A couple more Jacksons add a few more September bass to our list.

Weight: 1-13
Angler: Jayce Jackson
Date: September 6
Weather: Sunny/breezy, 70F
Location: Knox County, IL public strip pit
Lure: Senko wacky rig (watermelon creme laminate)
Angler Comments (via editor): It was fun to get Jayce out with myself and our Top 5 leader, Jim Junk. Some challenging conditions on the hike to our fishing holes but it paid off when Jayce landed our largest catch of the day.
Top 5 Weight: 5-4 (1-13,1-3,1-3,1-1)

Weight: 2-3
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: September 12
Location: Snakeden Hollow
Lure: Senko wacky rig

Weight: 2-12
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: September 12
Location: Snakeden Hollow
Lure: Senko wacky rig
Angler Comments: The 2-12 was kind of skinny. Ended up with around a dozen, also got a 2-3. Two or three others around a pound, mostly on a Senko and a few on a spinnerbait.
Top 5 Weight: 17-9 (4-7,4-0,4-0,2-12,2-6) culls a 2-5

This is a great time of the year to get on the water and there should be a good window once the weather breaks into a fall feel. Get out there if you get a chance as it seems that this part of the year always flies by for me. Between work and the shorter days, there’s never enough time to fish. Talk to you later. Troy

Got a good one for the update this week. Anytime you land one that won’t fit in a selfie, you’ve got a quality bass.

Weight: 4-7
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: September 3
Location: Knox County, IL public strip pit
Lure: Senko wacky rig
Angler Comments: This one came on a Senko. I had caught two others on a spinnerbait, maybe a pound. He came right from the spot where we saw the big one in the spring.
Top 5 Weight: 17-2 (4-7,4-0,4-0,2-6,2-5) culls a 2-3

It’s Labor Day and several of us are out there taking an early morning shot at some more Knox County bass. Here’s hoping we find some fish for next week’s update, but I’ll have a fishing report to post whether we fool any big ones or not. In addition, I have a special guest tagging along in the truck. Stay tuned and talk to you later. Troy

A little later than normal, but it’s time for another round of stats. Three anglers added nine more bass in July bringing our total to 67 bass for the year. Here’s the latest breakdown.

2021 Totals
January = no submissions
February = 2 bass
March = 19 bass
April = 14 bass
May = 13 bass
June = 10 bass
July = 9 bass

Top 5 Weight by Month
January = no submissions
February = 7-3 (3-15,3-4)
March = 21-14 (5-5,4-3,4-2,4-2,4-2)
April = 21-6 (5-3,5-2,4-0,4-0,3-1)
May = 14-14 (4-6,2-12,2-10,2-10,2-8)
June = 15-8 (4-3,3-9,2-14,2-8,2-6)
July = 22-7 (6-0,4-10,4-4,3-13,3-12)

Boat vs. Bank
Boat = 13 bass
Bank = 54 bass

Boat vs. Bank Weight
Boat = 15-12 (4-3,3-9,2-14,2-10,2-8)
Bank = 26-4 (6-0,5-5,5-3,5-2,4-10)

Public vs. Private
Public = 63 bass
Private = 4 bass

Public vs. Private Top 5 Weight
Public = 26-4 (6-0,5-5,5-3,5-2,4-10)
Private = 9-6 (2-10,2-8,2-6,1-14)

The Baits (* = new record)
Plastic Worm = 26 bass (Top Bass 6-0 Jim Junk)
Lipless Crankbait = 17 bass (Top Bass 4-3 Jim Junk, Troy Jackson)
Spinnerbait = 7 bass (Top Bass 4-10 Troy Jackson)
Crankbait = 6 bass (Top Bass 4-0 Brent Jackson)
Chatterbait = 5 bass (Top Bass 5-3 Jim Junk)
Jig = 2 bass (Top Bass 1-8 John Kirkemo)
Creature = 1 bass (Top Bass 5-5 Jim Junk)
Livebait = 1 bass (Top Bass Patricia Kirkemo 2-10)
Stickbait = 1 bass (1-11 Troy Jackson)
Swimbait = 1 bass (1-13 Troy Jackson)

Monthly Top Bass (* = new record)
January
No submissions
February
3-15 Jim Junk
March
5-5 Jim Junk
April
5-2 Jim Junk
May
4-6 Jim Junk
June
4-3 Troy Jackson
July
6-0 Jim Junk

Top 10 Bass (* = new Top 10 all-time)
6-0 Jim Junk (7/4)
5-5 Jim Junk (3/26)
5-3 Jim Junk (4/8)
5-2 Jim Junk (4/6)
4-10 Troy Jackson (7/11)
4-6 Jim Junk (5/25)
4-4 Jim Junk (7/6)
4-3 Jim Junk (3/30)
4-3 Troy Jackson (6/19)
4-2 Jim Junk (3/19)
4-2 Jim Junk (3/24)
4-2 Jim Junk (3/28)

Angler Weights
Jim Junk 26-0 (6-0,5-5,5-3,5-2,4-6)
Troy Jackson 18-13 (4-10,4-3,3-9,3-6,3-1)
Brent Jackson 14-14 (4-0,4-0,2-5,2-6,2-3)
John Kirkemo 11-14 (2-10,2-8,2-8,2-6,1-14)
Jayce Jackson 3-7 (1-3,1-3,1-1)
Landon Hannam 2-12 (2-12)
Patricia Kirkemo 2-10 (2-10)

No August bass submitted yet, but perhaps that may change soon. Just saying. Talk to you later. Troy

As reported in the most recent blog post, work took me to Western New York last week and I was able to pack along a batch of fishing gear for some evening getaways. One such getaway produced the catch below, which is currently my Top Bass of 2021.

Weight: 4-10
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: July 11
Weather: Overcast/rain/breezy
Water Temp: Not available
Location: Sprague Brook Park – Glenwood, NY
Lure: War Eagle Spinnerbait (chartreuse/white)
Structure: Weed edge
Angler Comments: Armed with a $28 non-resident NY fishing permit, a War Eagle spinnerbait, and a rainsuit a couple sizes too big, I took my shot at some water found during an internet search prior to my trip. My second catch of the evening turned out to be a winner and I couldn’t help but laugh at my good fortune.
Top 5 Weight: 18-5 (4-10,4-3,3-9.3-1,2-14) culls 2-13

If you have a lure in the water, anything can happen and this catch was certainly a treat, and honestly, a surprise. Sure, I have high hopes whenever I hit the water, but sight unseen and 676 miles from home made this one extra special. Talk to you later. Troy

The months keep rolling on by as half of the year is in the rearview mirror. And a new month means it’s time for a new Top 5 stat update. As of the latest update we now sit at 60 bass, the lone species submitted so far this year. Read on for the regular breakdown.

2021 Totals
January = no submissions
February = 2 bass
March = 19 bass
April = 14 bass
May = 13 bass
June = 10 bass
July = 2 bass

Top 5 Weight by Month
January = no submissions
February = 7-3 (3-15,3-4)
March = 21-14 (5-5,4-3,4-2,4-2,4-2)
April = 21-6 (5-3,5-2,4-0,4-0,3-1)
May = 14-14 (4-6,2-12,2-10,2-10,2-8)
June = 15-8 (4-3,3-9,2-14,2-8,2-6)
July = 8-13 (6-0,2-13)

Boat vs. Bank
Boat = 11 bass
Bank = 49 bass

Boat vs. Bank Weight
Boat = 15-12 (4-3,3-9,2-14,2-10,2-8)
Bank = 26-0 (6-0,5-5,5-3,5-2,4-6)

Public vs. Private
Public = 56 bass
Private = 4 bass

Public vs. Private Top 5 Weight
Public = 26-0 (6-0,5-5,5-3,5-2,4-6)
Private = 9-6 (2-10,2-8,2-6,1-14)

The Baits
Plastic Worm = 20 bass (Top Bass 6-0 Jim Junk)
Lipless Crankbait = 17 bass (Top Bass 4-3 Jim Junk, Troy Jackson)
Crankbait = 6 bass (Top Bass 4-0 Brent Jackson)
Spinnerbait = 6 bass (Top Bass 4-0 Brent Jackson)
Chatterbait = 5 bass (Top Bass 5-3 Jim Junk)
Jig = 2 bass (Top Bass 1-8 John Kirkemo)
Creature = 1 bass (Top Bass 5-5 Jim Junk)
Livebait = 1 bass (Top Bass Patricia Kirkemo 2-10)
Stickbait = 1 bass (1-11 Troy Jackson)
Swimbait = 1 bass (1-13 Troy Jackson)

Monthly Top Bass
January
No submissions
February
3-15 Jim Junk
March
5-5 Jim Junk
April
5-2 Jim Junk
May
4-6 Jim Junk
June
4-3 Troy Jackson
July
6-0 Jim Junk

Top 10 Bass
6-0 Jim Junk (7/3)
5-5 Jim Junk (3/26)
5-3 Jim Junk (4/8)
5-2 Jim Junk (4/6)
4-6 Jim Junk (5/25)
4-3 Jim Junk (3/30)
4-3 Troy Jackson (6/19)
4-2 Jim Junk (3/19)
4-2 Jim Junk (3/24)
4-2 Jim Junk (3/28)

Angler Weights
Jim Junk 26-0 (6-0,5-5,5-3,5-2,4-6)
Troy Jackson 16-8 (4-3,3-9,3-1,2-14,2-13)
Brent Jackson 14-14 (4-0,4-0,2-5,2-6,2-3)
John Kirkemo 11-14 (2-10,2-8,2-8,2-6,1-14)
Jayce Jackson 3-7 (1-3,1-3,1-1)
Landon Hannam 2-12 (2-12)
Patricia Kirkemo 2-10 (2-10)

While I save the full commentary on the statistical breakdown for the final wrap-up, I must say that it has been an interesting batch of catches in a couple regards. The vast majority of our bass have come from the bank on public waters. I find that kind of fun as those are aspects that many anglers understand. Nothing wrong with a nice boat or a honey hole but neither are required for a good time and some good catches. Talk to you later. Troy