Quite the update today as all four of our current participants contribute submissions. As an added wrinkle we also have three members of the black bass genus in the batch with largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass.

Weight: 3-15
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: May 2
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Underspin

Weight: 2-11
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: May 2
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Underspin

Weight: 2-14
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: May 17
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Underspin

Weight: 5-7
Angler: Jim Junk
Date: May 17
Location: Banner Marsh
Lure: Underspin
Top 5 Weight: 19-0 (5-7,3-15,3-13,2-15,2-14) culls 2-14

Fish: Spotted Bass
Weight: 1-6
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: May 16, 2025
Time on the water: 2 p.m. – 4:30 pm.
Weather: Overcast sky with intermittent sun, light variable wind, air temperature 80s
Water Temperature: 75 degrees
Location: Lake Keowee around South Cove County Park, Seneca Water Filter Plant and the Port Santorini subdivision, Seneca, SC
Lure: Black and silver 3 ½ inch shallow running Rapala
Comments: Began the trip casting to shoreline structure with the Rapala and a homemade dice bait. Caught a decent bluegill on the dice bait which was the first fish of any kind caught by me on that lure (see pics below). No other fish were caught on the dice bait, but I continued to get light taps on it leading me to believe it is more of a panfish bait. Caught the bass trolling the Rapala close to shore in 10 –15 feet of water.
Top 5 Weight: 9-10 (2-8,2-4,1-14,1-10,1-6) culls 1-4

Species: Smallmouth Bass
Weight: 2-4
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: May 18
Weather: Sunny/breezy
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Mann’s Chug N’ Spit Popper
Top 5 Weight: 13-8 (4-10,2-6,2-4,2-3,2-1) culls 1-15

Weight: 2-4 (17”)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: May 15
Weather: Sunny/very windy
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Spro Flappin’ Frog (natural red)
Structure: Weed edge/drop
Angler Comments: Bright, sunny skies and clear, deep water are not the prime recipe for frog fishing but it sure was effective on this day in pulling bass out of the shoreline weed beds.

Weight: 3-13 (20”)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: May 16
Weather: Sunny/very windy
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Whopper Plopper 110 (bone)
Structure: Windblown point
Angler Comments: My first bite of the day on this lake was a good one and I thought I was in for a stellar afternoon fishing banks getting pounded by the wind. Well, I caught plenty more fish but nothing of any size.

Weight: 2-2 (17”)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: May 18
Weather: Sunny/breezy
Location: Knox County public strip pit
Lure: Lunker Hunt Finesse Swimbait (perfect pumpkin)
Structure: Open
Angler Comments: I had not fished at this lake for fourteen years and now I know why as bank access was terrible. I pondered this being my farewell for the spot, but then I caught a decent fish.
Top 5 Weight: 15-7 (4-14,3-13,2-6,2-4,2-2) culls 1-15,1-15 and 1-11

Now that’s what we’re talking about. Keep up the good work. Talk to you later. Troy