Category: Top 5

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Three more fish join the ranks this week as a pair of anglers expand to some new water. One guy is exploring a 56,000-acre reservoir while the other guy is checking off sections of a one-hundred-mile canal. Both are imposing tasks and both anglers are reaping the rewards of their efforts.

Fish: Hybrid striped bass
Weight: 1-12
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: May 12, 2024
Weather: Setting sun with high thin clouds.
Water temperature: 77 degrees
Location: Lake Hartwell, SC at Hartwell State Park
Lure: Black and silver 3 ½ inch shallow running Rapala
Comments: I finished my evening fishing on Lake Hartwell near Tugaloo State Park in Georgia across the lake from my campsite at Hartwell state Park, SC. I stowed the trolling motor and started the outboard for the run across the lake to camp. As I neared the entrance to the small bay where the campsite is found, I noticed a fish feeding on the surface about 15 yards ahead on the port side. The water depth was 56 feet. I slowed down and put the engine in neutral. The boat continued to move at a slow and diminishing rate of speed. The disturbed water caused by the feeding fish had settled down, but I cast the Rapala to where I thought I had seen the feeding fish. I had not started the retrieve when, suddenly, I saw a fish causing a disturbance on the surface about 10 yards from the boat. As I watched I saw my lure go flying in the air above a fish thrashing on the surface. The lure fell back in the water and the fish took it. Hybrid striped bass are strong fish, and this fish made several runs taking line each time. It tried going under the boat, but I was able to get him to the net. I was surprised the fish only weighed 1 lbs.12 oz., because he fought like a much bigger fish.
Top 5 Weight: 8-7 (3-5,2-6,1-12,1-0)

Weight: 2-12 (18″)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: May 8
Weather: Overcast/very windy
Location: Hennepin Canal
Lure: Z-Man Chatterbait (sexy shad) with Keitech Swing Impact Swimbait trailer (electric blue & chartreuse)
Structure: Log
Angler Comments: An isolated log on an extended flat is always worth a few casts. This time around, it only took one.

Weight: 1-15 (16″)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: May 8
Weather: Sunny/very windy
Location: Hennepin Canal
Lure: 5” Yamamoto Senko wacky rig (blue pearl/black & hologram)
Structure: Reeds/riprap
Angler Comments: This was a bite on a classic structure combo with large chunk riprap along a stretch of reeds breaking up an otherwise bland bank.
Top 5 Weight: 11-15 (3-0,2-12,2-6,1-15,1-14) culls a pair at 1-11

Another fine update and stay tuned for the full report covering the May 8 prowl on The Canal. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

The hits keep coming as we have a big batch of bass (spots and largies) along with a unique and prehistoric first-time entry.

Fish: Spotted bass
Weight: 1-3 (14”)
Angler: John H. Kirkemo
Date: April 30, 2024
Weather: Clouds with occasional rain showers
Water Temperature: 73 degrees
Location: Lake Hartwell, SC
Lure: Black and silver shallow running Rapala
Comments: This fish was caught while trolling at 1.61-1.71 mph along the shoreline in 6-10 feet of water.

Fish: Spotted bass
Weight: 1-5 (15”)
Angler: John H. Kirkemo
Date: April 30, 2024
Weather: Clouds with occasional rain showers
Water Temperature: 73 degrees
Location: Lake Hartwell, SC
Lure: Black and silver shallow running Rapala
Comments: This fish was caught while trolling at 1.61-1.71 mph along the shoreline in 6-10 feet of water.

Fish: Spotted bass
Weight: 2-7 (16”)
Angler: John H. Kirkemo
Date: April 30, 2024
Weather: Clouds with occasional rain showers
Water Temperature: 73 degrees
Location: Lake Hartwell, SC
Lure: Black and silver shallow running Rapala
Comments: This fish was caught while trolling at 1.61-1.71 mph along the shoreline in 6-10 feet of water.
Top 5 Weight: 10-7 (2-8,2-7,2-0,1-13,1-11) culls 1-7

Weight: 3-6
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: May 4
Location: Knox County public strip mine
Lure: Mann’s Chug-N-Spit (black/chrome belly)

Weight: 2-1
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: May 4
Location: Knox County public strip mine
Lure: Mann’s Chug-N-Spit (black/chrome belly)

Weight: 2-0
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: May 4
Location: Knox County public strip mine
Lure: Senko wacky rig

Weight: 1-13
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: May 4
Location: Knox County public strip mine
Lure: Mann’s Chug-N-Spit (black/chrome belly)

Weight: 3-4
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: May 5
Location: Knox County public strip mine
Lure: Senko wacky rig
Top 5 Weight: 12-15 (3-6,3-4,2-4,2-1,2-0) culls 1-13, 1-11,1-10,1-6

Weight: 3-0
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: May 4
Weather: Overcast/windy
Location: Hennepin Canal
Lure: War Eagle Spinnerbait (chartreuse/white) with BPS twin tail trailer (Houdini)
Angler Comments: I decided to explore new water and was rewarded with my Top Bass of 2024.
Top 5 Weight: 10-10 (3-0,2-6,1-14,1-11,1-11) culls 1-8

Fish: Gar
Length: 28”
Angler: John H. Kirkemo
Date: April 30, 2024
Weather: Blue sky with some clouds
Water Temperature: 73 degrees
Location: Lake Hartwell, SC
Lure: Black and silver shallow running Rapala
Comments: This fish was caught while trolling at 1.61-1.71 mph along the shoreline in 6-10 feet of water.
Top 5 Length: 28” (28”)

Now, how is that for a weekly fishing report? Three anglers posting three species caught on four different lure types from two states. And the waters that these fish called home include a major reservoir created in the late 1950s, a couple strip pits from the 1960s, and an abandoned shipping waterway that originally opened in 1907. Here’s to a pat on the back for the anglers and a slightly selfish shout out to this website. And another fishing report from the Hennepin Canal is set to post later this week. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Stats

Posted on by Troy Jackson

I am behind schedule on my first Top 5 Stat Update of the year as I failed to post the numbers for March. So here we go to catch up on the data for the thirty-eight fish submitted through April. Up first are the bass totals, followed by the numbers for the additional species.

(Editor’s note: there are a few April fish included below that will not debut until the upcoming Monday update)

2024 Totals (largemouth and spotted)
March = 15 bass
April = 16 bass

Top 5 Weight by Month
March = 18-3 (4-6,3-14,3-10,3-4,3-1)
April = 11-0 (2-8,2-7,2-4,2-0,1-13)

Boat vs. Bank
Boat = 14 bass
Bank = 17 bass

Boat vs. Bank Weight
Boat = 12-0 (3-4,2-8,2-7,2-0,1-13)
Bank = 17-5 (4-6,3-14,3-10,3-1,2-6)

Public vs. Private
Public = 31 bass
Private = 0 bass

Public vs. Private Top 5 Weight
Public = 18-3 (4-6,3-14,3-10,3-4,3-1)
Private = no submissions

The Baits
Jerkbait = 15 bass (Top Bass 2-8 John Kirkemo)
Chatterbait = 9 bass (Top Bass 4-6 Jim Junk)
Lipless Crankbait = 4 bass (Top Bass 2-6 Jim Junk)
Crankbait = 1 bass (Top Bass 1-11 Troy Jackson)
Plastic Worm = 1 bass (Top Bass 1-5 John Kirkemo)
Spinnerbait = 1 bass (Top Bass 1-11 Brent Jackson)

Monthly Top Bass
March
4-6 Jim Junk
April
2-8 John Kirkemo

2024 Top 10 Bass
4-6 Jim Junk 3/3
3-14 Jim Junk 3/18
3-10 Jim Junk 3/3
3-4 Jayce Jackson 3/31
3-1 Jim Junk 3/17
2-8 John Kirkemo 4/26
2-7 John Kirkemo 4/10
2-6 Jim Junk 3/3
2-6 Troy Jackson 3/16
2-4 Brent Jackson 4/13

Angler Weights
Jim Junk 17-5 (4-6,3-14,3-10,3-1,2-6)
John Kirkemo 10-7 (2-8,2-7,2-0,1-13,1-11)
Troy Jackson 9-2 (2-6,1-14,1-11,1-11,1-8)
Brent Jackson 8-3 (2-4,1-11,1-10,1-6,1-4)
Jayce Jackson 3-4 (3-4)

Other Species
Striped Bass
John Kirkemo 6-11 (3-5,2-6,1-0)

Channel Catfish
John Kirkemo 2-3 (2-3)

Trout (brown and rainbow)
John Kirkemo 24” (12”, 12”)

Gar
John Kirkemo 28” (28”)

Being a stat guy, these recaps are always fun. And as I post this stat update, we have racked up another batch of catches so stay tuned for the Monday Top 5 Update. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Have we got an update for you this week. Our submissions come courtesy of John Kirkemo, who does his fishing in the Palmetto State these days, from what we semi-jokingly refer to as the “southeast field office” of Troy Jackson Outdoors. He is on a bite down there and his reports from the past week feature three species: spotted bass, striped bass, and a channel catfish.

Editor’s note: Spotted bass are a member of the black bass genus along with the largemouth bass; thus, the Top 5 totals will combine these two species. Similarly, variations and hybridization among striped/temperate bass will result in all submissions being assigned to the striped bass category.

Spotted Bass

Fish: Spotted bass
Weight: 1-1 (14”)
Angler: John H. Kirkemo
Date: April 22
Weather: Bright sunny day with air temperatures in the low 60s
Water Temperature: 68-70 degrees
Location: Lake Hartwell, SC
Lure: Silver and black, 4.5” shallow running Rapala
Comments: This fish was caught while trolling at 1.61-1.71 mph along the shoreline in 6 to 10 feet of water and was released in good condition.

Fish: Spotted bass
Weight: 1-11 (16”)
Angler: John H. Kirkemo
Date: April 23
Weather: Bright sunny day with air temperatures in the high 60s to low 70s
Water Temperature: 68-70 degrees
Location: Lake Hartwell, SC
Lure: Silver and black, 4.5” shallow running Rapala

Fish: Spotted bass
Weight: 1-13 (15”)
Angler: John H. Kirkemo
Date: April 23
Weather: Bright sunny day with air temperatures in the high 60s to low 70s
Water Temperature: 68-70 degrees
Location: Lake Hartwell, SC
Lure: Silver and black, 4.5” shallow running Rapala
Comments: Both fish were caught while trolling at 1.61-1.71 mph along the shoreline in 6 to 10 feet of water and were released in good condition.

Fish: Spotted Bass
Weight: 1-1 (13”)
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: April 25
Weather: Clear sky with bright sun; air temperature low 70s.
Water Temperature: 68-71 degrees
Location: Lake Hartwell, Southeast of Anderson, SC
Lure: Silver and black, 4.5” shallow running Rapala

Fish: Spotted Bass
Weight: 1-3 (13”)
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: April 25
Weather: Clear sky with bright sun; air temperature low 70s.
Water Temperature: 68-71 degrees
Location: Lake Hartwell, Southeast of Anderson, SC
Lure: Silver and black, 4.5” shallow running Rapala

Fish: Spotted Bass
Weight: 2-0 (16.5”)
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: April 25
Weather: Partly cloudy skies; air temperature low 70s.
Water Temperature: 68-71 degrees
Location: Lake Hartwell, Southeast of Anderson, SC
Lure: Silver and black, 4.5” shallow running Rapala

Fish: Spotted Bass
Weight: 2-8 (19”)
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: April 26
Weather: Cloudy sky. Air temperature high 60s to low 70s.
Water Temperature: 70 degrees
Location: Lake Hartwell, Southeast of Anderson, SC
Lure: Silver and black, 4.5” shallow running Rapala
Comments: The above fish were caught while trolling at 1.68-1.73 mph in 6 to 10 feet of water. The fish were released in good condition.
Lake Hartwell is 56,000 acres with a shoreline of 962 miles. I fished the lake every day this week (Week of April 22) but only a small area next to the Springfield Corps of Engineers campground near Anderson, SC. I have seen only a few bass fishermen. The anglers are casting to shoreline structure or fishing the underwater drop-offs. There is impressive structure consisting of downed trees and docks that could be holding bass, but I haven’t seen any fish near any of the structure.
Top 5 Weight: 9-7 (2-8,2-0,1-13,1-11,1-7) culls a 1-5

Striped Bass

Fish: Hybrid Striped Bass
Weight: 2-6 (17”)
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: April 22
Weather: Bright sunny day with air temperatures in the low 60s
Water Temperature: 68-70 degrees
Location: Lake Hartwell, SC
Lure: Silver and black, 4.5” shallow running Rapala
Comments: This was my first ever hybrid striped bass. Caught while trolling in open water.

Fish: Hybrid Striped Bass
Weight: 1-0 (13”)
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: April 27
Weather: Partly cloudy skies; air temperature low 60s.
Water Temperature: 68 degrees
Location: Lake Hartwell, Southeast of Anderson, SC
Lure: Silver and black, 3.5” shallow running Rapala
Comments: The lure was cast to a spot between two partially submerged trees. I saw the fish hit the lure as the lure approached the boat on the retrieve.

Fish: Hybrid Striped Bass
Weight: 3-5 (19”)
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: April 27
Weather: Partly cloudy skies; air temperature low 70s.
Water Temperature: 71 degrees
Location: Lake Hartwell, Southeast of Anderson, SC
Lure: Silver and blue shallow running jointed Rebel
Comments: Fish were seen surface feeding, so I trolled the lure in the area until the fish hit. The fish was strong and made a long run taking line against the drag. I kept pressure on the fish and was able to bring him to the net. The fish was released in good condition.
Top 5 Weight: 6-11 (3-5,2-6,1-0)

Channel Catfish

Fish: Catfish
Weight: 2-3 (19”)
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: April 25
Weather: Partly cloudy skies; air temperature low 70s.
Water Temperature: 68-71 degrees
Location: Lake Hartwell, Southeast of Anderson, SC:
Lure: Silver and black, 4.5” shallow running Rapala
Top 5 Weight: 2-3 (2-3)

Well done, John, and keep them coming. It is a treat to see variety in species beyond the largemouth bass. In addition, seeing fish from outside the Land of Lincoln is also cool. For those of us locals, it looks like the April showers are going to dampen early May but here’s hoping we can dodge the drops and get bit. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

We have a third full limit as Brent got out on Sunday and added the bass that he needed to round out his Top 5.

Weight: 1-11
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: April 21
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Top 5 Weight: 8-3 (2-4,1-11,1-10,1-6,1-4)

Well done, Brent, and looking forward to the culls to come. Looks like warm weather locally for the foreseeable future so hoping to see some more bass next week. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

My brother, Brent, has been too busy to fish this year but he was able to get out on some public Knox County strip mine stomping grounds this weekend. The bass were biting well but quality bites were tough to come by leaving him one bass shy of his initial Top 5. Great to have him on board again and I expect he’ll get that fifth bass in short order once he gets out for some more casts.

Weight: 2-4
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: April 13
Weather: Sunny/windy
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Jerkbait

Weight: 1-10
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: April 13
Weather: Sunny/windy
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Jerkbait

Weight: 1-6
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: April 13
Weather: Sunny/windy
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Jerkbait

Weight: 1-4
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: April 13
Weather: Sunny/windy
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Jerkbait
Top 5 Weight: 6-8 (2-4,1-10,1-6,1-4)

Well done with some hard-earned quality “keeper” bites on a tough day. I was along for the hike and couldn’t muster any to exceed Brent’s bites and give myself a Top 5 boost. Stay tuned for the report on our trip as I try and catch up on the April outings. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

A fun update today features a comparison of black bass “cousins” with a spotted bass from the southeast and a local largemouth bass.

Weight: 1-7 (15”)
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: March 27
Weather: High 60s low 70s air temperatures with partly cloudy skies. Light wind
Water Temp: 60 – 63 degrees
Location: Lake Keowee, SC
Lure: Four inch black and silver shallow running Rapala
Angler Comments: Fished late morning and midafternoon. During the morning session I noticed open water surface feeding. I started trolling the Rapala and within a few minutes got the hit. The fish was strong, and my line was only 6 lbs. test fluorocarbon, so it took a while to get him to the net. This was my first ever spotted bass. I had no other hits.
Top 5 Weight: 2-12 (1-7,1-5)

Weight: 1-11 (15″)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: April 1
Weather: Overcast/windy, 51F
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Rapala Shad Rap (blue)
Structure: Drop
Angler Comments: As my day neared an end, I finally found a spot where the bass would bite. This was the first and biggest of nine bass in forty-five minutes all on the Shad Rap.
Top 5 Weight: 9-2 (2-6,1-14,1-11,1-11,1-8) culls a 1-7

The weather is on the upswing locally this week with above average temperatures and no more rain. Taking a peek at the Lake Keowee weather, it also looks pleasant although a bit damp mid-week. Perhaps this week’s featured anglers will have an opportunity to add to their creels. Of course, anybody else is free to pitch in as well. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Happy April Fool’s Day as another angler joins the pursuit with a quality fish. No fooling either as this catch happens to be his Top Bass of all-time.

Weight: 3-4
Angler: Jayce Jackson
Date: March 31
Weather: Partly cloudy/breezy, 58F
Location: Hennepin Canal
Lure: Z-Man Chatterbait (white) with a Strike King Rage Swimmer trailer ()
Editor’s Comments: This bass represents Jayce’s largest bass, topping a 2-5 from the Knox County strip mines in 2018.
Top 5 Weight: 3-4 (3-4)

Way to go, Jayce, as that is a quality catch anywhere and an impressive specimen from The Canal. A great start to your Top 5 and I look forward to seeing what you can add as the year rolls on. More on the catch when I get around to catching up on fishing reports. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

We have another limit and another contender as three more bass join the ledger.

Weight: 3-1
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: March 17
Weather:
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Chatterbait

Weight: 3-14
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: March 18
Weather:
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Chatterbait
Angler Comments: Made it out yesterday for about three hours and today for like one and a half hours. Very windy both days, but much cooler today. Yesterday ended up with four bass. Three dinks and a 3-1 that all came on a black and red skirted chatterbait. Today only had one bite but it was a nice 3-14 on the same chatterbait.
Top 5 Weight: 17-5 (4-6,3-14,3-10,3-1,2-6)

Weight: 1-5
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: March 23 at 3:00pm
Weather: Partly cloudy and breezy with air temperature in high 60s to low 70s
Water Temp: 61F
Location: Lake Keowee, SC
Lure: Wacky worm
Angler Comments: This fish hit the wacky worm in about 5 feet of water along a sun-drenched wooded shoreline (See attached picture of location.) This was the only hit I had in about two hours of afternoon fishing. My first ever South Carolina largemouth. No competition from shore fisherman. (See attached picture of shoreline warning sign.)
Top 5 Weight: 1-5 (1-5)

Good stuff as Jim edges nearer the coveted twenty-pound mark and the Top 5 bass collection expands to the southeast with John’s catch from The Palmetto State. As April nears, it looks like the local weather forecast is promising and hopefully it will translate into an uptick in the bite. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Three bass join the list for this week’s update as I fill my initial limit and bump a couple of my earlier catches out of my Top 5.

Weight: 1-14
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: March 16
Weather: Partly cloudy/very windy, 52F
Location: Hennepin Canal
Lure: Chatterbait (sexy shad) with Bass Pro Shops Speed Shad trailer (pro blue)
Structure: Laydown
Angler Comments: On my first cast of the evening, my lure had barely hit the water alongside a lengthy fallen tree when this bass loaded up. It established my new Top Bass for the year but would only hold the mark for two hours before being bested by one of the fish below.

Weight: 1-11
Date: March 16
Weather: Partly cloudy/very windy, 52F
Location: Hennepin Canal
Lure: Strike King Red Eye Shad (red craw)
Structure: Open water
Angler Comments: While my target was a point across The Canal, this one hit as my lure crossed the open channel well away from the point. Perhaps it followed the bait, maybe there is some hidden structure in the vicinity, or maybe I just got lucky. At any rate, another quality fish for a boost to my Top 5 total.

Weight: 2-6
Date: March 16
Weather: Partly cloudy/very windy, 52F
Location: Hennepin Canal
Lure: Chatterbait (sexy shad) with Bass Pro Shops Speed Shad trailer (pro blue)
Structure: Submerged logs
Angler Comments: My final cast of the day resulted in my largest fish. Since I was only a few hundred yards from the truck and wrapping up my evening, I opted to pack up my gear, hop on the bike, and end my day with a quality catch.
Top 5 Weight: 8-14 (2-6,1-14,1-11,1-8,1-7) culls a 1-5 and 1-2

A solid trio of fish for me and pleased to be off to a good start this early in the year. Here’s hoping I can add a few more and push my limit into double digits before April arrives. In the meantime, I am hoping to push out some 2024 early season fishing reports and possibly some more stats from 2023. Talk to you later. Troy