Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

A trio of bass join the ranks as we transition from spring to summer. Yep, time sure flies when you’re fishing, a perfect getaway during our unusual times.

Weight: 1-0 (12”)
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: June 18
Weather: Bright blue skies
Water Temp: 78F
Location: Lake Storey
Lure: Senko wacky style
Top 5 Weight: 4-5 (1-15,1-6,1-0)

Weight: 4-4
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: June 19
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Texas rigged Senko

Weight: 3-9
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: June 20
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Texas rigged Senko
Top 5 Weight: 19-7 (4-4,4-1,4-1,3-9,3-8) culls 3-7 and 3-4

Thanks for your submissions fellas and keep them coming as the summer rolls on. Talk to you later. Troy

Friday Flashback – June 19-20, 1995

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Better late than never this time around as the Friday Flashback darn near didn’t show up until Saturday. Been a wild week of work that wrapped up about four hours ago upon ending a roughly 1,000 mile/16 hour drive from Kinston, NC to the Quad Cities (four hours last night and twelve today). I am beat but not too beat to meet my Friday deadline.

Mark “Geek” Junk

Today’s flashback takes me back to a time with far less responsibilities for a trio of more or less single guys back in 1995. Joining me at the Lake Bracken Spillway on this trip were a couple old buddies known as “Geek” and “Hack”. Throw in some doughballs and an adequate supply of Milwaukee’s Best and you’ve got yourself an adventure.

And on this day it sure was a good time as evidenced by the rewards from a pair of carp battles.

Matt “Hack” Reynolds

A fun outing with some good guys who I’d say are now even better. Each of us has added a better half and a batch of eight kids over the last quarter century. We’ve long scattered in different directions and rarely see each other these days but when we cross paths it’s just like old times. Can’t ask for better friends than that. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Circumstances dictate that the Top 5 Update shows up a day early this time around. No worries, all good here at blog headquarters, just some busy days ahead. Yes, I do more than just fish and camp and then sit around and blog all day. Although that setup would be nice. And speaking of nice, we have a solid batch of fish to add to the database.

Weight: 4-1
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: June 8
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Texas rigged Senko
Angler Comments: Hitting almost everything I threw, frog, creature thing, wacky Senko and Texas rigged Senko.

Weight: 3-2
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: June 10
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Creature
Top 5 Weight: 18-5 (4-1,4-1,3-8,3-7,3-4) culls 2-12

Other Species – Tiger Muskie

Weight: 12-12 (36”)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: June 13
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Water Temp: 74F
Location: Peoria County private lake
Lure: Strike King Red Eye Shad (sexy shad)
Structure: Hump
Angler Comments: In what would turn out to be my last cast of the morning I wound up with something other than the bass I was targeting. Sure was an exciting “accident” that dove under both motors and had me walking the length of the boat. More to come on the catch at a later date in the full fishing report.
Top 5 Weight: 12-12/Top 5 Length: 36”

Well, that was fun and hopefully will tide everyone over for a bit until the Friday Flashback, which may actually be a Saturday Flashback. At any rate, have no fear as there are still plenty of fish stories and more to tell, just limited time for composing and editing. Talk to you later. Troy

Friday Flashback – June 17, 1995

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Guess what “officially” turns 30 years old in just a few weeks.

Why, Snakeden Hollow, of course.

The old Knox County collection of fishing holes holds plenty of memories for me, my brother and my dad. And today’s flashback happens to be one of those memories. My biggest bass from the area, nabbed on a Zara Spook, 25 years ago this week.

It’s a little weird to me looking back. So many pictures grace the internet these days where you have no idea how big the fish truly is based on the camera angle, the proximity of the bass to the lens and the integrity of the angler.

No matter, not for me to question or judge. I just enjoy the pictures and reports and leave the scrutiny to others who feel the urge to add their two cents.

So, my biggest Snakeden bass came in at 5-2 although it sure doesn’t look like it one of the pics. This one could raise an eyebrow, even for the guy who caught it as he looks back 25 years later. But I’ve landed, measured and weighed thousands of bass over the years and never once felt the need to stretch one. After all, nearly all of them are meticulously documented in a collection of fishing logs dating back 35 years.

Fortunately, my brother, Brent, was along on this day to snap a shot with the scale in view. Zooming in, the display indeed reads 5-2, so no funny business going on with my trophy (released as always).

Another weird aspect of this catch is that I caught it on a spot that I would initially name Spook Lake after the lure that fooled the bass, the Zara Spook. In the 25 years since, I have never caught anything remotely close to this bass out of this pothole. I believe my runner-up comes in at 1-15. Due to the lack of future quality catches I even went so far as renaming the lake. Along with it’s somewhat linked companion, the fishing holes now bear the names of Upper and Lower Twin Lakes.

Just a strange catch all the way around and one I’ll always remember. That’s today’s story and I’m sticking to it. Talk to you later. Troy

Camping – 27 Hours in 3 Minutes

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Last weekend we got in our first camping trip of the year. Actually it was the first camping trip in three years. Obviously, 2020 has been quite strange. So strange that most folks couldn’t even go camping unless they had a secluded spot. And even that possibility for us had some limitations. But with an ease in opening up some amenities (read pit toilets), we were off and running as our weekends are quite free as of late.

Rather than a ramble, I’m opting for a video and slideshow recap of our chance to get away from home.

 

A good time was had by all. So much so that plans are in the works to do it again soon. Talk to you later. Troy

Friday Flashback – June 1, 2005

Posted on by Troy Jackson

A couple weeks ago, the Friday Flashback told of the first Senko bass I ever caught. May 22, 2005 at Lake Bracken, a true highlight in a lifetime of fish stories. Well, just over a week later, Dad and I were back on Lake Bracken and that wacky presentation was on the end of my spinning rod. Below is the original log entry along with the original fishing report submitted on June 30, 2005 as part of a “June Wrap Up.”

Original log entry – June 1, 2005

June 1 – The first day of the month turned out to be the only day of the month that I actually wet a line. Dad and I hit Lake Bracken from 5:30am-9: 30am and we landed 31 bass. Dad led the way catching 19 with 12 coming on a Rebel Ghost Minnow, 5 on his tube jig and one apiece on a plastic crawdad and a twister tail. I caught 12, all of them on my Senko. The highlight of the day was a 5-0 that I caught off of a stump in about seven feet of water. The bass currently holds the Top Bass title for the year and missed the Lake Bracken record by one ounce.

Senko record of 5-0 from June 1, 2005 (later eclipsed on May 19, 2007)

If I wasn’t hooked on the Senko from the success of that first May outing, my second trip wielding the lure certainly sealed the deal. It’s been a mainstay in my arsenal ever since.

Oh, by the way, Dad and I would make our next visit to Lake Bracken on July 13, 2005. Guess what lure caught ten of his eleven bass? Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Stats

Posted on by Troy Jackson

A new month means a new stat update. So, here we go.

2020 Totals
January = 1 bass
February = no submissions
March = 4 bass
April = 25 bass
May = 18 bass

Top 5 Weight by Month
January = 1-4 (one bass)
February = no submissions
March = 15-8 (6-14,4-1,3-4,1-5)
April = 16-11 (4-12,3-2,3-1,3-0,2-12)
May 22-6 (5-7,5-4,4-12,3-8,3-7)

Boat vs. Bank
Boat = 10 bass
Bank = 38 bass

Boat vs. Bank Weight
Boat = 13-10 (4-1,2-8,2-7,2-6,2-4)
Bank = 27-1 (6-14,5-7,5-4,4-12,4-12)

Public vs. Private
Public = 28 bass
Private = 20 bass

Public vs. Private Top 5 Weight
Public = 19-0 (4-12,4-1,3-8,3-7,3-4)
Private = 25-6 (6-14,5-7,5-4,4-12,3-1)

The Baits (* = new record)
Plastic Worm = 15 bass (Top Bass 3-7 Jim Junk)
*Chatterbait = 12 bass (Top Bass 5-7 Chris Schwarz) – tops 4-10 Mark Balbinot
*Spinnerbait = 7 bass (Top Bass 6-14 Chris Schwarz) – tops 5-14 Mark Balbinot
Lipless Crankbait = 5 bass (Top Bass 3-4 Jim Junk)
Crankbait = 2 bass (Top Bass 1-10 Brent Jackson)
Jig = 2 bass (Top Bass 4-12 Troy Jackson)
Livebait = 2 bass (Top Bass 3-1 Teagan Mills)
Buzzbait = 1 bass (Top Bass 2-5 Brent Jackson)
Creature = 1 bass (Top Bass 3-8 Jim Junk)
Grub = 1 bass (Top Bass 1-4 Jim Junk)

Monthly Top Bass
January
1-4 Jim Junk
February
No submissions
March
6-14 Chris Schwarz
April
4-12 Troy Jackson
May
5-7 Chris Schwarz

Top 10 Bass (* = new Top 10 all-time)
*6-14 Chris Schwarz (3/25) – new #10 all-time
5-7 Chris Schwarz (5/3)
5-4 Chris Schwarz (5/3)
4-12 Troy Jackson (4/26)
4-12 Chris Schwarz (5/3)
4-1 Jim Junk (3/7)
3-8 Jim Junk (5/16)
3-7 Jim Junk (5/29)
3-4 Jim Junk (3/3)
3-2 Brent Jackson (4/26)

Angler Weights
Chris Schwarz 22-5 (6-14,5-7,5-4,4-12)
Jim Junk 17-0 (4-1,3-8,3-7,3-4,2-12)
Troy Jackson 14-5 (4-12,2-8,2-7,2-6,2-4)
Brent Jackson 9-13 (3-2,2-12,2-5,1-10)
Teagan Mills 6-1 (3-1,3-0)
Kennedy Jackson 5-12 (1-13,1-11,1-5,0-15)
Brady Jackson 4-8 (1-5,1-2,1-1,1-0)
John Kirkemo 3-5 (1-15,1-6)
Carly Jackson 0-14 (0-14)

Other Species
Crappie 1-2 Troy Jackson

A strange year and it keeps getting stranger. All the more reason to grab a rod and reel, get some fresh air and tune out for a bit. Here’s hoping you get a chance to get away. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Several nice bass from the region for the update despite some challenging conditions. The past week included a cold front, abundant gnats, excessive aquatic vegetation and the bass spawn kicking into gear on the waters below.

Weight: 1-15
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: May 26
Weather: Bright sun, breezy
Water Temp: 71-72F
Location: Lake Storey
Lure: Senko wacky style

Weight: 1-6
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: May 26
Weather: Bright sun, breezy
Water Temp: 71-72F
Location: Lake Storey
Lure: Senko wacky style
Angler Comments: Fish were in shallow water close to shore.
Top 5 Weight: 3-5 (1-15,1-6)

Weight: 3-7
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: May 29
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Texas rigged Senko
Angler Comments: Managed this 3-7 throwing over the weeds and twitching back.
Top 5 Weight: 17-0 (4-1,3-8,3-7,3-4,2-12) culls 2-4

Weight: 2-5
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: May 30
Location: Snakeden Hollow
Lure: Buzzbait
Top 5 Weight: 9-13 (3-2,2-12,2-5,1-10)

Well done by the group of anglers and happy to see that some recently opened waters showed up in the update. It appears that the bass have missed us anglers over the last couple months. Talk to you later. Troy

Friday Flashback – May 23, 2015

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Five years ago this week I spent a full day roaming and rowing some of my strip mine stomping grounds. The combination of many public and private fishing holes produced a sizeable quantity of bass including several in the two pound range. Below are the stats and a couple notes from the original three-part fishing report posted May 27-29, 2015.

Top Bass of the day at 2-13 on a Senko wacky rig

Stats
Date: May 23, 2015
Location: Knox County strip pits (2 sites – 9 lakes)
Time: 6:55am-8:00pm (8.75 hours fishing, the rest walking/relocating)
Weather: Sunny/windy
Air Temp: 55-75F
Water Temp: 70F
Totals: 58 bass
Lures: Senko weighted wacky rig (various colors) – 35 bass, Strike King Red Eye (sexy shad) – 9 bass, Booyah Buzz Buzzbait (salt & pepper) – 8 bass, K9 Walker (Madd Shadd) – 4 bass, Mann’s Baby 1- crankbait (copper shad) – 1 bass, Rebel Zell Rowland Pop’R – 1 bass
Top Bass: 2-13 (Senko)
Top 5 Weight: 10-0 (2-13,2-1,1-15,1-11,1-8)

An old Zell Rowland signature Rebel Pop’R, probably older than some folks reading this post

Notes & Nonsense

Topwater Tactics – With the weed choked waters I did a fair amount of topwater casting by throwing a buzzbait, stickbait and popper as far as I could into open water. I’d then work it back to the edge and give a big yank to send it flying back in my direction and then reel it up out of the grass on the bank nearby. It was cool to nab a few on a K9 Walker stickbait made by HO.com reader, Frank Harvey. In addition, I caught one on a Zell Rowland Pop’R autograph model that is probably over 20 years old and likely hadn’t caught a bass for nearly as long. Gotta do what you gotta do when dealt some tough conditions.

K9 Walker, a homemade topwater bait received from a blog reader many years ago

Unlucky Bass – The 2-1 pictured below had a bad day upon making a decision to try a Senko for brunch. For starters, my equipment is a bit less than new and would not be mistaken for top dollar as my money goes elsewhere. So anyway, the bail on my spinning reel flipped open on the hookset leading me to originally think I’d busted the line. I quickly realized that wasn’t the case, found that the tough luck fish was still attached and finished battling the nice bass to the boat. Then I discovered that the fish was hooked deep and debated just clipping my jighead but was able to extract it without any noticeable damage. Upon release I placed the bass in tail first and let go only to watch the fish make a tail walking jump right into the Red Eye Shad I had hanging over the side of the boat (yes, I should know better). Well, if bass have a chin that’s where it wound up double hooked the second time. So, I snatched my rod before it went overboard, unhooked my bass again with no visible damage and re-released it (only recorded it in the log once though as that would be greedy and unethical to count it twice). I did apologize to the fish as it was the right thing to do and it swam away in a hurry, minus the leap. For its sake I actually hope it does not find my bait in the future no matter how big it grows as I feel kind of bad for its ordeal.

My apologies to this unfortunate “sorta twice caught” bass

The Shirt – This marked the final day for one of my favorite fishing shirts.  For me, fishing is rife with favorites whether it be a hat, a lure or a productive spot on the water.  Well, me and this shirt go back a ways but it now must join the collection of other “good luck” shirts that have worn thin over the years.  Perhaps someday I will pursue writing more on the specific shirt and the general topic but for now just want to say “Thanks” to the holey tatter that Julie said that she wouldn’t wash again should it show up in the laundry.  

Rain or shine the old “lucky shirt” was a winner

Five years later, I’m getting around to the “Lucky Shirt” thing with a yearlong project. It’s also time for topwater baits and a Senko wacky rig presentation as the weeds take over some waters. Hard to believe May is about to come to a close. Stay tuned for June as we’ve got a couple fish already in for next week’s Top 5 Update and I hope to include a fishing report or two in the near future. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Memorial Day weekend found a father-daughter duo prowling the banks of a local fishing hole looking to fool a few bass. Weed choked shallows and the bass spawn can make for a challenge but this angling pair managed to find a couple bass for our latest update.

Weight: 1-11
Angler: Kennedy Jackson
Date: May 24
Location: Lake Storey
Lure: Senko wacky rig
Top 5 Weight: 5-12 (1-13,1-11,1-5,0-15)

Weight: 2-12
Angler: Brent Jackson (his fishing guide holding his catch for a pic)
Date: May 24
Location: Lake Storey
Lure: Senko wacky rig
Angler Comments: They must have been ready to spawn. They were right up by the bank. Dropped the Senko in front of them and they grabbed it.
Top 5 Weight: 7-8 (3-2,2-12,1-10)

Well done, and fun to see that the younger of these family members is within one good bite of catching her dad in Top 5 weight. Hang in there, kiddo, I can relate. Your dad has had the upper hand on his older brother for most of the last 35 years. No matter, it’s all good regardless of who is catching them when it comes to family fishing. Talk to you later. Troy