Author: Troy Jackson

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

September is rolling along with a pair of anglers adding three more Knox County bass. I’m also trying out a new Top 5 wrinkle with a video of one of the catches in addition to the required photo.

Weight: 4-12
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: September 7
Location: Knox County Strip Mine
Lure: Whopper Plopper
Angler Comments: Got a couple small ones on a Red Eye Shad and this 4-12 hit a Whopper Plopper about 15 or 20 yards from the shore.
Top 5 Weight: 23-15 (5-3,4-14,4-12,4-10,4-8) culls a 4-6

Weight: 1-15
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: September 8
Location: Lake Storey
Lure: Spinnerbait (white)
Structure: Laydown/scattered weeds

Weight: 2-6
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: September 8
Location: Lake Storey
Lure: Spinnerbait (white)
Structure: Brush/scattered weeds
Top 5 Weight: 10-9 (2-14,2-6,1-15,1-12,1-10) culls a 1-2 and 1-1

Good job guys, proof that you don’t want to put those poles away just yet. I suspect the Top 5 has a few more updates in store over the next couple months. More video to come this week in a Lake Storey fishing report and another Trip Tunes feature when time permits. Talk to you later. Troy

Labor Day Report – September 2

Posted on by Troy Jackson

 

I am fortunate to get Labor Day off from work so after taking in the UTHS Marching Panthers and Color Guard at the local parade it was off to the fishing hole with a special guest. My boy, Zac, commented that it had been a long time since we’d been fishing. Actually, he commented on a lot of stuff as that fellow can be a chatty one.

So, we stop for waxworms and this guy ends up with a basketball, all good, season is just around the corner

Stats

Date: September 2, 2019
Location: Knox County, IL strip mines (2 private)
Time: 4:30pm-9:00pm (2.5 hours driving, 1 hour fishing, maybe)
Weather: Sunny/breezy
Air Temp: 70s F
Water Temp: not available
Totals: about half a dozen bluegill
Lure: waxworms on jighead hung from a slip bobber

Bluegill success and of course, you have to test out the new boots by getting in the lake

Notes and Nonsense

Belly Flips – Hopefully more than a few out there can relate to a country drive up and down some hilly, low traffic roads which are ideal for producing that funny feeling in your belly. Me and Zac got plenty of belly flips once we left the beaten path to travel those last few miles to a couple new fishing holes. Why it seems like it was just forty five years ago that I was about his age enjoying the same treat with Dad at the wheel.

 

Questions 67 & 68 – I couldn’t help but think of this old Chicago tune and I kind of wish that I had actually counted as Zac may have exceeded these numbers. Sample questions included:
“How much is a fishing license?”
“Does everybody need a fishing license?”
“Is it funner fishing with me or Jayce?”
“Are those oars or paddles?”
“Can you see in the water with your glasses?”
“Will this boat tip over?”
“Is a kayak easier to tip over than this boat?”
“Why is it called a buzzbait?”
“How come you don’t have to wear a life jacket?”
“Who is a better fisherman, you, Papa or Uncle Brent?”
“Were you, Papa or Uncle Bubba a better basketball player?”
And while not a question, there was also a lot of “Dad, Dad, Dad.”

 

One on One – With four kids in the house and the resultant constant motion of daily responsibilities and activities, it really is rewarding to spend some “alone” time with a single kid. While it was billed as a fishing trip, we maybe spent an hour in the boat and even less time actually fishing. Along with catching a few bluegill, we caught the end of a Cubs victory, jammed on some 70s and 80s tunes, shot some hoops, made a Subway supper stop (complete with two cookies apiece) and one of us even got in a nap on the late night drive home. Good stuff no matter how the fish were biting.

Told Zac we’d hit Galva Subway at 8:02pm upon leaving the lakes. Yep, travelled this route just a few times before

Game over after some fresh air and a three day weekend

This trip concluded a busy and enjoyable three day Labor Day weekend with a good mix of family time and time on the water. And this particular angling journey was an entertaining combination of both. Talk to you later. Troy

Friday Flashback – September 11, 2004

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Today we take a second look back at Pat’s Creek from 15 years ago (click here for the July 25 flashback post). The timing on this one is kind of funny as my boy, Zac, just asked me the other day, “Dad, who is a better fisherman, you or Papa?” The best I could offer as a response was “It depends on what we’re fishing for.” Read on for some evidence via an excerpt from the original October 5, 2004 post.

September 11, 2004 – Dad and I headed for Pat’s Creek in hopes of matching the success from our trip in late July. Well, Dad did pretty well and I caught one fish. Guess I wasn’t holding my mouth right or something (a concept for a future article). However, the trip did have a few highlights.

Action shot and catch from Dad’s Top Carp as detailed below

Top Carp 2004 – Less than twenty minutes after our first cast, Dad nailed a 5-1 carp that stands as the current record for the year. The fish bested my 4-9 from Pat’s Creek on 7/29. The carp stands as number three from Pat’s with my 6-11 on top and Dad’s 5-12 at number two. The fish also established a new record for the month of September as no other carp had been entered for this month.

Early Fall – Though the season had another week and a half to arrive, I got to witness a fall firsthand. The last trip Dad and I made to Pat’s, we both took a tumble as we entered the creek as detailed in my 9/8 article. During our latest trip, only one of us went down and it wasn’t me. Things actually looked pretty good as I hit the creek stating “We both made it” only to watch Dad take a dive. No injuries other than pride and always good for a laugh at someone’s expense.

A pleasant and unusual catch from the creek described below

Smallmouth – While on the subject of falling, the creek had dropped considerably and was much clearer than normal. In fact, I was able to watch a school of minnows nibble on my shins as I stood in water just over my knees. Typically, you can feel something but can’t see anything below the surface. A pair of smallmouth bass fell to our offerings marking the first appearance of this species at Pat’s Creek. In speaking with Uncle Dick, this occurrence was not surprising considering the water clarity. Smallmouth prefer less turbid conditions and have moved in as favorable conditions arose. It was exciting to add a new species to the list of fish caught at Pat’s and if anyone could shed some light on the arrival of smallmouth, Uncle Dick would be your guy.

Dad doing what he does best, and considerably better than the other guy on this trip

Species Title – Dad nabbed the species title, easily outdistancing me six to one. While I managed only a smallmouth bass, Dad reeled in a redhorse sucker, a carp, a creek chub, a channel cat, a freshwater drum and a smallmouth. Actually, an argument could be made for a seventh species as he reeled up a small turtle that politely unhooked itself.

The log doesn’t lie as the “D” signifies Dad’s catches, the “T” my catch

So, I guess there’s Zac’s answer to his question and this outing was not a fluke. Hands down, Dad is the better creek fisherman. Zac also asked, “Dad, who is a better fisherman, you or Uncle Brent?” Well, I’ll save that answer for a couple flashback posts later this fall. However, next up in the Friday Flashback series is a fishing trip with another of Zac’s relatives. The boy didn’t ask if I was a better angler than his Mom. Tune in for that one next week and plenty more in between including Zac getting back on the water. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Stats

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Starting to get a bit of that end of the fishing year feel during some recent cool mornings and shorter evenings. Still a ways to go but it’s in the air already with a mild finish to August. We did add seven more bass during the month from four anglers including our leader who managed to add just over a pound to an already impressive limit. Overall, not too bad for what has traditionally been a slow Top 5 month.

2019 Totals (* = new record)
January = 1 bass
February = no submissions
March = 8 bass
April = 14 bass
May = 12 bass
June = 14 bass
July = 11 bass
August = 7 bass

Top 5 Weight by Month (* = new record)
January = 3-3 (one bass)
February = no submissions
March = 19-3 (4-8,4-2,4-1,3-5,3-3)
April = 19 -10 (4-1,4-1,4-0,3-12,3-12)
May = 19-1 (4-6,4-0,3-15,3-10,3-2)
June = 19-15 (4-3,4-1,4-1,3-15,3-11)
July = 13-15 (5-3,3-14,1-15,1-8,1-7)
August = 19-4 (4-14,4-10,4-6,2-14,2-8)

Boat vs. Bank
Boat = 20 bass
Bank = 47 bass

Boat vs. Bank Weight (* = new record)
Boat = 14-9 (3-14,3-11,2-8,2-4,2-4)
Bank = 23-9 (5-3,4-14,4-10,4-8,4-6)

Public vs. Private
Public = 54 bass
Private = 13 bass

Public vs. Private Top 5 Weight
Public = 23-9 (5-3,4-14,4-10,4-8,4-6)
Private = 15-11 (3-14,3-10,3-2,2-10,2-7)

The Baits (* = new record)
Plastic Worm = 25 bass (Top Bass 4-14 Jim Junk)
Chatterbait = 12 bass (Top Bass 5-3 Jim Junk)
Lipless Crankbaits = 9 bass (Top Bass 4-8 Jim Junk)
Spinnerbaits = 9 bass (Top Bass 3-10 Chris Schwarz)
Buzzbait = 3 bass (Top Bass 2-4 Troy Jackson)
Jigs = 3 bass (Top Bass 2-10 Troy Jackson)
Crankbait = 2 bass (Top Bass 3-11 Chris Schwarz)
Underspin = 2 bass (Top Bass 4-6 Jim Junk)
Livebait = 1 bass (Top Bass 4-1 Jim Junk)
Topwater Frog = 1 bass (Top Bass 1-1 Landon Hannam)

Monthly Top Bass (* = new record)
January
3-3 Jim Junk
February
No submissions
March
4-8 Jim Junk
April
4-1 Jim Junk
May
4-6 Jim Junk
June
4-3 Jim Junk
July
5-3 Jim Junk
August
4-14 Jim Junk

Top 10 Bass (* = new Top 10 all-time)
5-3 Jim Junk 7/28
4-14 Jim Junk 8/3
4-10 Jim Junk 8/20
4-8 Jim Junk 3/28
4-6 Jim Junk 5/14
4-6 Jim Junk 8/3
4-3 Jim Junk 6/14
4-2 Jim Junk 3/30
4-1 Jim Junk 3/31
4-1 Jim Junk 4/10
4-1 Jim Junk 4/13
4-1 Jim Junk 6/20
4-1 Jim Junk 6/28

Angler Weights
Jim Junk 23-9 (5-3,4-14,4-10,4-8,4-6)
Chris Schwarz 15-8 (3-11,3-10,3-2,2-10,2-7)
Troy Jackson 13-8 (3-14,2-10,2-8,2-4,2-4)
Brent Jackson 8-7 (2-14,1-12,1-10,1-2,1-1)
Landon Hannam 4-7 (1-4,1-2,1-1,1-0)
Terry Jackson 3-13 (1-15,1-1,0-13)
Jayce Jackson 2-13 (1-8,1-5)
John Kirkemo 2-12 (1-7,1-5)

Other Species
Bluegill 1-8 Teagan Mills 6/2/19 Private pond
Channel Catfish 13-0 Teagan Mills 4/20/19 Private Pond
Catfish 6-9 Chris Schwarz 6/12/19 Spring Lake – McDonough County
Catfish 34-35” Chris Schwarz 6/2/19 Spring Lake – McDonough County
Muskellunge 6-4 Chris Schwarz 6/28/19 Lake Storey

Welcome, September, and here’s hoping for a solid batch of submissions as we head towards the home stretch. Good luck if you get out there and send them my way. Talk to you later. Troy

Strip Mine Report – September 1

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Back to back days on the water with a trip to end one month and a follow-up to begin the next. It sure didn’t take long to get that September bass, first cast of the morning in fact. Read all about a crazy start, a lackluster finish and some new prospects below.

6:30am – How about a first cast bass? Will it last?

Stats

Date: September 1, 2019
Location: Knox County, IL strip mines (2 private)
Time: 6:30am-10:40am (3.75 hours fishing)
Weather: Overcast/breezy to calm
Air Temp: 62-66F
Water Temp: not available
Totals: 14 bass
Lures:
Booyah Buzz Buzzbait (snow white shad) – 11 bass
5” Yamasenko wacky rig (watermelon/crème laminate) – 3 bass
Top Bass: 1-5 (Buzzbait)
Top 5 Weight (only 4 at 12” or better): 4-0 (1-5,0-15,0-14,0-14)

6:39am – Are you kidding me? Four bass in less than ten minutes of casting and recording

Notes and Nonsense

The Fast and the Furious– Some unexpected rain on the drive continued once I made it to the fishing hole. As a result, I kicked off my casting from the bank as a light rain continued to fall and the skies still looked a little iffy. It worked out quite well with a bass on each of my first two casts and three on my first four. All told I spent fifteen minutes in one spot on the bank and reeled in six bass. I must say it had me pretty fired up about my prospects for the day.

 

The Frustrating – While that initial pace was no doubt bound to slow, the morning bite really diminished with only eight more bass in the next three and a half hours. Nothing much changed in terms of the conditions but it sure took a lot more work to find my fish.

In Search Of – From 1977 to 1982, Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek fame hosted a television program of this name and I was a big fan of those 30-minute journeys into speculation, conjecture and pseudoscience. Well, perhaps I should compile my own documentary detailing my quest for what seem to be mythical large bass here in 2019 as it has really been a struggle. Hey, I’m a credible witness to past “trophies”, even have photographic evidence going back for decades, for what that’s worth these days. Maybe I need to recruit that “River Monsters” guy to see if he can help me find something bigger than the 1-5 fish that was Top Bass on this day.

9:53am not much of a Top Bass for the day at 1-5 but that was the best I could fool

New Ground – Desperate times call for desperate measures so I finally pulled the trigger on a couple fishing holes that I’ve had in my sights for many years. Thanks to social media (never thought I’d say that back in the day) I was able to reach out to a Galesburg High School classmate to get the scoop. It required a $35 investment but I now have some more Knox County water to explore. And I did a little of that on the heels of this outing and the following evening with a special guest as a co-angler.

But that is a fishing report for another day. Plenty more fishing stuff as well so I hope you’ll continue to make the blog a regular stop on your internet wanderings. Talk to you later. Troy

Strip Mine Report – August 31

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Got in one more August outing to kick off the Labor Day weekend and it turned out pretty solid in terms of numbers and decent bass. 2019 has really been a struggle for me in regards to big bites and while no trophies on this trip I did find enough for a respectable Top 5 in my book.

7:26am 16.5″ 2-3 Buzzbait

Stats

Date: August 31, 2019
Location: Knox County, IL strip mines (2 private/1 public)
Time: 6:45am-12:45pm (5.00 hours fishing)
Weather: Partly cloudy/breezy
Air Temp: 58-66F
Water Temp: not available
Totals: 23 bass
Lures:
Booyah Buzz Buzzbait (snow white shad) – 14 bass
Strike King Red Eye Shad (orange craw) – 5 bass
Booyah Blade Spinnerbait (salt and pepper) – 2 bass
Strike King 2.5 Rattling Squarebill crankbait (pumpkinseed) – 2 bass
Top Bass: 2-8 (Red Eye Shad)
Top 5 Weight: 10-1 (2-8,2-3,2-1,1-12,1-9)

12:00pm 15″ 1-9 Strike King Red Eye Shad

Notes and Nonsense

Hey Judy – Sunrise weather conditions and early success had an unusual soundtrack running through my head that made perfect sense, at least to me. The two hit combo consisted of Judy Collins’ “Clouds” and “Send in the Clowns” (with Clouds substituted). No doubt I was happy to see some cloud cover for the first time on a fishing trip in 2019. I’d been struggling all year to get my buzz on and the conditions had me confident that this would be the day. And it was but I sure wish that Judy would have recorded something about lunkers.

12:07pm 16.5″ 2-1 Strike King Red Eye Shad

Raydio – Before he became the “Ghostbusters” guy, Ray Parker Jr. had a successful stint with his band, Raydio. A 9:48am text from my brother, Brent, had me wishing I could be in “Two Places at the Same Time” as he sent a pic of a Top 5 qualifier from just a few miles from where I was casting. In thinking about the present state of technology though, you really can kind of be in two places at once via texting, Facetime and various social media applications. Certainly a far cry from the 80s when we first caught this fishing bug. (Note: Raydio also see – “You Can’t Change That”, “Jack and Jill”, “A Woman Needs Love”, and “That Old Song.”)

12:11pm 17″ 2-8 Strike King Red Eye Shad

Ring My Bell – I’ve been running around the Victoria, IL strip mines for over 30 years and used to work at Snakeden Hollow back in 1990 during a six-month temporary stint. In those days, at noon sharp there was a siren that would sound and ring across the old strip mine ground. I am not certain of the origin but I always called it the “dinner bell.” While I did not hear it from my location on this trip (if it truly still sounds), the bass turned on at exactly noon after a 30 minute fishless drought.

12:26pm 15.5″ 1-12 Strike King Rattling Squarebill crankbait

Overall a good day in terms of numbers and okay by me when my Top 5 weight enters double digits, even if only by an ounce. Just happy to get out one more time in August, enjoy some mild weather and find a decent bite. Bank beat boat this time around which is kind of fun for a blogger who leans towards a low tech and low budget approach. It’s not always easy but if you are willing to put in some work you can still track down those bites.

Plenty more posts on the horizon with a couple fishing reports from September, a Trip Tunes compilation, some Top 5 stats, the regular Friday Flashback post and perhaps a couple other ideas I’ve got in the works. So much fishing stuff but so much other stuff that sits up the priority list just a bit higher. Stay tuned and talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

I was sitting in the middle of a Knox County strip mine lake this past Saturday at 9:48am when I got a text message from an angler who had reeled in a Top 5 worthy bass. Now, it’s always cool to get the latest fish story but it’s even cooler when I’m busy fishing instead of just wishing. Turns out the guy was also in Knox County only a few miles away as noted below.

Weight: 2-14
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: August 31
Location: Snakeden Hollow
Lure: Spinnerbait
Angler Comments: Fished Snakeden for about three hours this morning, the first fish was the biggest, caught 16 all in the first two hours and nothing in the next hour, seemed like they came in spurts.
Top 5 Weight: 8-7 (2-14,1-12,1-10,1-2,1-1) culls a 1-0

Weight: 2-8
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: August 31
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Strike King Red Eye Shad (orange craw)
Structure: Weed edge
Angler Comments: After struggling without a bite for a half hour I hit a spot where five bass came in thirteen minutes on the Red Eye Shad. Not sure what turned them on but fast and furious for a bit and then only one more bite during the next half hour.
Top 5 Weight: 13-8 (3-14,2-10,2-8,2-4,2-4) culls a 2-3

Fun to have a Jackson brothers update this week as it’s not every day we’re both able to get out and chase some bass. I guess next time we get a chance to fish we should text beforehand so we can join forces and really give those strip mine bass a hard time like “back in the day.” Hope to get some fishing reports from the Labor Day weekend compiled so stay tuned. Talk to you later. Troy

Friday Flashback – September 2, 2009

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Emiquon and a connection got me and my fish on the March 2010 issue, a 2020 Friday Flashback for next spring

Back in April 2010, I got an opportunity to go public with my writing habit upon joining as a blogger on the Prairie State Outdoors (PSO) website. That gig lasted roughly a year and 169 posts before I moved on to Heartland Outdoors for six years and nearly 600 posts. Anyway, as my “pro” career was launched (made a whole $50 once) I decided to come out with guns blazing which included some catching up on fish stories from the previous year. And this tale was a pretty good one if I say so myself.

Originally Posted 4-21-10 as “A Needle In A Haystack”

On September 2, 2009 as Dad and I rolled down Illinois Route 97 en route to Emiquon he asked, “Would you rather catch one hundred small bass or just one big one?”

Good question considering that during an abbreviated first visit in April, I’d somehow managed to not catch a single bass while being battered by wind and waves for roughly an hour. Although I eventually came to terms with the humbling and humiliating episode, it did leave a bruise on my ego that lasted for a bit. So, while I thought that I’d learned a lesson in overconfidence, my response to his question indicated otherwise as I replied, “Why not both?” Well, if it wasn’t for sunset, my wish might just have come true.

About three hours into our trip (5:45pm) I landed a 23.5” bass that tipped the scales at 7-3 . Somehow or another, this large bass just happened to beat the multitude of naïve 12-15” bass to my lure. I don’t know the odds, but after several other fruitful days at Emiquon following this trip, it seems like one in a million. In other words, while I’d like to take credit for making some kind of crucial decision, in the end it was just one lucky cast. My new Top Bass eclipsed my old personal best of 5-15 caught at Emstrom’s Pond on February 18, 2002.

A year one Emiquon trophy and still my personal best 

The fish hit on a Rapala DT6 crankbait (parrot) in a spot where we’d already hauled in well over a dozen bass. Upon setting the hook I told Dad, “This is a good one” although I really didn’t know just how good even after a brief glimpse and a powerful run that stripped line from my reel. Then the monster surfaced and truly got our attention. A few seconds later, Dad had the Boga grip firmly clamped on its lip and hoisted it into the boat as I began to celebrate. While I didn’t “go Ike” (referring to Michael Iaconelli, 2003 Bassmaster Classic champ renowned for his boisterous vocal outbursts), I certainly can’t recall being that excited by a fish for a long time. As I measured the length and fumbled around for my scale we gave our customary estimates on the weight. My guess was 6-14 while Dad said, “I think it’s gonna go seven.” Not too bad considering that we just don’t see bass like that every day, particularly on the end of our line. After the weigh in and a few more celebratory utterances of disbelief (no expletives included even in my euphoric state), Dad snapped a couple photos and the fish was released to fight again.

Original log entry detailing a portion of a pretty special day on Emiquon with Dad 

In the aftermath, a few different trains of thought came up in conversation. Dad asked if I’d thought about keeping it and getting it mounted and I must say that it never crossed my mind. Ten years ago, possibly, twenty years ago, probably, but not today (and it’s not just because I’m broke). Not that there is anything wrong with keeping a fish that size, it’s just more rewarding for me to watch it swim away. Besides, now I know where this fish lives and who can tell what it might weigh if I fool it again this year. If you’re interested, just head out from the boat ramp and take a left (north). That’s all you get from me unless we’re fishing together. Then I’ll put you right on the spot and let fate and the thousands of other bass decide if anyone catches it. And that’s another thing that’s changed over the years, it really wouldn’t matter who caught it as I’d just like to be there to share in the excitement one way or another.

I also said to Dad, “I’m sending this one in.” I e-mailed a photo to PSO (note: now defunct) and got it posted on the weekly fishing report (9-3-09) along with the basic details of the catch. In addition, I sent the photo and tale to another site that I visit regularly, Larry’s Fishing Hole (sadly also defunct), and he elected to add it to his fishing report for September 10th. It’s been fun sharing my good fortune and engaging in the age old fishing tradition of bragging even if it is now via cyberspace instead of having a Polaroid in the stack of photos on the counter of the local baitshop.

Finally, I pondered where the bass would rank in relation to the birth weight of each of my kids. However, the best I could do was speculating as after three children the details all kind of run together. I figure that as long as I know when their birthdays are its all good. After doing the necessary research (I asked Julie), the tale of the tape is as follows: Helena (7-4) Bass (7-3) Jayce (7-2) Carly (6-13).

Funny thing is another of the forty two bass we landed was likely more significant than my new personal best. As we completed a rather unsuccessful drift through a promising looking area, Dad hooked into one of the many cookie cutter foot long fish that call Emiquon home. Assessing the conditions where he’d caught this fish, Dad proposed revisiting a nearby spot that was quite similar. We ended up sitting a cast away from a narrow brushy chute that the wind was blowing directly into and started catching bass after bass. And after weeding out some of the smaller ones we wound up with something special. But had it not been for the final bass of our initial drift and some expert analysis on Dad’s part, I’d likely have one less long winded fish story.

As we drove home following the rewarding day on the water, I forgave Emiquon. But I couldn’t resist feigning some disappointment when stating, “I’ve still never caught a six pounder.” Maybe this year. (Note: didn’t actually get that six until 2017)

Okay, one more pic, will be tough to top this one even if I get lucky and fool a bigger fish someday

I’ve said it before but it is worth repeating that I am glad that I took up documenting outdoor adventures. It’s always fun to look back and read the details that otherwise would be lost over time. And those parts are just as important, if not more, than the catches, even when one of them is your Personal Best. Talk to you later. Troy

Emiquon at 10 – Windows

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Once upon a time, those crazy Emiquon bass put a positive spin on the old saying, “When it rains, it pours.” Those head shaking bursts of feeding activity were something I referred to as “windows.” Of course, I wrote a little something about it as detailed below.

Originally Posted 5-11-11

It doesn’t seem to occur as frequently or intensely as it did in 2009 but there are still occasions when the bass bite gets hot and heavy. Such bursts of activity exceed anything I’ve ever witnessed in over three decades of bass fishing both in terms of quantity and quality.

I’ve fished long enough to know that presentation and location are key. I also know that you might need to hit your “hotspots” several times during a day before finding fish in a biting mood. At Emiquon these feeding windows can be something to behold. After prodding around on some fishy looking areas and picking up the occasional bass it’s as if someone suddenly flips a switch and the bass go crazy.

Original log entry from a window, never seen anything like it, fun, fun fishing

My fishing log bears out these instances and it is often quite tempting to abandon my practice of documenting the catch in favor of casting. The above page from September 9, 2009 displays the results of a feeding frenzy typical of the “old days” with bass on several consecutive casts. Mind you that the gaps are due to me wasting time writing when I could be catching. Keep in mind also that Dad was reeling in just as many if not more as I logged his success with tick marks.

Dad, Brent and I have witnessed two bass on one lure similar to numerous internet reports from other anglers. In other instances several bass have followed a hooked companion to the boat looking to get a piece of the action. On one memorable occasion I even took a break to simply sit back and watch as my brother worked his magic. Brent had the right lure in the right spot at the right time and I elected to quit casting as I punched in bass after bass on the clicker that I bring to tally such catches. Before sunset sent us packing he was two bass shy of one hundred.

Two bass on one lure and three in the boat will certainly bring a smile

In an article I wrote for family and friends on October 11, 2009 I stated, “I would advise getting in on the action while it is hot as nothing lasts forever.” Things do seem to have slowed since anglers were turned loose on those naïve bass that spring but it’s still darn good.

As I have alluded to previously, things have gotten off track at Emiquon in terms of fishing since I wrote the pieces shared this week. I am honestly out of touch with what is going on down there in terms of management and fishing reports but understand that the once stellar fishing hole is but a skeleton of its former self.

So, why not keep the old memories rolling with an Emiquon Friday Flashback coming your way tomorrow. Talk to you later. Troy

Emiquon at 10 – Guts

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Today’s Emiquon Flashback was the second of a four-part fishing report from a May 5, 2011 trip with my brother, Brent. I suppose it seems a bit over the top to craft four postings from one six hour fishing trip but Emiquon was that kind of place back in those early years.

Originally Posted 5-16-11

Looks like its “All You Can Eat” for the bass that call Emiquon home.

While some things have changed since Emiquon was opened to anglers back in April of 2009, the bass continue to display an aggressive disposition. And although outings may not produce the quantities they used to, the quality continues to impress. These bass are stout, well fed and show no signs of slowing down.

Brent and I both marveled at the distended bellies on the bass we landed on our latest trip. Repeatedly we were left shaking our heads stating, “Look at the gut on this thing.” We’re strictly catch and release on our bass but I must admit being tempted to take one home just to do some dissection. Of course, we didn’t have one make the grade anyway as Emiquon regulations specify a daily limit of one largemouth with an 18” minimum length. The best we could do was 17” and I truthfully would have only taken photos home no matter the size of our Top Bass.

No matter how you shot the pics, the bass were flat out healthy

Looking at my log entries dating back to 1987, the weight of 17” bass is clustered between 2-0 and 2-4. Our 17” Emiquon specimen tipped the scales at 2-12 and while it represents only one data point, I don’t think it’s a fluke. Our three 16” fish came in at 2-3, 2-3 and 2-5 compared to my log data averaging right around 1-15 and we also had a 15” at 2-1 compared to about 1-10. Granted this is rather unscientific and contains innumerable variables in the sampling methods and locations but I’d still put the health of the individuals in Emiquon’s bass population up against those on any other public body of water I’ve ever fished. Regardless of the length, you just don’t see scrawny bass.

Getting back to my dissection comment, we left without a solid answer on what they were eating other than spinnerbaits, which was working out just fine. Back in 2009 I wrote a piece on Emiquon that included the following observation; “A handful that I examined also had fish tails emerging from their throats yet were still in pursuit of another meal.” This time around we spotted neither tails nor the telltale antennae indicative of a crawdad dinner but whatever is on the menu it certainly seems like there’s plenty to go around.

Here’s another incredible bit of data as I weigh all bass 12″ or better and 35 of our 36 catches met that criteria.                           Folks, that is not normal.

From what I understand, over the last several years management decisions and Mother Nature have totally altered the population dynamics and species structure of the old fishing hole. Unfortunately, for us anglers, the management strategy was never really geared towards being one of the best fisheries around. But for a time, and for my money, once upon a time, it sure was. Talk to you later. Troy