Rewind 2009 – Brent

Posted on December 21, 2019December 20, 2019 by Troy Jackson

Fishing with a partner is good for a variety of reasons. There’s stuff like someone to help open a gate or load the boat as well as conversation on the road and on the water. In addition, you’ve got two lures in the water to up the odds of fooling a fish and its often wise to start with two different presentations to find what the fish want. This last point gets kind of weird when fishing with my brother though as the details indicate below.

August 15, 2009 – Spring Lake – McDonough County, IL

Length: 18.5” Weight: 3-12 Lure: Spinnerbait

This photo comes from a tag team effort with Brent on a lake I’d never fished and he’d fished for only a few frustrating dog day hours the previous day.

Excerpt from original September 5, 2009 post below along with the stats for the day.

Fishing together for the first time since July 2005 “there we were once again with Brent tossing a spinnerbait while I relied on a crankbait just as my 2005 log entry had also recorded.”

August 15, 2009 with Brent at Spring Lake
6.00 hours with 11 bass (Troy = 6 bass Brent = 5 bass)
Top 5 Weight: 16-8 (3-12,3-12,3-11,2-15,2-6)

October 13, 2019 – Snakeden Hollow – Knox County, IL

Weight: 4-5 Lure: Spinnerbait

Excerpt from original October 15, 2019 post below along with the stats for the day.

“It only took about 10 minutes before Brent got us on the board with his old reliable spinnerbait. That spinnerbait would go on to land all but one of his bass.”

October 13, 2019 with Brent at Snakeden Hollow
5.25 hours with 23 bass (Brent – 12, Troy – 11)
Top 5 Weight: 11-9 (4-5,2-1,1-15,1-10,1-10)

Brent is as good a bass fisherman as I know and I also know that most of the year he is going to come in wielding a spinnerbait. And most of the time it works. The odd part is that I can throw a similar bait and find myself unable to cash in on the bite. Just one of those fishing things that are hard to explain. Perhaps it’s touch or maybe, as Dad is known to say, “You’re not holding your mouth right.” Talk to you later. Troy

Rewind 2009 – Jayce

Posted on December 20, 2019December 20, 2019 by Troy Jackson

The next featured participant in this series just narrowly made the cut as my boy, Jayce, made his appearance back on May 28, 2009. It sure didn’t take long for the little guy to get a look at the big boys of bass fishing at barely two weeks old. Fast forward and he is presently getting it done himself.

June 12, 2009 – Fort Madison, IA – Bassmaster River Rumble

Me and my newest angler pose with Kevin VanDam’s truck and boat.

This shot comes from a family outing to watch the Bassmaster Elite Series weigh-in at Riverview Park in Fort Madison, IA. Quite a trick with a four-year old, a two-year old and their brand new, fifteen day old little brother.

Quotes from the original June 17, 2009 post:

“At various times during our journey, I felt like patting myself on the back with one hand and slapping myself upside the head with the other.”

“The spectacle for me was what I would call a ‘Wrigley Field moment.’ You can watch it on television, look at the pictures or see it in print, but being there takes your breath away every time. One of those goosebump, loss for words and can’t wipe the smile off of your face experiences; I felt like a fourth little kid in our party despite being a month away from turning forty-two.”

“I also killed some time watching Takahiro Omori (Japanese born angler and 2004 Bassmaster Classic winner) as he checked his equipment and filled his reels with fresh line as Julie was nursing Jayce (discreetly) in our car a mere fifteen feet away. How cool is that?”

July 26, 2019 – Lake Storey – Knox County, IL

So the kid I was holding in the first picture is now holding his own bass. One that he caught by selecting a lure, choosing a spot, making a cast, recognizing a bite, setting the hook, winning the battle and hauling his catch aboard. In fact, he did it four times under less than ideal dog day conditions on a challenging lake as those Lake Storey bass are a wary bunch. A proud Dad moment and from the look on Jayce’s face in this photo I believe he was also feeling pretty good about his accomplishment.

Oh, by the way, Jayce outfished me four to zero on this day, didn’t bother me a bit.

Talk to you later. Troy

Rewind 2009 – Dad

Posted on December 19, 2019December 19, 2019 by Troy Jackson

While you never quite know what social media is up to, this year’s “10 Year Challenge” kind of sounded like a good fit with an outdoor twist. So, before we wrap up 2019, here we go with a new post each day through Christmas.

First up, is Dad as he is an important reason that I am here. Physically, of course, but also for instilling an appreciation of outdoor pursuits. All these years later that outdoor introduction has led to something called “blogging.” And as we head to 2020, Dad gets to kick off the latest blog series as the lead man.

September 21, 2009 – Lake Storey – Knox County, IL

Length: 14.5” Weight: 1-10 Lure: Mann’s 4- Crankbait

This photo comes from the 2009 edition of something I used to call “Day on the Lake” which found Dad and me taking on the annual challenge of the Lake Storey fall drawdown. The concept was to document every bass with a log entry and a picture. This was bass #15 and our final catch during a seven hour day on the water.

Excerpt from original September 28, 2009 post below along with the stats for the day.

3:32 pm – Dad continues his string with the crankbait as a 14.5” (1-10) matches his largest bass of the day. Roughly another half hour on the water fails to add to our creel and we decide to call it a day.

September 21, 2009 with Dad at Lake Storey
7.00 hours with 15 bass (Dad = 8 bass Troy = 7 bass)
Top 5 Weight: 8-11 (2-10,1-10,1-10,1-9,1-4)

July 27, 2019 – Little John Conservation Club – Knox County, IL

Length: 16” Weight: 1-15 Lure: 5” Yamasenko wacky rig (smoke)

Excerpt from original July 31, 2019 post below along with the stats for the day.

Another good day on some familiar water, a spot that we first fished together over 30 years ago. Was sure glad that Dad decided to give it a go as the last time we shared time in the boat was July 8, 2017. Understandably not as nimble or durable a team as we once were but still a dynamic duo on the water.

Date: July 27, 2019 at Little John Conservation Club
4.25 hours with 29 bass (Dad – 17 bass, Troy – 12 bass)
Top 5 Weight: 9-13 (3-14,1-15,1-7,1-6,1-3)

Pretty cool, a pair of pics featuring a pair bass from a pair of trips for a pair of fishermen who have been doing it for decades longer than the 10 year scope of this project. More to come over the next several days. Talk to you later. Troy

Outdoor Gifts – Low End

Posted on December 18, 2019 by Troy Jackson

The outdoor wishlist concludes with a collection dominated by stocking stuffer items that ring up at under $20 apiece. Not surprisingly, most everything comes from my favorite shopping stop, the fishing aisle.

Bass Tacklebox 101 samples, just add open water one of these days.

Sure there are apps but I like the personalization of a handwritten fishing log (landscape tops portrait).

Too big for a stocking but perfect for cookout, concert, campout or catfishing.

There you have it, plenty to offer for the outdoor type on your list. Of course, I suspect that I will be more in tune with a snow shovel and an ice scraper than a fishing pole and a hot dog fork for a while. So goes the Midwest but at least I have a blog to get me through. Lots more to come for 2019, hope you continue to stop by. Talk to you later. Troy

Outdoor Gifts – Mid Range

Posted on December 17, 2019December 17, 2019 by Troy Jackson

Round Two of suggestions for that outdoor person on your list takes a look at items in the $20-$99 price range. I’ve broken it down into a few outdoor categories with some gift options in each.

Camping

While we still roll old school in a tent, a sleeping bag directly on the ground is not the best on a fifty-something back.

Fishing

A solid rod and reel combo fits today’s price range and don’t forget the “must haves” for the tacklebag.

General

Don’t let inclement weather hold you back when a modest investment can prevent the conditions from ruining your day.

Technology

Nowadays both of these items are encompassed by a “phone” but still cool to go retro (digital over film though for photography as I like the “do over” option).

Okay, not too tough on the piggybank with most of these items. And several are not solely limited to outdoor pursuits as they can come in handy year round, indoors or out. We wrap up our wish book tomorrow with a collection of low end items, many of which could be good stocking (or tacklebox) stuffers. Talk to you later. Troy

Outdoor Gifts – High End

Posted on December 16, 2019December 16, 2019 by Troy Jackson

Kicking off the gift list are what I consider “high dollar” items, those in excess of $100.

For each of the items featured in the above video, the range runs from right around $100 to way out of my price range. Like anything, there’s plenty of choices out there for the gift giver. It’s all about how much you wish to spend.

Today’s fishing kayaks come with a wide array of bells and whistles. But they’ll cost you. It’s your choice to pick up a $3,999 fishing kayak (yeah, really) or stick with one of the considerably less pricey base models for a few hundred bucks.

Julie and I need to get our crew back out to a campsite as it’s been a couple years. When we do, we’ll still pitch it old school via tent. Six of us can sleep in a pair of domes that maybe cost us $250 combined once upon a time.

My GoPro is a low end model but it preserves the memories just fine. No doubt it has been more than worth the cost (a gift from Julie and the kids in 2017) and I encourage fellow outdoor folks to invest if you are able. (Note: there are additional costs for editing software. I use Wondershare Filmora at $39.99 annual fee for what its worth)

A drone would be a cool addition to my outdoor blogging someday but for now the GoPro is fine for recording a personal perspective. And just for fun here’s a vote for the GoPro below.

In the end though, I’m a rather cheap outdoorsman (and in general) so it’s tough to pry too much cash out my wallet. Now there’s an idea for some blog posts…frugality. But first we continue with the next batch of gift ideas from the $20-$99 range. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on December 15, 2019December 15, 2019 by Troy Jackson

As the ice takes over area waters, we have one more bass to pass along courtesy of our Top 5 leader. It certainly takes a combination of dedication, patience and skill to get it done this time of the year. Way to go, Jim.

Weight: 3-0
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: December 9
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Rapala Clackin’ Rap
Angler Comments: Threw a jig with a craw trailer and a swim jig with a paddletail…nothing on either. Moved to the next spot and after sitting in the car and warming up started throwing the trusty clackin’ rap. After about 5 minutes felt the tap and line started moving. Set the hook and landed this very cold 3-0 for my last bass of the year.
Top 5 Weight: 24-14 (5-3,5-1,5-0,4-14,4-12)

Thanks to Jim for the submission and his interesting weapon of choice in the Rapala Clackin’ Rap. More to come on that aspect in a 2019 Top 5 wrap-up post after the first of the year. Up next is a series of outdoor gift suggestions as we head towards the big day. Talk to you later. Troy

West Lake Complex – Secrets

Posted on December 5, 2019 by Troy Jackson

The final piece of the series takes a look at the fishing secrets that come to light during a drawdown. The items or areas that can serve as fish magnets are collectively known as “structure” (or “cover”) which is comprised of several different types. Generally speaking, these types consist of wood, rock, vegetation, manmade structure and bottom contours. With a full drawdown in effect, the vegetation component is taken out of the equation for the time being. However, the rest are bared for all to see.

Wood

I break down this category of structure into specific types such as stumps, brushpiles, standing timber, logs, laydowns and my personal favorite, beaver lodges. The details, definitions and presentations that apply to such cover are posts for another time. For today, it’s simply about the scenery.

Lambach Lake – stump (foreground) and brushpiles (background)

Lake of the Hills – now that is a stump, folks

Lake of the Hills – laydown, logs and a picnic table (don’t laugh I’ve seen Dad catch a few off of those over the years)

Rock

For me, rock types consist of riprap, rockpiles and rubble. The West Lake Complex features some of each with more on the horizon via a substantial amount of shoreline improvement and stabilization. This particular improvement will come primarily through the placement of large chunk rock (aka “riprap”) along stretches of the shoreline. Such an addition will help combat deterioration and erosion of the bank caused by water, waves and weather.

Rocky banks near and far with more to come during the shoreline improvement phase of the project

Riprapped jetty shoreline leading to a rocky roadbed crossing Lake of the Hills

Manmade

Drawdowns provide an excellent opportunity to add some manmade structure. Tires, pallets and various PVC/plastic creations are popular choices.

An extensive offshore collection of tires and pallets would certainly be worth some casts

Got pallets? Actually, that business is how I earn a paycheck

Buckets loaded up with PVC pipes and concrete serve as fish attractors

Thought this old foundation was pretty cool, others listed on a map I found have apparently been silted over

Contours

The lay of the land below the surface also represents an important component of the overall fish holding structure in a body of water. Points, flats, drop-offs, humps, old creek channels and roadbeds all hold fish and each can shine during certain times of the year.

An extended flat featuring a collection of rubble and wood, dreaming of buzzbaits and summer

An old roadbed in the distance provides a hump crossing an arm of Lake of the Hills

Mid lake culverts along what was part of an old creekbed prior to the creation of Lake of the Hills

A classic collection of cover – a riprap point with several stumps, definitely want to stop here for some casts

Honestly, I could go on all day about this stuff but will call it quits for the time being. I do have my fingers crossed that I can get back out to the West Lake Complex and do a bit more in depth roaming before the lakebed gets covered in white stuff. Last time out I came prepared for a run and some limited, dry shoreline exploration. If I get back out again, I definitely plan on packing my boots for a change of pace after logging and jogging a few miles. As always, if I’m running around outdoors, I’ll talk to you sooner or later. Troy

West Lake – Tracks, Trash & Treasure

Posted on December 4, 2019December 4, 2019 by Troy Jackson

So, what exactly would one expect to find on a lakebed that hasn’t been exposed for well over forty years?

Why, tracks, trash and “treasure”, of course.

And, in that order, let’s have a look.

People feet (bare and shod), coon feet and bird feet all in one shot

Tracks

Availability, sustainability and curiosity result in a diverse band of visitors to the exposed lakebed. The pictures above and below feature a few of the footprints observed as I left my own among the collection.

My contribution to Bigfoot evidence with the large footprint crossing upper right of photo

Trash

Sadly, there is plenty of this to be observed as well, mostly in the form of cans and bottles during my walks around the expanded shorelines. I was a little late to the party though as it sounds as if I missed a few surprising items as well as some expected pieces of lost now found. Among the former group were reports of a mattress, a lawn mower and some car parts. In terms of the latter, there were cell phones, car keys and a camera. I suppose that last group of items are inevitable over time as people take to the water. Perhaps the sight of the other trash will encourage folks to pack out what they pack in or invest those few extra steps to the ample supply of trash cans. It never ceases to amaze that people can haul in full beverage containers or bags of food yet can’t haul out the much more manageable empties.

Not surprisingly this assortment was gathered near the Lake of the Hills boat ramp

Must admit to this one a few times over the years whether actually golfing or just goofing

Treasure

“Treasure” hunting for me was represented by the search for some fishing related tackle. But once again, plenty of people beat me to the punch leaving nothing salvageable behind. It was entertaining though to find some relics and grin at the mystery revealed as to what sort of snag wrested the lures from the anglers’ tackleboxes.

While I have never made a single cast in the bodies of water at West Lake Park, I sure can relate to incidentally leaving a few things behind. Personally, over the last 40 years or so on various fishing holes I have both contributed and witnessed some “donated” items. Starting, of course, with more than a few lures that managed to snag some underwater objects, both known and unknown. There’s also a fishing pole, an anchor, a University of Wyoming baseball cap, a fish basket, a shirt, a tape measure, part of an oar…you know, pretty standard stuff over the course of a fishing lifetime.

Did I mention “Bigfoot”? Strange creation found amidst the various tracks…

One more West Lake post coming your way tomorrow as we look at what I find to be the most fascinating items out there on the lakebed…”Secrets.” Talk to you later. Troy

West Lake Project – Progress

Posted on December 3, 2019December 3, 2019 by Troy Jackson

A drawdown just doesn’t happen overnight. There are considerations to take into account beyond simply opening a valve and emptying the lake. In the case of the West Lake project, the largest lake on the site, Lake of the Hills, drains into what is called Blackhawk Creek which then meanders its way to the Mississippi River. Crews targeted a drop of roughly a foot a day to eliminate any negative impacts from the influx of water into Blackhawk Creek. The remaining lakes on the site do not feature a valve system and were instead pumped into Lake of the Hills in order to drain those bodies of water.

Lambach Lake was pumped into Lake of the Hills to drain

A couple shots above of Lambach Lake from August 4 as the pumping process neared completion

I was able to get onsite four different times to observe the progress with my first stop on August 4, shortly after the drawdowns began. My other visits were on August 10, September 29 and November 29 so I was able to get a good look at the initial stages of the overall site restoration project.

A 2017 shot of Railroad Lake looking east from fishing pier

Railroad Lake from August 4, 2019 similar view as above but looking slightly northeast from fishing pier

Railroad Lake November 29, 2019 from same vantage point of the fishing pier

Railroad Lake August 4, 2019 looking roughly north

Railroad Lake November 29, 2019 same view as above

I am not sure what the winter holds in regards to further work at the site but my hope is that I can get there another time or two to have a look. Per news reports, the lakes are to remain closed during 2020. Re-stocking of the fish population and re-opening of the lakes is targeted for some point in 2021 pending the return to suitable water levels via some help from Mother Nature.