (1975)
I thought conditions were ripe for a good frog bite, but the bass weren’t very friendly to me as I only fooled one.

Notes and Nonsense

Milestones – On the spot I chose for this outing, I was sitting at 99 total bass since I started fishing The Canal back in June 2021. Well, I only got one bite, but it was what I needed to reach a milestone. At 100 bass, this stretch is my second most productive length of the Canal. Another section sits at 192 bass, which represents a target for a future visit in search of eight more bass. An even bigger target looms on the horizon as my all-time total on The Canal sits at 873 bass. Time will tell if I can reach 1,000 bass before the year ends.

3:40pm – Top Bass at 2-11 on a frog and Bass #100 for this stretch of The Canal

Almost Famous – I crossed paths with a young angler as I pedaled back to my truck. He was casting a spinnerbait and had yet to fool one but had a few stories about his catches on The Canal. I mentioned that I had a blog and did some YouTube stuff on occasion. He replied, “So you’re famous!” I laughed and said, “Not quite.” I showed him a picture of the 2-11 and told him that I caught it on a topwater frog. He was impressed and we shared a couple more tales before I headed back to my truck. As I didn’t have any blog cards in my tacklebag, I grabbed a batch from my truck and pedaled back to give him a few. I happened to have a brand-new spare frog, too. When I left, the boy was tying it on to give it a go. Just another reason to have a spare productive lure. Here’s hoping he had a blast.

That’s about all there is to say about a one bass outing. Next up, a strip mine report and another impressive Monday Top 5 Update is in the works. Talk to you later. Troy

Strip Mine Report – May 18

Posted on by Troy Jackson

On this outing, Brent and I took a bike ride through some old stomping grounds that we’ve been exploring for thirty-five years. As such, this fishing report includes a bit of reminiscing. Read on for the numbers, notes and nostalgia.

Starting lineup – Troy

Stats
Date: May 18
Location: Knox County public strip pits (3 lakes)
Time: 6:45am-10:30am (2.75 hours fishing)
Totals: 23 bass (Brent – 13, Troy – 10)
Weather: Sunny/windy
Lures: Mann’s Chug n’ Spit – 13 bass, 5” Yamasenko wacky rig (various colors) – 7 bass, Lunker Hunt Finesse Swimbait (smokin shad or perfect pumpkin) – 3 bass
Top Bass: 2-4 Brent (Popper), 2-2 Troy (Swimbait)
Top 5 Weight: 8-2 (2-4,2-2,1-7,1-4,1-1)

Troy’s winning lures

Tune of the Trip
Have A Drink on Me – AC/DC (1980)
I recently got a new tacklebag that has a sleeve for a drink. This allowed me to pack two bottles of water, one in the bag and one on my bike. Brent left his drink in his truck, so the spare came in handy.

September 25, 2006 – Strip mine smallmouth, our quest on this trip

6:48am – Found the smallmouth although rather small at the start

7:17am – Getting bigger with a 1-7 on a popper

Notes and Nonsense

Smallmouth Mission – For years, I have read reports about anglers reeling in some smallmouth bass from a few ponds scattered about the Knox County public strip pits. Back in September 2006, I made a point to give one of them a try and reeled in seven small smallies. Fast forward nearly twenty years and I was on a small mouth hunt again, with Brent in tow. Well, we found them again, albeit in a completely different spot than my 2006 trip. For me, little changed as I landed six small smallies. Brent, on the other hand, set a new family smallmouth record with a 2-4 (besting my 2-0 from 2021).

Before Picture – Brent from March 30, 2004 with a bass on one of the lakes we fished on this outing, notice the terrrain is highly navigable

After Picture – roughly the same backdrop where the above pic was taken, much has changed in twenty-one years as you can’t even get to the water

Changes – I made my first casts in one of these lakes over thirty years ago. Prior to this trip, my last visit was in August 2011. Over those years, the access to the bank on this lake has changed dramatically. In the 1990s, you could walk right up to the bank on the entire lake and cast without obstruction. Today, the lake is surrounded by a combination of dense brush, trees, and reeds. There are very few access points, and they take some effort to reach. And once you get near the bank, casting is whole other adventure. Luckily, I pack a spinning rod as it was impossible to make a decent cast with a baitcaster.

7:39am – Brent with Top Bass of the outing, a 2-4 smallmouth on a popper

9:53am – Top largemouth bass of the outing at 2-2 on a Ned Rig

Top Bass – Brent had the smallmouth touch in finding the prime spot on one of the lakes along with selecting an effective presentation with his topwater popper. He landed the Top smallie at 2-4, added a 1-7, and fooled a third “keeper” at 1-1 on another lake. I managed to take the largemouth crown for the day with a 2-2 and also posted a 1-4 to round out our overall mixed bag Top 5.

Brent’s winnng lure, a Mann’s Chug N’ Spit

Decent numbers but eighteen of the twenty-three bass came in the first hour and a half and were mostly small smallmouth from a single lake. Beyond those fish, it was a tough bite while biking and hiking. Access from the bank has grown tough on many lakes due to abundant shoreline reeds and expansive shallow vegetation. It was worth a shot though and we found what we were seeking in the smallmouth bass.

More reports to come so stay tuned and talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Trip Tunes – May 16

Posted on by Troy Jackson

The hits keep coming…

5. Light My Fire – The Doors (1967)
I like lots of songs for lots of reasons and this one’s got plenty. Fun organ, powerful vocals, guitar gymnastics and “fire” becomes a two-syllable word. I have also done a word exercise with the family for years that resembles “see how many words you can rhyme with”, in this case “fire.” And The Doors do a weird and wonderful job with “no time to wallow in the mire” and “funeral pyre.”

4. The Weight – The Band (1968)
I’ve referenced artists flying under the radio radar a couple times during my earlier musical rambles. The Band fits that category and once again it’s been an enjoyable ride through their catalog as I put this post together. With the passing of Garth Hudson earlier this year, all the original members are gone. What a blend of voices on this one as they relate choices, consequences, and the resulting loads we bear. And what a hook for a chorus as it packs some heft, befitting of “The Weight.”

3. Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry (1976)
This song was awesome for a nine-year old and it remains awesome close to fifty years later. And that’s my original 45 in the picture above. A brief bit of searching on the internet put the price of a 45 record at $1.49 in 1976. I suppose that was a fair amount of cash for a nine-year old kid that could have also been invested in quite a few packs of baseball cards. In this case, “dancing and singing and moving to the grooving” won out over a possible Willie Stargell, Johnny Bench or Nolan Ryan.

2. Summer Breeze – Seals & Croft (1972)
As I type this up, the days are getting longer, and summer is officially less than a month away. However, with Memorial Day in the rearview mirror and another year in the books for Julie and those we still have in school, isn’t it really summer already? And as far as summer songs go, this one is tops. While the lyrics don’t specifically reference any of the following, this song brings back memories of swimming pools, baseball games, cookouts, campouts, sleepovers, and “not a care in the world.”

1. Can’t Find My Way Home – Blind Faith (1969)
I’ve always dug this tune, and it is an example of how songs strike you in different ways in different moods or circumstances. During this listen on the ride to the fishing hole it brought back a funny fishing memory. Once upon a time, me, Brent, and a couple of the Junk brothers (John and Mark) were on our way to a Victoria area strip mine, Green Oaks, for the first time. We’d received directions from the Knox College baseball coach, Tim Heimann. Something like “take Fremont Road until it ends and take a right”. Well, that road has so many turns, and we took the wrong right, got lost and were nowhere in the neighborhood. Fast forward forty years and I can get to those strip mines on multiple roads from various directions, perhaps even with my eyes closed. But there was a time when I was in the situation of I “Can’t Find My Way to the Fishing Hole.”

Two more fishing reports and ten more trip tunes to go to get caught up. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Trip Tunes – May 15

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Five more tunes, this time from my Thursday, May 15 round trip to the strip mines. I love fishing on weekdays but the morning drive on the radio features a bit too much talk and not enough rock for my liking. But I can always find some tunes for the list.

5. Just a Friend – Biz Markie (1989)
A heartbreaking song about love gone wrong. Well, that’s the overall concept at least. Quite the entertaining video, too, with a stout rapper, oddball rhymes, an interesting delivery, a memorable chorus, a shout out to Beethoven, and more. Just music doing what music does. In this case, stopping me on the radio dial, bringing a smile, and prompting an off-key sing-along.

4. Play The Game Tonight – Kansas (1982)
For a brief period in the 1980s, Kansas recruited a new singer as John Elefante replaced Steve Walsh. Elefante’s stay resulted in this lone Top 40 hit from a pair of albums. It’s cool to hear a tune from deeper in the Kansas catalog as the band has more to offer than their big three cuts that dominate any airplay they receive these days.

3. Welcome Back – John Sebastian (1976)
This song rocketed to the top of the Billboard charts as the theme song for the TV series, Welcome Back, Kotter. As a kid, the “Sweathogs” and their teacher were an entertaining bunch, but I had no clue about this “one-hit wonder”, John Sebastian. Many years later, I came to appreciate his entertaining musical contributions as the leader of The Lovin’ Spoonful.

2. She’s Gone – Hall & Oates (1973/1976)
I enjoy the most successful music duo of all time and their run in the 1980s was right in the wheelhouse of a high school kid tuned into Top 40 radio and MTV. However, my three favorite Hall & Oates tunes were released in the 1970s. For my money, “She’s Gone”, “Sara Smile” and “Rich Girl” are the best of their impressive catalog.

1. Let It Be – The Beatles (1970)
This one stops me in my tracks every time it shows up on the airwaves. For years, I have tinkered around with a life list of my all-time favorite songs and this one will get a spot. Whenever I hear this tune, I also ponder the effect on Paul McCartney’s partner in composition. Your songwriting collaborator has just pulled of “Let It Be” to go along with “Yesterday” and “Hey Jude.” Imagine that.

I have been fortunate to get out on the water several times in the last two weeks and need to catch up on the reports and the tunes. Stay tuned and talk to you later. Troy