Work has been hectic this year, resulting in longer days and weekend duty. For the effort, my boss suggested that I take a weekday off and “go fishing.” No sense arguing with that directive, so I headed to The Canal last Wednesday to try my luck on unfamiliar waters.

Stats
Date: May 8
Location: Hennepin Canal (two pools)
Time: 7:50am-10:50am, 1:30pm-4:30pm
Totals: 14 bass
Weather: Sunny to overcast/windy to very windy
Lures: Z-Man Chatterbait (sexy shad) with a Zoom Z Swimbait trailer (electric blue chartreuse) – 10 bass, War Eagle Spinnerbait (chartreuse/white) with Bass Pro Shops Twin Tail trailer (Houdini) – 2 bass, 5” Yamamoto Senko (blue pearl/silver flake) – 2 bass
Top Bass: 2-12
Top 5 Weight: 9-1 (2-12,1-15,1-9,1-7,1-6)

Winning lures

Notes and Nonsense

Row, Cast, Repeat – I chose a destination that would allow me to check another uncharted spot off my Canal quest. The main factor that has kept me off this stretch is that it is devoid of shoreline windbreaks. As the forecast predicted a mere 3-4 mph breeze, it was time to give it a shot. However, I should know better as 2024 has been windy as ever and the weather prognosticators were way off the mark.

8:46am – Top Bass Runner Up at 1-15 (16″) on a Senko

Dirty Water – In addition to the wind factor, the water was quite dirty due to recent rains. The Canal does have a green color in this area, but the cleaner green was replaced by a dingier green. I’ve got to admit that the wind and clarity gave me fits and the bass weren’t cooperative. I fought the challenging conditions for three hours and three bass before deciding to switch to Plan B.

2:53pm – Crooked Canal bass, may have been a “keeper” if straight

Plan B – My aim was to head east to another unexplored stretch once I had taken a shot at my initial destination. Unfortunately, the water clarity got worse as I drove east and checked a pair of spots. Therefore, I headed west for Plan C.

4:04pm – Top Bass at 2-12 (18″) on a chatterbait

Plan C – I ended up on a stretch that I had only partially explored by boat and bank for a few hours. The wind was still ugly, but the water clarity was improved, and I had driven enough that it was time to get back in the boat. Three hours produced eleven bass, a welcome improvement over my three bass morning shift. Included in my haul were four of the day’s Top 5 and Top Bass of 2-12.

Endangered Species – As I ended my day, I ran into a rare sight, someone who reads my blog. I believe that we had met previously on a winter hike while scouting a mile or so upstream. On this afternoon we swapped Canal information and experiences as I rowed near the ramp. Once I reached dry ground, we chatted a bit more and I was able to witness the angler land a bass on a topwater propbait just before I hit the road. It’s always fun to chat with fellow Canal anglers and I was happy to see his success on a topwater presentation. I’d employed a similar bait throughout the day and never got a single strike. It’s good to know that I am not wasting my time throwing such a lure too early. I guess that I just need to work on my touch and keep plugging away.

4:30pm – Last cast bass, a good way to call it a day

A slow start followed by a change of scenery saved the day. I only managed three “keepers” on my first stop which means a return trip in the future to complete a Top 5. In contrast, I did complete a Top 5 on the second stretch. However, the 8-7 Top 5 Weight leaves me within striking distance of the ultimate goal of a double-digit Top 5 from each section of The Canal. So, I guess that I will pencil in both stretches for future visits. Talk to you later. Troy

The Canal offers dozens of potential spots so it can be tough to decide on a destination when I get a chance to hit the water. Things like the amount of time available to fish, the time of year, and the urge to explore are factors that can influence my decision. On this outing, I had about a three-hour window with drive included so a spot close to home was the first item to consider. Beyond that, I had four other factors that came into play. Read on for those considerations and the results of my choice.

11:06am – First bass at 1-1 (13″) on a chatterbait

Stats
Date: April 27
Location: Hennepin Canal
Time: 10:20am-12:20pm
Totals: 2 bass
Weather: Sunny/breezy
Water temperature: Not available
Lures: Z-Man Chatterbait (sexy shad) with a Zoom Z Swimbait trailer (electric blue chartreuse) – 2 bass
Top Bass: 1-2
Top 2 Weight (only two bass at 12” or better): 2-3

Winning Lure

Notes and Nonsense

Everyone knows it’s windy, every single day that I get to fish

Factor One: Wind – The wind has been brutal this year and this day was no different. For a guy rowing around in an eight-foot johnboat, it can be a source of frustration. I chose this stretch of The Canal as it provided substantial wind break for wind from the south southwest. My choice was a winner as I barely noticed the wind other than one short stretch where the cover on the southern bank grew sparse. The wind did shift to more directly from the west at the end of the trip and was beneficial in heading back to the lot. In fact, the wind gusts exceeded the modest canal current and actually pushed me upstream.

Subsurface weeds are abundant and will soon take over much of the surface of this pool

Factor Two: Weeds – By mid-May, this stretch will be so choked with weeds that it is a chore to even row a boat through the surface mats. Therefore, I figured that if I was going to get to it before the weeds took over, this was a good opportunity. In addition, lure presentation is pretty much limited to topwater frogs once the aquatic vegetation takes hold. Frogs are an exciting presentation, but I don’t like to put all my eggs in one basket as would be the case for most of this stretch of water in a couple of weeks.

A look at the less than impressive all-time Top 5 for this pool

Factor Three: Weight – In previous posts, I have noted that a goal is to post a Top 5 for each pool on The Canal. Expanding on that goal is striving to push that Top 5 mark to double digits. For the stretch I chose, I had already established a Top 5 mark during a pair of 2022 visits (May 1 and July 13). However, that Top 5 weight of only 6-8 left much to be desired. I decided that a return visit was the ticket to find the bites needed for the three and a half pounds required to reach the ten-pound goal. Not even close though as I could not muster a bite to boost my weight at all.

Worth a shot but no luck, won’t be long though…

Factor Four: Topwater – Shallow water, warming weather, and emerging vegetation had me looking to get my first topwater bass of 2024 in the log. By mid-April, topwater offerings begin to come into play and with the shallow waters of The Canal, those bass are often ahead of schedule for such a bite. In fact, on my April 15 outing I had spoken to a couple of anglers in a boat who noted a few topwater catches and stated that the water was “really warm.” They didn’t specify how warm it was, but the feedback prompted me to tie on a Whopper Plopper for this trip. Apparently, the bass on this stretch did not get the memo as I got zero response. However, the lack of success will not discourage me as I know it is just a matter of time.

11:50am – Second bass at 1-2 (14.5″) on a chatterbait

In the end, I was disappointed in my results but not in my reasons for selecting my destination. As I often say, “That’s fishing.” The stretches that connect to this spot have quality fish, but they have yet to show in my three visits to this area. I am torn on whether it is worth another visit this year. On one hand, I have a bit of a chip on my shoulder. On the other hand, I have several uncharted stretches on my list in need of an initial Top 5. Stay tuned and talk to you later. Troy

There’s more to a fishing trip than simply how many fish you catch. Thus, the April 13 strip mine hike for me and Brent needed a Part II to cover the outing. Read on for a batch of extra notes from our time on the water.

Species Title – While our target species was the largemouth bass, if you have a lure in the water, you have a shot at an “accident.” Brent and I both landed crappies to go along with our bass but I was able to claim the species title with four (largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and green sunfish).

Tick Title – The annoying pests were ready for action, and we encountered a few as we made our way through the weeds. Brent outpaced me six ticks to one on this outing.

Torn Trailers – Between a batch of little bass and some solid crappie, several missed strikes resulted in losing the tails of the swimbait trailers I paired with my chatterbait. There is something to be said about using a stinger/trailer hook, but I am just not a fan. I suppose it may cost me a catch or two, but I always figure if a quality bass wants your lure bad enough, it is going to get it.

Frame 352 – As we made our way along opposite sides of a strip mine cut, I glanced over and saw that Brent was snapping a picture in my direction. I thought, “That’s a good idea” and took a moment to shoot a couple of my own as he made his way along a tall ridge. When we later got within speaking distance, Brent confirmed that he had taken a pic and then sent it may way. It wasn’t until that night that I looked at the pic and had the same thought that Brent would text a few days later.

The “Floors” data on steps app always amuses me after a strip mine trek. If you know, you know.

Top Bass – Brent landed a 2-4 about forty-five minutes into our trip but it was not the largest bass that we observed. That honor belonged to a fellow angler that I crossed paths with well off the beaten path. He showed me the fish but was unsure of its weight as he did not have a scale. When I offered up mine, he was excited to find out just what he had caught. I told him that I thought it may go six pounds as I clamped the clip down on the lip of his bass. I then turned the display in the angler’s direction to make sure he had the first view. He exclaimed, “5.14, that’s the biggest bass I’ve ever caught!” I congratulated him and never looked at the scale myself. However, I started thinking later that 5.14 (or 5 lbs. 2 oz.) seemed a bit shy. In looking at my scale later, the settings were indeed pounds and ounces and not decimal. Since I gave the young man one of my cards, if you are out there, I believe that you should tell the tale as a “five-pound fourteen-ounce bass” and not “5.14” if that was the initial interpretation.

I took a look at my scale settings when I got home and I think the fellow may have misinterpreted the reading, thus missing a few ounces

I was worn out by the end of the day as I wound up with a substantial hike back to the truck. It included marshy spots that were nearly over my boots courtesy of the recent rains. Early the next morning, I woke up with a serious cramp in my left hamstring and dealt with a sore heel when I got out of bed. Once I got up and started moving around though, all was well. I’ve been pulling this sort of stunt for a long time, and the rewards still outweigh the travails. I am certain that I will return as the year rolls on. Talk to you later. Troy

A bass on March 3 got the year off to an early start and my good fortune continued throughout the rest of the month with ample opportunities to get on the water. By the end of March, I had forty bass in the log. In comparison, l had only six bass in March 2022 and one in March 2023. In those two previous years, I ended up with 553 bass and 468 bass, respectively. There’s no way to tell what the remainder of 2024 holds in store but I’m well ahead of the last two productive years. And April kicked off with a solid April Fool’s Day bite as detailed below.

3:02pm Top Bass at 1-11 (15″) on a Shad Rap

Stats
Date: April 1
Location: Knox County public strip pits (9 lakes)
Time: 11:00am-4:40pm (4.25 hours fishing)
Totals: 21 bass
Weather: Overcast/very windy, 51-56F
Water temperature: Not available
Lures: Rapala Shad Rap (blue) – 10 bass, Lunker Hunt Finesse Swimbait (smokin shad) aka “Ned Rig” – 7 bass, Z-Man Chatterbait (sexy shad) with a BPS Speed Shad trailer (pro blue) – 4 bass
Top Bass: 1-11 (Shad Rap)
Top 5 Weight: 6-1 (1-11,1-8,1-0,1-0,0-14)

Winning Lures

Notes and Nonsense

Adages for April – There’s an old saying that “wind from the east, fish bite the least.” Well, on this day, the wind was howling from the east along with intermittent “April showers” as the wrong month came “in like a lion.” But having invested a vacation day for an April Fool’s outing, I was committed to fishing come “heck or high water.” In doing so, I followed my best piece of fishing advice that “the best time to go fishing is anytime you can.”

Walk Don’t Row – On days when the wind gets ridiculous, I prefer to get out for a hike rather than trying to row a boat around the lakes. It just gets too tough and frustrating fighting the wind all day and I don’t really like to anchor. Instead, by walking, I can stay put on the bank, use the wind to my favor in casting or positioning the fish, and invest as much time as I wish working over appealing areas.

My quality rainsuit was in Galesburg so I had to make a last-minute purchase. I didn’t want to invest too much money and I got what I paid for. Of course, a hike in the strip mines gives your gear (and your body) a workout.

Saved the Best for Last – My first two hours and forty-five minutes produced a grand total of seven bass on seven bodies of water. Four of those came in fifteen minutes from a spot known for small fish where I stopped just to see if I could at least land a few. In contrast to the slow start, my last hour and a half resulted in fourteen bass on two lakes. I found a sharp drop off a short ledge that was being hit by the wind and had some brush near where my retrieve would end. A classic cold-water crankbait, the Rapala Shad Rap, was the ticket as the spot gave up six bass. It was a textbook setup with the added feedback of two bass hitting right as I paused the bait near the end of the retrieve. It sure is fun when the bass bite in a scenario just like they should.

With another twenty-one bass, the early season totals are as good as they’ve ever been. However, I still can’t find any big bites as my 2024 Top Bass sits at 2-6 and is my only two-pounder of the year. The waters that I have fished this year have quality bass, so I’ll keep the confidence up and keep on casting. And on the next trip, I also fished with a partner to up the odds. Stay tuned for that report and talk to you later. Troy

To end March, I was able to get my son, Jayce, out on the water for an Easter Sunday fishing trip on The Canal. He is not much of a morning guy, so an early spring afternoon trip was more up his alley than my pre-dawn departures as the year progresses. Read on as he was in the right place at the right time with the right lure.

1:25pm – Top Bass at 3-4 (18″) on a chatterbait

Stats
Date: March 31
Location: Hennepin Canal
Time: 1:10pm-3:10pm
Totals: 4 bass
Weather: Overcast/windy, 58F
Water temperature: Not available
Lures: Z-Man Chatterbait (sexy shad) with swimbait trailers – 4 bass
Top Bass: 3-4 (Jayce – chatterbait)
Top 4 Weight (only four at 12” or better): 7-9 (3-4,1-9,1-9,1-3)

Winning Lure

Notes and Nonsense

Trip Tunes – The ride was enjoyable as I got in some radio surfing with Jayce who shares an appreciation for classic rock and pop. We both gave a thumbs up to “Holy Diver” from Ronnie James Dio. And when Van Halen’s “Dance the Night Away” came on, I noted that it was my favorite VH tune. Jayce on the other hand, gave his VH vote to “Unchained.” Always a treat when we get to share and talk some tunes.

1:52pm – Top Bass Runner-up at 1-9 (14.5″) on a chatterbait

Guide Thoughts – Assuming the role of fishing guide, I selected our stretch of The Canal for several reasons. First, wide open banks are much better for dialing in casts when your client needs to get in some practice with a new baitcaster. Secondly, the pool has ample wood cover off the bank which sets up well for my proposed 1-2 punch of a spinnerbait and chatterbait. And finally, a bit more depth at the shore keeps the aquatic vegetation at bay and prevents frustrating slimy casts. As a bonus, we encountered another angler in the parking area who referred to the spot as “a hidden gem.”

Top Bass – About fifteen minutes into casting, Jayce’s line tightened up and his pole quickly bent. My question to him about whether he had a snag, or a fish was quickly answered as his line began to move across the surface and we knew it was a good one. Jayce did well fighting and reeling the fish to boatside and I was able to lip what would be his all-time Top Bass at 3-4. It would also set the mark for the Top Canal Bass of 2024, rank tied for fifth on our all-time Top Canal Bass and set a record for this stretch of The Canal (previous Top Bass was 2-0). The only downside was my failure to have the GoPro running as I was too dialed into Dad/Guide mode.

A bass so nice, I’ll use it twice for today’s report

Bandwagon Angler – When fishing with a partner, I often start out tossing a different lure than what the other guy/gal is casting for some initial variety in offerings. On this outing, Jayce started with a chatterbait, so I opted for a spinnerbait, both winners on The Canal. After thirty minutes without a strike on my spinnerbait coupled with watching Jayce land his Top Bass, guess who switched over to a chatterbait. It turned out to be a wise decision as the chatterbait would fool all four bass that we landed on this trip.

To quote the A-Team’s John ‘Hannibal’ Smith, “I love it when a plan comes together.” Jayce was excited as you can tell by his smile in the photos. And, of course, I had to share those photos with fellow fishing family and friends.

A great couple hours on the water and looking forward to more. Talk to you later. Troy