Three three-pounders this week including one from a new angler to the Top 5. The other pair from a not so new guy.

Weight: 3-13
Angler: Emerson Hannam
Date: September 26
Location: Private pond
Lure: Wacky rigged Senko
Top 5 Weight: 3-13 (3-13)

Weight: 3-1
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: September 25
Weather: Sunny/breezy
Location: Hennepin Canal
Lure: Rebel Pop’R Zell Rowland Model
Structure: Open water
Angler Comments: This fish was the second quality fish in the first two casts I made at sunrise on the canal. It missed on the first strike but came back for a second chance as I resumed the retrieve after a brief pause.

Weight: 3-5
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: September 26
Weather: Sunny/windy
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: War Eagle Spinnerbait (white chartreuse)
Structure: Weed edge
Angler Comments: It took some hiking through some high weeds but a fish like this one makes if worth the work.
Top 5 Weight:19-1 (4-10,4-3,3-9,3-6,3-5) culls a 3-4

Way to go, Emerson, and welcome aboard with a very impressive catch. It sure is tough to beat the Senko wacky rig.

Up next, I have a backlog of reports following a three-day weekend of fishing so stay tuned and talk to you later. Troy

Another month in the books and only one bass added since the last stat update. However, it was a good one as it easily made it into the Top 10 Bass of 2021. At present we are sitting at 70 bass with plenty of opportunity to find some more as the fall bite should be on the horizon.

2021 Totals
January = no submissions
February = 2 bass
March = 19 bass
April = 14 bass
May = 13 bass
June = 10 bass
July = 9 bass
August = 2 bass
September = 1 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)
August = 5-7 (3-4,2-3)
September = 4-7 (4-7)

Boat vs. Bank
Boat = 14 bass
Bank = 56 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 = 66 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 = 28 bass (Top Bass 6-0 Jim Junk)
Lipless Crankbait = 17 bass (Top Bass 4-3 Jim Junk, Troy Jackson)
Spinnerbait = 8 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
August
3-4 Troy Jackson
September
4-7 Brent Jackson

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)
*4-7 Brent Jackson (9/3)
4-6 Jim Junk (5/25)
4-4 Jim Junk (7/6)
4-3 Jim Junk (3/30)
4-3 Troy Jackson (6/19)

Angler Weights
Jim Junk 26-0 (6-0,5-5,5-3,5-2,4-6)
Troy Jackson 19-0 (4-10,4-3,3-9,3-6,3-4)
Brent Jackson 17-2 (4-7,4-0,4-0,2-6,2-5)
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)

We already have one more catch to add but that one will have to wait for next Monday’s update before being officially added to our list. And perhaps this week may hold some others in store. Fingers crossed and talk to you later. Troy

After a bit of a Top 5 lull, a couple more bass join the ranks as the Jackson brothers beat the heat this past weekend. Separate outings and different locations but we both managed to fool a decent bass.

Weight: 2-3
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: August 28
Location: Snakeden Hollow
Lure: Spinnerbait (white)
Top 5 Weight: 14-14 (4-0,4-0,2-5,2-6,2-3)

Weight: 3-4 (19″)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: August 29
Weather: Sunny, breezy, 82F
Location: Hennepin Canal
Lure: 5” Yamasenko wacky rig (cream white)
Structure: Lock
Angler Comments: After a month away from The Canal it was a nice welcome back to land this one. And landing a decent bass in most spots out there can certainly be a challenge as the banks can be a little unfriendly.
Top 5 Weight: 19-0 (4-10,4-3,3-9,3-6,3-4)

Well, we sit at roughly two thirds of 2021 in the rearview mirror and 69 bass submissions for our Top 5. Generally speaking, the entries wane as the fall rolls in as it can be difficult for some anglers to find a bite that will boost an already solid Top 5 Weight. But those fall bass will strap on the feedbag at some point when sensing the cold-water period on the horizon so here’s hoping that you are on the water when they chow down.

And it’s not too late to play along. Send your catches to troy@troyjacksonoutdoors.com (must include a photo and weight/length and whatever details you are willing to provide like entries above). Talk to you later. Troy

This past week, I had a couple opportunities to “Prowl the Canal” and one of those outings produced my new Top Bass for the historic waterway.

Weight: 3-6 (20″, long but scrawny)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: July 21
Weather: Overcast/calm
Location: Hennepin Canal – Henry County, IL
Lure: 5” Yamasenko wacky rig (pumpkin with black flake)
Structure: Open water
Angler Comments: Despite an uncharacteristic 40 minutes without a bite to start my evening, I felt something good was going to happen (even said so on my GoPro video). Sure enough, I landed a 2-10 and then this 3-6 in about a 20-minute span.
Top 5 Weight: 18-13 (4-10,4-3,3-9,3-6,3-1) culls a 2-14

Today’s submission was one of several quality bass landed on the canal this month. Stay tuned for the full report. Talk to you later. Troy

Several more fish are added to our totals this week and while they don’t boost the angler’s weights, it’s always good to see some fish in my messages and my Inbox.

Weight: 1-4 (13.5”)
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: July 7
Weather: Cool, overcast with occasional mist
Water Temp: 80-81F
Location: Lake Storey
Lure: Dark wacky worm
Angler Comments: Hardly had any action until this fish took the lure. Hooked one other fish which put up a better fight but lost him before seeing him. Slow day but comfortable weather for fishing. Fished from 8:00-11:30am.
Top 5 Weight: 11-14 (2-10,2-8,2-8,2-6,1-14)

Weight: 3-12, 3-13, 4-4
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: July 6
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Texas rigged Senko
Angler Comments: The 3-12 and 4-4 were on back-to-back casts.
Top 5 Weight: 26-0 (6-0,5-5,5-3,5-2,4-6)

Another good week on the water for a couple of our crew. Good to hear someone is out there chasing those fish and keep sending them my way. Talk to you later. Troy