Category: Top 5

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

My brother, Brent, keeps the Top 5 streak alive as we reach nine consecutive weeks of submissions for 2022. This past weekend he took a shot at some water we’ve discussed but he has never fished. He managed a couple hours of casting from his kayak before the weather ran him off. Read on for the report and his latest Top 5 catch.

Weight: 1-11
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: May 21
Location: Buffalo Prairie Lake
Lure: Senko wacky rig
Angler Comments: I got out for about two and a half hours before I left to avoid getting wet. Two biggest were 1-3 on a buzzbait and 1-11 on a Senko. I caught probably fifteen more, but most were pretty small. Lots of weeds out from the bank.
Top 5 Weight: 13-15 (5-4,3-9,1-12,1-11,1-11) culls a 1-9

Good information and thanks for the submission. Earlier this year, I took a brief shot from the bank at this location and got some positive feedback. However, I have not had a boat on the spot since 2013 so it is good to get an on the water report. Time will tell if I follow his lead this year or see about a tag team effort for some further research. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Another angler has a limit with this week’s submission from an old favorite fishing hole, Lake Storey.

Weight: 1-3 (13”)
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: May 10
Weather: 80s
Water Temp: 64-68F
Location: Lake Storey
Lure: Rapala Floating Minnow (black/silver)
Angler Comments: This fish was in two to three feet of water. Casting parallel to shore. Only bass in four hours of fishing.
Top 5 Weight: 8-4 (2-5,2-0,1-13,1-3,0-15)

Well done, John, and looking forward to the culls as the year rolls on. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

This week’s update sounds like one of those cheesy horror movies, “Attack of the Two-Pound Bass.” Solid catches all the way around though, as anything in the two-pound range is what I call a “good one” and they boost the weights of a couple of anglers.

Weight: 2-5
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: May 2
Weather: Overcast with recent rain
Water Temp: Mid 60s
Location: Sangchris Lake
Lure: 4” Floating Rapala (black/silver)

Weight: 1-13 (15”)
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: May 3
Weather: Heavy clouds with a stiff wind from the south
Water Temp: Mid 60s
Location: Sangchris Lake
Lure: 4” Floating Rapala (silver/black)

Weight: 2-0 (17”)
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: May 4
Weather: Overcast and windy
Water Temp: Mid 60s
Location: Sangchris Lake
Lure: 4” Floating Rapala (silver/black)
Angler Comments: All three fish caught while casting Rapala close to shore in about 2 – 3 feet of water.
Top 5 Weight: 7-1 (2-5,2-0,1-13,0-15)

Weight: 2-11 (17.5”)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: May 8
Weather: Overcast/breezy
Location: Hennepin Canal
Lure: Booyah Buzz Buzzbait (snow white shad)
Structure: Tree
Angler Comments: Always fun when the topwater bite starts to kick in and it only took a couple casts before I got this result on a buzzbait. On the downside, I only got one other bass on the lure. On the upside, this is only the beginning of the topwater bite on The Canal.
Top 5 Weight: 14-9 (3-5,3-2,2-12,2-11,2-11) culls 2-5

A good showing during limited time on the water due to weather and priorities. Well done by John in getting it done on large and relatively unfamiliar water. And fun for me as my continued exploration of The Canal is making the miles more familiar. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Stats

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Hey, here we go with an overdue “monthly” Top 5 Stat Update that takes us through April and includes 47 bass and one trout.

2022 Totals
January = no submissions
February = no submissions
March = 15 bass
April = 32 bass

Top 5 Weight by Month
January = no submissions
February = no submissions
March = 14-2 (3-3,2-15,2-14,2-12,2-6)
April = 28-10 (6-9,6-0,5-12,5-4,5-1)

Boat vs. Bank
Boat = 11 bass
Bank = 36 bass

Boat vs. Bank Weight
Boat = 13-1 (3-5,3-2,2-12,2-3,1-11)
Bank = 28-10 (6-9,6-0,5-12,5-4,5-1)

Public vs. Private
Public = 47 bass
Private = 0 bass

Public vs. Private Top 5 Weight
Public = 28-10 (6-9,6-0,5-12,5-4,5-1)
Private = not applicable

The Baits (* = new record)
Lipless Crankbait = 15 bass (Top Bass 4-6 Jim Junk)
*Chatterbait = 13 bass (Top Bass 6-9 Jim Junk) tops 5-15 Jim Junk 6/22/20
Spinnerbait = 7 bass (Top Bass 5-4 Brent Jackson)
Jig = 4 bass (Top Bass 3-9 Brent Jackson)
Crankbait = 2 bass (Top Bass 1-11 Troy Jackson)
Propbait = 2 bass (Top Bass 2-3 Jayce Jackson)
Swimbait = 1 bass (Top Bass 4-3 Jim Junk)
Grub = 1 bass (Top Bass 0-13 Troy Jackson)
Plastic Worm = 1 bass (Top Bass 5-12 Jim Junk)
Underspin = 1 bass (3-12 Jim Junk)

Monthly Top Bass
January
No submissions
February
No submissions
March
3-3 Jim Junk
April
6-9 Jim Junk

2022 Top 10 Bass
6-9 Jim Junk 4/4/22
6-0 Jim Junk 4/15/22
5-12 Jim Junk 4/21/22
5-4 Brent Jackson 4/24/22
5-1 Jim Junk 4/4/22
4-7 Jim Junk 4/4/22
4-6 Jim Junk 4/19/22
4-3 Jim Junk 4/21/22
3-15 Jim Junk 4/19/22
3-12 Jim Junk 4/13/22

Angler Weights
Jim Junk 27-13 (6-9,6-0,5-12,5-1,4-7)
Brent Jackson 13-13 (5-4,3-9,1-12,1-11,1-9)
Troy Jackson 12-13 (3-5,3-2,2-11,2-0,1-11)
Jayce Jackson 3-7 (2-3,1-4)
John Kirkemo 0-15 (0-15)

Other Species – Trout

John Kirkemo 12” (12”)

Jim Junk continues to impress with his catches and thumbs up to our anglers for a good start. And the hits keep coming as we have several bass catches lined up for the first Top 5 Update of May. Here’s hoping that some better weather provides an opportunity for folks to get out on the water. Send them my way when you catch them at troy@troyjacksonoutdoors.com. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

A new, old angler, who is actually young, joins the chase for 2022. He’s new for 2022 but has participated as far back as 2018 when he was a nine-year old kid. Give him about four weeks and he will be a teenager, so still a youngster.

Weight: 2-3
Angler: Jayce Jackson
Date: April 29
Weather: Overcast/breezy
Location: Hennepin Canal
Lure: Whopper Plopper 90 (I Know It)

Weight: 1-4
Angler: Jayce Jackson
Date: April 29
Weather: Overcast/breezy
Location: Hennepin Canal
Lure: Whopper Plopper 90 (I Know It)
Top 5 Weight: 3-7 (2-3,1-4)

Way to go, Jayce, and watch out, those Whopper Ploppers will get an angler hooked as well as some bass. I had the good fortune of having a front row seat for these catches as I was his “rower” in our little johnboat. Although, as he is soon to be a teenager, perhaps it’s high time that he rows old Dad around the fishing hole one of these days. More on the outing coming up in an April “Prowl the Canal” wrap-up. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Several of our crew were out last week and reported in with some impressive catches including a pair of five-pound bass and our first new species entry of 2022. And the latter is where we start with our weekly rundown.

Length: 12”
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: April 21
Weather: Partly cloudy with stiff wind from north
Air Temperature: 60s
Water Temperature: Unknown
Location: Backbone Lake, Backbone State Park, IA
Lure: Roy Self Spoon
Angler Comments: This is a typical stocked rainbow trout from the Maquoketa River that forms Backbone Lake. Most of the 80-acre lake is shallow but at the extreme north end where the river enters there is a 9-to-12-foot hole that holds trout.
Top 5 Length: 12”

Weight: 3-15
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 19
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Lipless crankbait

Weight: 4-6
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 19
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Lipless crankbait
Angler Comments: Battled the elements yesterday and was rewarded with seven bass. Morning was downright cold, and afternoon was cold with gale force winds.

Weight: 3-12
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 21
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Lipless crankbait

Weight: 4-3
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 21
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Dark Sleeper

Weight: 5-12
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 21
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Senko wacky rig
Angler Comments: Seems sort of silly to say, but it was a slow day. I did just have four bites in a little over six hours of fishing. First one was 4-3, second one was 5-12, and third fish was 3-12. I am just flabbergasted at the fishing at Banner this year. I have seen more fish from four pounds to over six pounds than I have in my whole life.
Top 5 Weight: 27-13 (6-9,6-0,5-12,5-1,4-7) culls 4-6

Weight: 3-2 (18”)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: April 23
Weather: Sunny/windy
Location: Hennepin Canal
Lure: Special K Spinnerbait (bold bluegill) with Zoom Creepy Crawler twin tail trailer (root beer pepper green)
Structure: Drop/riprap

Weight: 3-5 (18”)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: April 23
Weather: Sunny/windy
Location: Hennepin Canal
Lure: Special K Spinnerbait (bold bluegill) with Zoom Creepy Crawler twin tail trailer (root beer pepper green)
Structure: Sticks
Angler Comments: Hopefully two three pounders on a brief morning trip to The Canal knocks me out of my recent bass fishing slump. Time will tell, but they certainly gave my Top 5 a considerable and much needed boost.
Top 5 Weight: 12-13 (3-5,3-2,2-11,2-0,1-11) culls 1-0 and 0-13

Weight: 1-9
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: April 24
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Spinnerbait (green)

Weight: 1-12
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: April 24
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Spinnerbait (green)

Weight: 5-4
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: April 24
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Spinnerbait (green)
Angler Comments: All “keepers” were on the green spinnerbait. I caught at least one at every place I stopped. Nothing else close to twelve inches. I got several on a Senko and maybe fifteen to twenty overall.
Top 5 Weight: 13-13 (5-4,3-9,1-12,1-11,1-9) culls 1-3,1-2 and 0-12

Now that is quite a week of fishing. Four anglers, four different areas, two states, two species and a mix of boat fishing and bank fishing. Priorities may keep me off the water for the rest of the month but hopefully some others are able to get out there. Send them my way when you catch them. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

This week we have one guy who is in a bit of a fishing slump eke out a couple lightweights to complete his Top 5. We also have another angler who is in what is known as “the zone” continuing to light up the bass to the tune of a limit already exceeding twenty-five pounds. Funny thing is, the guy in the zone has been referred to as “Slump” for as long as I can recall.

Weight: 0-13
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: April 10
Weather: Partly cloudy/very windy
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Lunker Hunt Finesse Worm (Bama craw)
Structure: Drop

Weight: 1-0
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: April 10
Weather: Partly cloudy/very windy
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Chatterbait (white)
Structure: Drop
Angler Comments: Big bites have sure been hard to come by to begin 2022. At least I have my limit filled and plenty of room for improvement as it is always a treat to knock the lightweights out of your creel.
Top 5 Weight: 8-3 (2-11,2-0,1-11,1-0,0-13) culls an 0-11

Weight: 3-10
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 11
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Lipless Crankbait
Angler Comments: Monday produced two bass with a 3-10 that came on a lipless crankbait.

Weight: 3-8
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 13
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Underspin

Weight: 3-12
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 13
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Underspin
Angler Comments: Wednesday netted two bass, 3-8 and 3-12, both of these fish came on an underspin.

Weight: 3-9
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 15
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Chatterbait (white)

Weight: 6-0
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 15
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Chatterbait (white)
Angler Comments: Fished for a few hours and wound up with five bass. All came on a white chatterbait. Two were notable at 3-9 and 6-0.
Top 5 Weight: 25-13 (6-9,6-0,5-1,4-7,3-12) culls a 3-11 and 3-10

Now that’s fun, and I hope “Slump” can stay in the zone. As far as my slump, I’ve got a few ideas. Stay tuned for another record book round-up and the regular Friday Flashback this week. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Okay, this is just nuts. No sense trying to provide an intro as this day on the water by our reigning Top 5 champ speaks for itself.

Weight: 6-9
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 4
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Chatterbait (white) with Gary Yamamoto Zako swimbait trailer

Weight: 5-1
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 4
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Chatterbait (white) with Gary Yamamoto Zako swimbait trailer

Weight: 4-7
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 4
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Chatterbait (white) with Gary Yamamoto Zako swimbait trailer

Weight: 3-11
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 4
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Chatterbait (white) with Gary Yamamoto Zako swimbait trailer

Weight: 3-6
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 4
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Chatterbait (white) with Gary Yamamoto Zako swimbait trailer

Weight: 3-1
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 4
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Chatterbait (white) with Gary Yamamoto Zako swimbait trailer

Weight: 2-13
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 4
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Chatterbait (white) with Gary Yamamoto Zako swimbait trailer

Weight: 2-12
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 4
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Chatterbait (white) with Gary Yamamoto Zako swimbait trailer

Weight: 2-8
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 4
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Chatterbait (white) with Gary Yamamoto Zako swimbait trailer
Structure: Flats near channel edge
Angler Comments: Ok, this might take a while. Summary of the day: Ten total bass, Top Bass was 6-9 and six bass over three pounds. All came on a white chatterbait with a Gary Yamamoto Zako swimbait. Was fishing in the general vicinity of a friend most of the day. He also had a good day as his top three were 5-3, 5-2 and 4-12. Definitely the best day of fishing I have ever had.
Top 5 Weight: 23-2 (6-9,5-1,4-7,3-11,3-6) culls entire previous weight total of 14-2

Simply incredible as Jim blows away his entire early season Top 5 which was already an impressive 14-2. And he blows it away by nine pounds! I don’t care where you are fishing, that is an incredible performance that even the Bassmasters in their $100,000 setups would envy. What’s crazy is that Jim and his friend reeled in this amazing batch of bass from the bank. Congrats on the catches, and as always, thanks for sharing. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

While the action this past week was far from fast and furious, several of the bites we got were quality fish.

Weight: 2-12
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: March 28
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Lipless Crankbait
Angler Comments: Went to Banner this afternoon. Was walking the bank and some guy drove by and asked if I wanted to join him in his boat. Spent a few hours on the water. Not many fish but had a great time chatting. I got one that was 2-12 on a lipless crankbait.
Top 5 Weight: 14-2 (3-3,2-15,2-14,2-12,2-6) culls a 2-4

Weight: 2-0 (16″)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: April 3
Weather: Sunny/breezy
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Jig & pig (black/blue)
Structure: Drop

Weight: 2-11 (17.5″)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: April 3
Weather: Sunny/breezy
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Jig & pig (black/blue)
Structure: Ridge/drop
Angler Comments: On a day where I only got three bites, it sure was good that two of them were in the two-pound range.
Top 5 Weight: 7-1 (2-11,2-0,1-11,0-11)

Weight: 1-2
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: April 3
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Jig & plastic (black/blue)

Weight: 3-9 (18.5″)
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: April 3
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Jig & plastic (black/blue)
Top 5 Weight: 8-5 (3-9,1-11,1-3,1-2,0-12)

A limit, a cull and one guy searching for that fifth bass. Good stuff despite April beginning with less than favorable weather conditions. Full report to come detailing the April 3 strip mine outing for me and Brent. Stay tuned and talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

With a little warm up in the weather, the Top 5 submissions heated up with four anglers contributing over the last week. Seems the project is alive and well for another year.

Weight: 0-12
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: March 20
Weather: Sunny/very windy
Location: Snakeden Hollow
Lure: Spinnerbait (green)

Weight: 1-3
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: March 20
Weather: Sunny/very windy
Location: Snakeden Hollow
Lure: Strike King Red Eye Shad (chartreuse sexy shad)
Top 5 Weight: 3-10 (1-11,1-3,0-12)

Weight: 0-11(12.5”)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: March 20
Weather: Sunny/very windy
Location: Snakeden Hollow
Lure: Rapala Shad Rap (blue)

Weight: 1-11 (15”)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: March 20
Weather: Sunny/very windy
Location: Snakeden Hollow
Lure: Rapala Shad Rap (blue)
Angler Comments: Slow day to start the year but glad to get those first few bass and kick off my 2022 Top 5. Hopefully, these individuals will be replaced before too long.
Top 5 Weight: 2-6 (1-11,0-11)

Weight: 0-15
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: March 21
Weather: Low 70s, partly cloudy, stiff wind from the south
Water Temp: 48-53F
Location: Lake McMaster – Snakeden Hollow
Lure: Spinnerbait
Angler Comments: Fish was in direct sunlight in two to four feet of water about ten feet from shore. First fish of the year, failed to measure length.
Top 5 Weight: 0-15 (0-15)

Weight: 2-3
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: March 21
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Lipless Crankbait
Angler Comments: Made it out Monday, it was a slow day, two bass. One short one and this one that came in at 2-3.

Weight: 3-3
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: March 24
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Chatterbait
Angler Comments: A few hours today and got two bass again. A short one on a lipless crankbait and this 3-3 on a chatterbait.
Top 5 Weight: 13-10 (3-3,2-15,2-14,2-6,2-4) culls a 1-12

A few more March days to go, but really looking forward to what April holds in store with a predicted weather warm-up after this current cold snap. For anybody out there, send your catches my way at troy@troyjacksonoutdoors.com if you want to play along. Keep in mind that a photo and weight are required and not just restricted to bass. Any questions can be directed to the above email address as well. Talk to you later. Troy