Category: Top 5

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Hey, we’ve got something besides a green fish this week, one with whiskers. And a good one at that, equaling the largest catfish submitted to date. Both by the same young angler.

Weight: 13-0
Angler: Teagan Mills
Date: April 20
Location: Private pond
Angler Comments: Caught on 4-pound test
Top 5 Weight: 13-0

Congrats, Teagan on an impressive catch that definitely required some skill and patience on that light line. Looks like the area weather is headed for a pretty stable run of warm temps so here’s hoping those fish will finally be able to get their act together and let us fool some more. I encourage anyone out there to join the fun and send them my way at troy@troyjacksonoutdoors.com.

The Emiquon at 10 celebration kicks off tomorrow, hope you’ll tune in. Talk to you later. Troy

Lures of the Top 5

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Well, every Monday when there’s some new fish to offer, the weekly Top 5 Update gives you their pictures. In addition, the details of the catch accompany the fish and typically include the bait that got the job done. As a bonus Top 5 post we’re going to take a more in depth look at the specific lures that are fooling our fish thus far in 2019. Pictures of all the winning lures along with some notes and stats below, so read on.

A range of color and trailer combinations in chatterbaits have been winners

Chatterbaits: 10 bass – Top Bass 4-2 Jim Junk – Top 5 Weight 18-9
Also referred to as bladed jigs, this lure type is a relative newcomer with origins dating back to 2004 but not experiencing a real sales explosion until a few years later. For our group in 2019 it has had the best start in terms of numbers and is pushing the 20-pound mark for a collective Top 5. Definitely a lure that you should give a go early in the season as a proven producer.

You won’t find the Rapala Clackin’ Rap on the baitshop shelves (read below)

Lipless Crankbaits: 6 bass – Top Bass 4-8 Jim Junk – Top 5 Weight 20-0
Generally a faster moving bait than most other cold water offerings and still makes me scratch my head at times on its early season effectiveness. No need to ponder though, just throw it. An interesting detail here is that Jim Junk’s now not so secret weapon happens to be a bait that is no longer in production (note: Jim gave me permission to reveal). The Rapala Clackin’ Rap is now the denizen of the online auction and there’s plenty of them out there if you are willing to fork over the bucks.

Strike King Pro Model Jig (pumpkin/green flake) with BPS Triple Ripple Craw trailer (pepper frog/hot orange)

Jigs: 3 bass – Top Bass 2-10 Troy Jackson – Top 3 Weight 6-7
Another cold water standby that can fool some big cold water bass, this one has taken a back seat to the faster paced and noisier offerings noted above. Certainly recommend having one of these tied on this time of year and don’t be afraid to throw it into some of the nastiest looking wood and/or rock in the fishing hole.

Booyah Blade spinnerbait (white/chartreuse) with twin tail trailer (smoke)

Spinnerbaits: 2bass – Top Bass 0-14 – Top 2 Weight 1-11
Not much to show for this old school lure that has kind of fallen out of vogue in the last 20 years or more. However, I’m a firm believer in them and when given a shot they still get the job done, just not as glamorous as some other baits. I would have to say more of a fall presentation for me but I still keep the faith of that 1980s kid who cut his bass fishing teeth on them and have had one tied on each time out in 2019.

BONUS!
Livebait: 1 bass – Top Bass 4-1 Jim Junk
A perfect example of the allure of “the real thing” along with reinforcing the fact that if you have a bait in the water anything can happen (Jim caught this entry while crappie fishing with a minnow). Jim also provided the pics below of what some of his Fulton County bass are likely eating so it’s no wonder that there are some darn healthy fish swimming down there.

Fulton County, IL forage – I want to catch something that’s eating that!

Such forage takes me back to 2014 and the initial year of the Top 5 as there was a Chicagoland area angler who used to prowl the banks of his local waters armed with large swimbaits. While the bites could be limited on such giant baits, when they came they were quite impressive as seen below.

Top 5 Flashback from 2014,  quality vs. quantity dilemma on large swimbaits. Your choice? 

Okay, all for today and hope that you enjoyed the rundown of these early season baits and perhaps found an addition to your tacklebox. If nothing else, I hope it got some folks a little fired up for some fishing as the local weather really took a turn for the better (may even last a day or two this time). And if you are fortunate enough to enjoy the benefit of a three day weekend, well, send your catches my way and go ahead and include a pic of the lure while you’re at it. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Well, I noted last week that one of our anglers was a catch away from hitting the 20-pound mark. Way to go, Jim Junk, that didn’t take long at all. And there was more than one quality catch for him since last update as reported below. However, the standard update structure lists our catches chronologically so first up you get the other guy who managed to get into double digits.

Weight: 2-10 (16.5”)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: April 6
Location: Knox County, IL public strip pit
Lure: 3/8 oz. Strike King Pro Model Jig (green pumpkin) with Bass Pro Shops triple ripple craw trailer (pepper frog/hot orange)
Structure: Weed edge/drop
Angler Comments: With less than ten minutes to go before I needed to start walking back to my truck, I finally got a quality bite on what was a slow morning. Here’s to those catches that save the day.
Top 5 Weight: 10-7 (2-10,2-3,2-0,1-13,1-13)

Weight: 4-1 (20”)
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 10
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Rapala Clackin’ Rap (red crawdad)
Angler Comments: Again, he almost jumped on the bank as I was beginning to lift the Clackin’ Rap out of the water. I saw his shadow before my lure, or him taking it.

Weight: 3-11
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 12
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Chatterbait (white)
Structure: Flooded path near deeper water

Weight: 3-12
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 12
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Chatterbait (white)
Structure: Point
Angler Comments: Hit the white chatterbait as I worked a point with a strong wind at my back.

Weight: 4-0 (20”)
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 13
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Rapala Clackin’ Rap (firetiger)
Structure: Submerged weeds

Weight: 4-1 (20”)
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 13
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Rapala Clackin’ Rap (firetiger)
Structure: Submerged weeds
Top 5 Weight: 20-13 (4-8,4-2,4-1,4-1,4-1) culls 4-0 and 3-12

A great start in spite of some temperamental early spring weather that currently has dumped a late batch of snow in the region along with sub-freezing temperatures greeting some this morning. It does look like better temps as the week proceeds but I’ll believe that when we see it.

I’m hoping to find some time to put together a piece on the lures that are getting it done for the 2019 Top 5, so stay tuned. If you get out there, send your fish (and a lure pic if you are willing) my way and we’ll take this two-man show up a notch. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Stats

Posted on by Troy Jackson

A little lean on the contributions to this point for 2019 with only two anglers submitting catches. One angler’s numbers are just a bit more impressive than the other fellow. Read on for all the 2019 stats through this past Monday’s update.

2019 Totals (* = new record)
January = 1 bass
February = no submissions
March = 8 bass
April = 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 = 13-1 (3-11,3-6,2-3,2-0,1-13)

Boat vs. Bank
Boat = 1 bass
Bank = 15 bass

Boat vs. Bank Weight (* = new record)
Boat = 0-13 (one bass)
Bank = 19-12 (4-8,4-2,4-1,3-11,3-6)

Public vs. Private
Public = 15 bass
Private = 1 bass

Public vs. Private Top 5 Weight
Public = 19-12 (4-8,4-2,4-1,3-11,3-6)
Private = 0-13 (one bass)

The Baits (* = new record)
Chatterbait = 8 bass (Top Bass 4-2 Jim Junk)
Lipless Crankbaits = 3 bass (Top Bass 4-8 Jim Junk)
Jigs = 2 bass (Top Bass 2-0 Troy Jackson)
Spinnerbaits = 2 bass (Top Bass 0-14 Jim Junk)
Livebait = 1 bass (Top Bass 4-1 Jim Junk)

Monthly Top Bass (* = new record)
January
3-3 Jim Junk
February
No submissions
March
4-8 Jim Junk
April
3-11 Jim Junk

Top 10 Bass (* = new Top 10 all-time)
4-8 Jim Junk 3/28
4-2 Jim Junk 3/30
4-1 Jim Junk 3/31
3-11 Jim Junk 4/5
3-6 Jim Junk 4/3
3-5 Jim Junk 3/28
3-3 Jim Junk 1/1
3-3 Jim Junk 3/28
2-10 Jim Junk 3/29
2-3 Troy Jackson 4/1

Angler Weights
Jim Junk 19-12 (4-8,4-2,4-1,3-11,3-6)
Troy Jackson 9-9 (2-3,2-0,1-13,1-13,1-12)

Other Species
No submissions

Sooner or later this weather will straighten out and get those fish on a more consistent bite. If you get out there and reel ‘em in, drop me a line at troy@troyjacksonoutdoors.com with the details and a pic. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Different ends of the spectrum for this pair of early season Top 5 veterans. One guy is a catch away from hitting the 20-pound mark for another year while the other guy just filled his limit. Have a look below at results from the first few days of April.

Weight: 2-3 (17”)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: April 1 (11:06am)
Location: Knox County public strip mine
Lure: Z-Man Chatterbait (brown/black)
Structure: Flat/ledge
Angler Comments: The first bass of an April Fool’s Day outing would turn out to be Top Bass of the day.

Weight: 1-13 (14.5”)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: April 1 (11:30am)
Location: Knox County public strip mine
Lure: Strike King 3/8 oz. Pro Model Jig (green pumpkin) with Bass Pro Shops triple ripple craw trailer (pepper frog/hot orange)
Structure: Dropoff

Weight: 2-0 (16.5”)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: April 1 (12:45pm)
Location: Knox County public strip mine
Lure: Strike King 3/8 oz. Pro Model Jig (green pumpkin) with Bass Pro Shops triple ripple craw trailer (pepper frog/hot orange)
Structure: Dropoff
Angler Comments: Gave this lake a second shot after a break of about an hour and a half and was immediately rewarded with this bite upon my return.

Weight: 1-12 (15”)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: April 1 (1:12pm)
Location: Knox County public strip mine
Lure: Z-Man Chatterbait (brown/black)
Structure: Bowl
Angler Comments: Casting a bowl type area, my lure had sunk in the water column a little more than normal as I pulled out some backlash and the added depth was a winner.

Weight: 1-13 (15.5”)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: April 1 (1:16pm)
Location: Knox County public strip mine
Lure: Z-Man Chatterbait (brown/black)
Structure: Bowl
Angler Comments: Minutes after landing the 1-12 of my prior entry I let the bait sink as before and what do you know, another solid catch.
Top 5 Weight: 9-9 (2-3-2-0,1-13,1-13,1-12) culls 0-13

Weight: 3-6 (18.5”)
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 3
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Rapala Clackin’ Rap (red crawdad)
Structure: Submerged weeds

Weight: 3-11 (18”)
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: April 5
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Chatterbait
Top 5 Weight: 19-12 (4-8,4-2,4-1,3-11,3-6) culls 3-5 and 3-3

An outstanding start for Jim and I’m looking forward to the text message and pic of the bass that finds those missing four ounces. Good luck.

I did find another one to boost my weight into double digits this past weekend but will stockpile it for next week. I also have plenty of stuff to get us through this week including a busy Saturday for a fishing father, a full fishing report, some Top 5 Stats and the weekly Friday Flashback post. Stay tuned to see if I can find time to get ‘em all posted. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Bass #600

Posted on by Troy Jackson

I don’t know about you, but I sure think that there just aren’t enough fish pictures on the internet. So, five years ago, instead of just griping about it, I decided to do something about it. Now, I’ve been sharing my own fish pics for almost seventeen years but figured the more the merrier. After all, if you’ve seen my level of fishing and the limited time I have to get away, well, you are aware that I need some help.

Enter the Top 5 Project back on March 21, 2014 to provide an assist via the catches of fellow anglers. Just over five years later our dynamic group continues to do its thing to address the dearth of fishing pictures (and stories).

Which brings us to a milestone, Top 5 bass #600, caught by Jim Junk and detailed below.

Weight: 4-1 (20”)
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: March 31
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Minnow hung from a bobber
Angler Comments: Had some minnows left over so hung one from a bobber and then cast the bank with a swim jig for a while. Look back and don’t see the bobber so reel in slack and set the hook on something with some weight to it. Started stripping line and we went back and forth for about 15 minutes. Finally got it to the bank and grabbed its mouth. I am pretty sure that reel has 4# line on it, 6# at the most. It was really fun!

Now that’s what it’s all about, a good fish, a good story and a couple good lessons. First lesson being the old adage that says “the best time to go fishing is anytime you can.” And Jim’s catch is proof that as long as you’ve got a bait of some sort in the water, anything can happen.

A shout out to Jim and the others who have joined the pursuit over the years. I’m proud that we have contributed something worthwhile to the vast landscape of cyberspace. Part education, part entertainment, part escape and just good clean fun with the only kind of drama being the right kind of drama. Here’s to the quest for Bass #1000, feel free to play along (click here for details). Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Now we’re talking!

Some stable weather last week had some area bass in a more cooperative mood and a veteran Top 5 angler was on the scene to take his shot.

Weight: 0-14 (13”)
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: March 26
Location: Snakeden Hollow
Lure: Spinnerbait (white)

Weight: 4-8 (19”)
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: March 28
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Rapala Clackin’ Rap (red crawdad)
Angler Comments: Hit my Clackin’ Rap right at the bank. I basically just lifted him right out of the water.

Weight: 3-3 (17.5”)
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: March 28
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Chatterbait (white)
Angler Comments: Hit a white chatterbait as I was reeling parallel to the bank.

Weight: 3-5 (18”)
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: March 28
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Chatterbait (white)
Angler Comments: Hit the chatterbait with about 20 or 30 yards of line out.

Weight: 2-10 (16”)
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: March 29
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Chatterbait (white)

Weight: 4-2 (19”)
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: March 30
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Z-Man Chatterbait (white)
Structure: Shallow flat with emerging weeds
Angler Comments: Came on a rather shallow flat varying the retrieve over and through emerging weeds.

Weight: 4-1 (20”)
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: March 31
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Minnow hung from a bobber
Editor’s Note: Stay tuned for some more details on this catch in an additional post this week as it marks a milestone in the Top 5 project.
Top 5 Weight: 19-3 (4-8,4-2,4-1,3-5,3-3) culls 3-3,2-10,0-14

Now that is the way to say “Hello, spring” while bidding farewell to March. Although with that finale perhaps Jim doesn’t want April to come so soon. But time marches on, and as it does, the bite should only get better. Stay tuned for the additional Top 5 post coming your way along with our first April fishing report as some fool will be out there on a cool April Fool’s Day morning. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

After several days of spring, we have managed to double our 2019 Top 5 bass total. We now have two fish entered with the latest one only making the 12” bass cut by a fraction of an inch. But hey, after a long winter, this fisherman will take anything he can get.

And you’ve gotta start somewhere. No disrespect to this much appreciated catch but hopefully it will be displaced before the year is over. Actually, I’m hoping it will be displaced once April arrives. Stay tuned for that adventure next week and for now take a look at our second Top 5 Update of the year.

Weight: 0-13 (12″)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: March 23
Location: Knox County, IL strip mine
Lure: Booyah Blade Spinnerbait (white/chartreuse)
Structure: Shoreline brush
Angler Comments: I would have put my money on a jig or my Shad Rap but it was a spinnerbait that pulled this one out of about 3’ of water around some shoreline brush for my first bass of 2019.
Top 5 Weight: 0-13

As an added bit for today’s Top 5 Update here is a video clip that I shot as part of the intro on my way to the fishing hole. It was about time that I got a bass in the ledger for 2019 for more reason than simply a rough winter.

 

Here’s hoping that the bass will be a little more cooperative after ditching the Grizzly Adams/Santa Claus hybrid look for the rest of the 2019 season. Fishing report and the first Top 10 Trip Tunes submission headed your way. Talk to you later. Troy

2019 Top 5 Stats & Guidelines

Posted on by Troy Jackson

(Note: click here for the rules and guidelines for the Top 5)

Been a rough winter around here so pretty slim pickings to start the 2019 Top 5. If it weren’t for some dedication from Top 5 veteran, Jim Junk, we’d be shutout. His New Year’s Day bass saved the day and stands as the lone entry to date. Winter arrived in full force shortly after that catch resulting in the first February blank since kicking off the project back in 2014. But, as always, if we’ve got fish, we’ve got a monthly stat update.

Our lone bass of 2019 but here’s hoping for another banner Top 5 year 

2019 Totals (* = new record)
January = 1 bass
February = no submissions
March = no submissions…yet

Top 5 Weight by Month (* = new record)
January = 3-3 (3-3)
February = no submissions
March = no submissions…yet

Boat vs. Bank
Boat = no submissions
Bank = 1 bass

Boat vs. Bank Weight (* = new record)
Boat = no submissions
Bank = 3-3 (3-3)

Public vs. Private
Public = 1 bass
Private = no submissions

Public vs. Private Top 5 Weight
Public = 3-3 (3-3)
Private = no submissions

The Baits (* = new record)
Lipless Crankbaits = 1 bass (Top Bass 3-3 Jim Junk)

Monthly Top Bass (* = new record)
January
3-3 Jim Junk
February
No submissions
March
No submissions

Angler Weights
Jim Junk 3-3 (3-3)

Other Species
No submissions

Locally, winter is showing signs of loosening its grip and we’ve moved into the later sunset so things are headed in the right direction. I’m going with the lack of entries being due to weather as opposed to a lack of interest so send ‘em my way when you finally get a shot to do some casting. One final note to pass along is that Jim’s catch puts us at 592 bass all-time so what do you say you take a shot at being the answer to a Top 5 trivia question regarding bass #600? Talk to you later. Troy

Friday Flashback – February 19, 2014

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Today we look back at the very first fish ever submitted to the “Top 5” project.

Pictured above is angler, Bruce Zilkowski, along with the details on his bass from the entry for the catch. And it all started after a conversation with one of Bruce’s friends, Terry Isbell. Now I had long compiled a list of my Top 5 bass catches for each outing but I sure hadn’t thought about keeping a tally of my annual five best bass. How that escaped me I have no idea but I was on board one hundred percent with the concept.

So, in 2014 at a former blogging gig I kicked off the “Top 5”, a sort of virtual brag board. Kind of the modern day equivalent to the stack of pictures that I used to marvel over at a pair of local baitshops, Al’s Sporting Goods and Steve’s Army Surplus.

Oh, what a collection of catches those shops used to hold.

Anglers of all ages and interests adorned the counters with all manner of species and sizes. A strip mine bass here, a Lake Storey muskie there, a hand-sized farm pond bluegill, a stringer of Oak Run crappie, some Spoon River catfish deeper in the stack or a stray Lake Bracken carp slid across the glass amongst a handful of other photos. Various handwritten details adorned the backs providing yet more to amaze this young angler.

Well, it’s all still part of the fun of the Top 5 project which has included anglers from age 8 to age 80 and has expanded to include various species as well. Regular Monday updates when the catching is good grace the blog along with monthly and yearly updates of the stats we amass.

A sample of those initial 2014 bass and their anglers.

And we’re doing it all once again in year number six that kicked off with a New Year’s Day bass nabbed before winter got all ugly around here. But it’s mid-February and pitchers and catchers have begun reporting which brings a faint glimmer of hope that my least favorite season will eventually loosen its grip.

Perhaps I’ll see a fish in front of your smiling face as 2019 rolls on. Talk to you later. Troy