While I have some fishing reports to pass along, I am taking the easy way out to start the month with the Top 5 Stat Update as these posts write themselves. To date, our submissions feature eighty bass and a lone channel catfish. Read on for the monthly breakdown as sorted by the regular categories and wrapping up with the current Top 5 Angler totals.

Other Species – Channel Catfish
2-3 John Kirkemo July 6 – Lake Storey

Bass Stats
2023 Totals
January = no submissions
February = 2 bass
March = 7 bass
April = 32 bass
May = 20 bass
June = 9 bass
July = 10 bass

Top 5 Weight by Month
January = no submissions
February = 6-10 (3-9,3-1)
March = 19-8 (5-1,4-5,4-4,3-5,2-9)
April = 24-0 (5-5,5-3,4-12,4-8,4-4)
May = 24-11 (5-9,5-6,4-14,4-10,4-4)
June = 11-6 (3-2,2-13,2-4,2-0,1-3)
July = 16-10 (4-1,3-5,3-3,3-1,3-0)

Boat vs. Bank
Boat = 29 bass
Bank = 51 bass

Boat vs. Bank Weight
Boat = 20-0 (5-6,4-2,3-9,3-8,3-7)
Bank = 26-0 (5-9,5-5,5-3,5-1,4-14)

Public vs. Private
Public = 77 bass
Private = 3 bass

Public vs. Private Top 5 Weight
Public = 26-8 (5-9,5-6,5-5,5-3,5-1)
Private = 8-4 (3-9,2-11,2-0)

The Baits
Lipless Crankbait = 24 bass (Top Bass 5-6 Natalee Townsend)
Plastic Worm = 23 bass (Top Bass 3-9 Troy Jackson)
Chatterbait = 7 bass (Top Bass 5-9 Jim Junk)
Grub = 5 bass (Top Bass 5-3 Troy Jackson)
Jerkbait = 4 bass (Top Bass 2-13 Brent Jackson)
Popper = 4 bass (Top Bass 3-5 Brent Jackson)
Propbait = 3 bass (Top Bass 4-10 Troy Jackson)
Spinnerbait = 3 bass (Top Bass 3-7 Troy Jackson)
Swimbait = 2 bass (Top Bass 4-4 Jim Junk)
Buzzbait = 2 bass (Top Bass 3-8 Brent Jackson)
Frog 1 bass (Top Bass 4-1 Troy Jackson)
Jig = 1 bass (Top Bass 2-13 Brent Jackson)
Spinnerbait = 1 bass (Top Bass 3-7 Troy Jackson)

Monthly Top Bass
January
No submissions
February
3-9 Jim Junk
March
5-1 Jim Junk
April
5-5 Jim Junk
May
5-9 Jim Junk
June
3-2 Troy Jackson
July
4-1 Troy Jackson

2023 Top 10 Bass
5-9 Jim Junk 5/2
5-6 Natalee Townsend 5/26
5-5 Jim Junk 4/23
5-3 Troy Jackson 4/7
5-1 Jim Junk 3/5
4-14 Jim Junk 5/5
4-12 Jim Junk 4/9
4-10 Troy Jackson 5/6
4-8 Jim Junk 4/1
4-5 Jim Junk 3/11

Angler Weights
Jim Junk 25-9 (5-9,5-5,5-1,4-14,4-12)
Troy Jackson 21-9 (5-3,4-10,4-2,4-1,3-9)
Brent Jackson 16-0 (3-8,3-5,3-3,3-1,2-15)
Natalee Townsend 7-9 (5-6,2-3)
John Kirkemo 7-2 (2-4,1-15,1-3,0-14,0-14)
Carly Jackson 3-10 (2-13,0-13)
Landon Hannam 3-8 (3-8)
Terry Jackson 2-11 (2-11)
Jayce Jackson 1-3 (1-3)
Julia Jackson 0-14 (0-14)
Zac Jackson 0-11 (0-11)

A solid year thus far and what do you say we shoot for adding another twenty bass to hit the century mark? August can be a tough one but as I always say, those bass are still there sometimes just a bit harder to find and fool. Get up early, stay out late, and send ‘em my way when you catch ‘em. Talk to you later. Troy

This week’s update proves that there is more than one way to catch a bass. As far as presentations, we cover the top (Rapala Skitter Pop), middle (Senko wacky rig) and bottom (Texas rigged worm) of the water column to fool some fish. In addition, we got to our bass vis kayak, biking, and hiking. Do these guys know how to have fun or what?

Weight: 3-1
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: July 22
Location: Snakeden Hollow
Lure: Rapala Skitter Pop

Weight: 3-5
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: July 23
Location: Snakeden Hollow
Lure: Rapala Skitter Pop
Top 5 Weight: 15-10 (3-8,3-5,3-1,2-15,2-13) culls 2-13 and 2-13

Weight: 2-7
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: July 22
Weather: Partly cloudy/calm
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Senko wacky worm (cream/green laminate)
Structure: Weed pocket
Angler Comments: Casting into deeper, open water troughs adjacent to weedy flats was winner on several catches with this being the biggest of the bunch.

Weight: 2-5
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: July 23
Weather: Partly cloudy/calm
Location: Hennepin Canal
Lure: Texas rigged 7.5” Yum Ribbontail Worm (plum)
Structure: Trough
Angler Comments: A quick evening trip in search of a birthday bass was a success with this catch after about fifteen minutes of casting.
Top 5 Weight: 20-15 (5-3,4-10,4-2,3-9,3-7)

Another quality week of catching but it looks like a heatwave is on the way. We’ll see if has more of an effect on the fishers than the fish. Talk to you later. Troy

The area fishing holes may feel like bath water these days, but the fish still call them home. And while heat and humidity can be a factor for anglers, you’ll never catch those fish sitting in your living room. A shout out to one of our participants for getting out there and adding a couple catches this past week including a first for 2023.

Weight: 0-14
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: July 6
Weather: Partly cloudy afternoon skies
Air Temperature: 70s
Water Temp: 82F
Location: Knox County public water
Lure: Wacky worm
Angler Comments: The fish hit while casting to shoreline structure. Not many hits in three hours of fishing from 2:45pm-6:00pm. Caught one other bass smaller than this one. Few other hits.
Top 5 Weight: 7-2 (2-4,1-15,1-3,0-14,0-14)

Other Species – Channel Catfish

Weight: 2-3
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: July 6
Weather: Partly cloudy afternoon skies
Water Temp: 70s
Location: Knox County public water
Lure: Beetlespin
Angler Comments: The catfish hit on my first cast after pulling into a cove. The fish took the lure right after it hit the water and put up a good fight.
Top 5 Weight: 2-3 (2-3)

Thanks to John for the Top 5 submissions and adding some variety to our list. I would also like to thank John for his research on different area fishing hole in recent years. His input and catches prompted Brent and I to take a shot at a spot we had not visited for twenty years. Stay tuned for that adventure in an upcoming fishing report. Talk to you later. Troy

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