This week’s update is as easy as 1-2-3. As in bass in the one-pound, two-pound, and three-pound range for a trio of anglers. And, once again, we get a map of one catch which is always a winning addition.

Weight: 1-3
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: June 21
Weather: Early morning sun with east wind.
Air Temp: In the 60s
Water Temp: 77F
Location: West Central Illinois public water
Lure: Wacky worm
Angler Comments: Not many quality hits in the three hours I fished. Hooked a fish on the fourth or fifth cast of the day but he got off. Finally got some quality hits in a shady area in three to four feet of water.
Top 5 Weight: 6-4 (2-4,1-15-1-3,0-14)

Weight: 2-0
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: June 24
Location: Knox County private strip mine
Lure: Senko wacky rig
Top 5 Weight: 14-14 (3-8,2-15,2-13,2-13,2-13)

Weight: 3-2
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: June 24
Weather: Sunny/breezy
Location: Knox County public strip mine
Lure: 5” Yamasenko wacky rig (natural shad)
Structure: Weed pocket
Angler Comments: Probing weed pockets with a Senko wacky rig produced all of my bass on this outing, including this Top Bass of the day.
Top 5 Weight: 20-15 (5-3,4-10,4-2,3-9,3-7)

Good stuff as summer started right off with a taste of the dog days as temperatures hit the nineties. As evidenced by the details of the catches above, you just can’t go wrong with the good, old wacky rig. Plenty of reports and additional fishing stuff to come as time permits. Talk to you later. Troy

The Top 5 Updates continue with this week’s submission including a little something extra. Not only do we get the standard picture and data, but also a detailed description of the setup including a map. Read on for a cool fishing report.

Weight: 2-4
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: June 8
Weather: Early morning sun with 60-degree air temperature
Water Temp: Not Available
Location: West Central Illinois public water
Lure: Black and silver shallow running Rapala
Angler Comments: There is a narrow area of shallow water across the entrance to an inlet off the main lake. The shallow water is only one to two feet deep. There is deep water on the inlet side and lake side of the shallow water. If the lake water level were to drop the inlet would be cut off from the main lake. The shallow water has numerous bluegill nests, and a lot of bluegills were present. Bass were coming up from the deep water on the lake side and harassing the bluegill population. Earlier in the morning I hooked a heavy bass on a silver and black floating Rapala cast into the bluegill nest area. The fish immediately headed for the deep water weed beds. He was able to use the weeds to get away. Later in the morning I returned to the spot and could see several large bass in the deep clear water. I threw wacky worms, spinner baits, shallow running Rapalas and paddle tail plastics toward the bass in the deep water, but they showed little interest. Finally, a bass took the Rapala and headed for the weeds. I was able to keep him from wrapping the line around the weeds and landed the 2 lbs. 4 oz. fish.
Top 5 Weight: 5-1 (2-4,1-15,0-14)

Thank you, John, for your catch and the detailed rundown of how you got it done. I may take a page out of your book for an upcoming post of my own. We’ll see how my attempt at an illustration goes as I may be in touch for more of your artistry. I also have a plan to get a few more submissions for next week’s Top 5 Update. Stay tuned and talk to you later. Troy

Welcome back to Top 5 veteran angler, John Kirkemo, as he adds his first submissions of 2023. He and a young fishing partner took on Snakeden Hollow’s McMaster Lake last week on a balmy evening and had a good outing.

Weight: 1-15
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: May 31
Weather: Partly cloudy with air temperatures in the 90s
Water Temp: 79-83F
Location: McMaster Lake
Lure: Wacky worm

Weight: 0-14
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: May 31
Weather: Partly cloudy with air temperatures in the 90s
Water Temp: 79-83F
Location: McMaster Lake
Lure: Wacky worm
Angler Comments: Fished from 4:15pm to 7:45pm. Most fish were caught before 6:00pm while the sun was still high. Not much action after 7:00pm. Only one other power boat on the lake and only a few shore fishermen.
Top 5 Weight: 2-13 (1-15,0-14)

Well done, John, as that crystal clear lake can be a challenge, especially on a sunny, summer-like afternoon. Great to hear a report from that unique fishing hole. More fishing stats and notes in the works. Stay tuned and talk to you later. Troy

Back with a solid update and a funky musical shout out as last week’s catches were a “Family Affair” (Sly and The Family Stone – 1971). While not quite The Jackson 5, three of our Jacksons had some “Hot Fun in the Summertime” (Sly and The Family Stone – 1969). Okay, kind of a stretch as we still have a month to go until summer but a cool tune to work into the update theme. Anyway, I don’t know if Sylvester Stewart is an angler, but as “Sly” from Sly and the Family Stone, his music continues to entertain many listeners. And here are the Family Jackson submissions for Monday’s regularly scheduled entertainment.

Weight: 2-11
Angler: Terry Jackson
Date: May 16
Location: Little John Conservation Club
Lure: Senko wacky rig
Editor’s Comments: Dad’s catch came during an outing where he and Mom took some grandkids out for an evening of fishing. A good time was reported by all and Dad posted Top Bass on a favorite presentation, the Senko wacky rig. He’s got a few of the kids slinging the lure as well because it is a winner.
Top 5 Weight: 2-11 (2-11)

Weight: 2-13
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: May 20
Weather: Sunny/windy
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Mann’s Chug and Spit popper

Weight: 2-15
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: May 20
Weather: Sunny/windy
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Senko wacky rig
Top 5 Weight: 14-14 (3-8,2-15,2-13,2-13,2-13) culls 2-12 and 2-11

Weight: 3-4
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: May 20
Weather: Sunny/windy
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: 5” Yamasenko wacky rig (perch)
Structure: Pocket
Angler Comments: My brother and I were working an isolated, oval pocket off the main body of the lake. He took one side and I took the other. A decent fish had come loose on my Senko a few minutes earlier but he either came back for a second chance or had a buddy in the neighborhood.  

Weight: 3-9
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: May 20
Weather: Sunny/windy
Location: Little John Conservation Club
Lure: 5” Yamasenko wacky rig (perch)
Structure: Pocket
Angler Comments: Once again a pocket off the main lake comes through. Brent and I had come up empty on multiple casts to the small area but perseverance paid off as we suspected that there was a bass or two around. Turned out we were right as Brent also landed a 1-1 just a few minutes later. It’s always cool when experience and a gut feeling pay off. 
Top 5 Weight:20-15 (5-3,4-10,4-2,3-9,3-7) culls a 3-1

A quality haul by three guys who won’t show up on the pro bass fishing trail stats. Just a trio of “Everyday People” (Sly and The Family Stone – 1968) like most of us who chase those green fish. To conclude, I want to “Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin” (Sly and The Family Stone – 1969) and putting up with another of my musical tangents in a fishing report. I am also hoping to stray down that path again before the end of the month with a Trip Tunes post. In the meantime, here’s hoping you can get outside for a bit of fresh air, perhaps reel in a fish or two, and turn on the radio to “Dance to the Music” (Sly and The Family Stone – 1967) along the way. Talk to you later. Troy

Well, it was quite a week for the trio of anglers that make up this year’s Top 5 project. Bass were added on five of the seven days during the week to the tune of over thirty-five pounds combined for the nine entries. Along the way, Jim and Brent landed their new Top Bass for the year and I came up just a bit short on mine. Read on for the details.

Weight: 5-9
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: May 2
Weather: Besides the wind, the weather was very reasonable with a wind breaker.
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Chatterbait
Structure: Weedy flat
Angler Comments: Weather might not have been bad, but the bite was tough. In 2.5 hours of fishing, I only managed one, but it was an impressive one. This 5-9 beauty came on a chatterbait. Pulling over weeds on a flat adjacent to a windblown cove.

Weight: 4-14
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: May 5
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Chatterbait
Structure: Weed tops

Weight: 4-4
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: May 5
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Dark Sleeper
Structure: Weed tops
Angler Comments: I went after work for a couple of hours and managed four bass. Two dinks and two that were photo worthy. Weeds are growing quickly but was still able to pull a chatterbait and Dark Sleeper over the weeds and the snot moss.
Top 5 Weight: 25-9 (5-9,5-5,5-1,4-14,4-12) culls 4-8 and 4-5

Weight: 4-10 (21″)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: May 6
Weather: Overcast/very windy
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Whopper Plopper 110 (bone)
Structure: Windblown ledge/dropoff
Angler Comments: A strong south wind was a direct hit on a narrow finger of this lake. I was hoping it would get some bass fired up and I was not disappointed. I initially thought this one was going to beat my current Top Bass of 2023 (5-3) but not quite. An entire upcoming post dedicated to this specific scenario and catch is in the works so stay tuned.

Weight: 4-2 (20.5″)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: May 6
Weather: Overcast/very windy
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Whopper Plopper 110 (bone)
Structure: Flooded trees
Angler Comments: Roughly ten minutes after arriving at an unfamiliar lake, I had this four-pounder in hand. I really had no idea what to expect from the lake other than I had observed a bass during a brief peek while walking the bank prior to putting in the boat. More quality bass followed as noted below.

Weight: 3-7 (18.5″)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: May 6
Weather: Overcast/very windy
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: War Eagle spinnerbait (chartreuse/white) with twin tail trailer (Houdini)
Structure: Point/dropoff
Angler Comments: I let the wind push me up against the bank in a pocket with decent depth as I was tired of fighting for boat control. The natural anchor provided for fan casting, and I had already thoroughly worked the area with a Whopper Plopper without a bite. However, the area looked like it should hold a fish and a change of presentation proved me right. Cool when it works out like that.

Weight: 3-1 (17.5″)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: May 6
Weather: Overcast/very windy
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Whopper Plopper 110 (bone)
Structure: Flooded trees
Angler Comments: In less than an hour, I had landed a 4-2, 2-11, and 2-8 on new water and was feeling quite fortunate about my stroke of luck. Next up was this 3-1 on a Whopper Plopper and I just had to laugh. I’ve been fishing for a long time and kind of know what I am doing but stretches like this still don’t come along every day. And with that stroke of luck, I am back in the 20-pound club after missing the mark the last year.
Top 5 Weight: 20-7 (5-3,4-10,4-2,3-7,3-1) culls 3-0,2-14, and 2-7

Weight: 1-10
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: May 4
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Senko wacky rig
Angler Comments: Looks like forty-seven total bass on the day, but the good one got away.

Weight: 3-8
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: May 7
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Buzzbait
Angler Comments: The buzzbait is the bait today. Nine bass this morning, one on Chug-N-Spit and eight on buzzbait. Seven of the eight were between 1-6 and 2-1, the other was 3-8.
Top 5 Weight: 14-2 (3-8,2-13,2-13,2-12,2-4) culls 2-3

Jim added a picture with his 4-4 catch from May 5 noting the bloody tail indicative of a bass engaging in the spawn. Another of his submissions, a 5-5 from April 23 exhibited the same affliction. Cool observation of both physical characteristics as well as behavioral factors that influence bass location and mood over the calendar year. Kudos to Jim for releasing those quality bass to continue their contribution to the gene pool of an impressive fishery.

And with that I conclude another Top 5 Update and set my sights on the latest strip mine report and other fishing related stuff. Talk to you later. Troy