The Canal offers dozens of potential spots so it can be tough to decide on a destination when I get a chance to hit the water. Things like the amount of time available to fish, the time of year, and the urge to explore are factors that can influence my decision. On this outing, I had about a three-hour window with drive included so a spot close to home was the first item to consider. Beyond that, I had four other factors that came into play. Read on for those considerations and the results of my choice.
11:06am – First bass at 1-1 (13″) on a chatterbait
Stats
Date: April 27
Location: Hennepin Canal
Time: 10:20am-12:20pm
Totals: 2 bass
Weather: Sunny/breezy
Water temperature: Not available
Lures: Z-Man Chatterbait (sexy shad) with a Zoom Z Swimbait trailer (electric blue chartreuse) – 2 bass
Top Bass: 1-2
Top 2 Weight (only two bass at 12” or better): 2-3
Winning Lure
Notes and Nonsense
Everyone knows it’s windy, every single day that I get to fish
Factor One: Wind – The wind has been brutal this year and this day was no different. For a guy rowing around in an eight-foot johnboat, it can be a source of frustration. I chose this stretch of The Canal as it provided substantial wind break for wind from the south southwest. My choice was a winner as I barely noticed the wind other than one short stretch where the cover on the southern bank grew sparse. The wind did shift to more directly from the west at the end of the trip and was beneficial in heading back to the lot. In fact, the wind gusts exceeded the modest canal current and actually pushed me upstream.
Subsurface weeds are abundant and will soon take over much of the surface of this pool
Factor Two: Weeds – By mid-May, this stretch will be so choked with weeds that it is a chore to even row a boat through the surface mats. Therefore, I figured that if I was going to get to it before the weeds took over, this was a good opportunity. In addition, lure presentation is pretty much limited to topwater frogs once the aquatic vegetation takes hold. Frogs are an exciting presentation, but I don’t like to put all my eggs in one basket as would be the case for most of this stretch of water in a couple of weeks.
A look at the less than impressive all-time Top 5 for this pool
Factor Three: Weight – In previous posts, I have noted that a goal is to post a Top 5 for each pool on The Canal. Expanding on that goal is striving to push that Top 5 mark to double digits. For the stretch I chose, I had already established a Top 5 mark during a pair of 2022 visits (May 1 and July 13). However, that Top 5 weight of only 6-8 left much to be desired. I decided that a return visit was the ticket to find the bites needed for the three and a half pounds required to reach the ten-pound goal. Not even close though as I could not muster a bite to boost my weight at all.
Worth a shot but no luck, won’t be long though…
Factor Four: Topwater – Shallow water, warming weather, and emerging vegetation had me looking to get my first topwater bass of 2024 in the log. By mid-April, topwater offerings begin to come into play and with the shallow waters of The Canal, those bass are often ahead of schedule for such a bite. In fact, on my April 15 outing I had spoken to a couple of anglers in a boat who noted a few topwater catches and stated that the water was “really warm.” They didn’t specify how warm it was, but the feedback prompted me to tie on a Whopper Plopper for this trip. Apparently, the bass on this stretch did not get the memo as I got zero response. However, the lack of success will not discourage me as I know it is just a matter of time.
11:50am – Second bass at 1-2 (14.5″) on a chatterbait
In the end, I was disappointed in my results but not in my reasons for selecting my destination. As I often say, “That’s fishing.” The stretches that connect to this spot have quality fish, but they have yet to show in my three visits to this area. I am torn on whether it is worth another visit this year. On one hand, I have a bit of a chip on my shoulder. On the other hand, I have several uncharted stretches on my list in need of an initial Top 5. Stay tuned and talk to you later. Troy
Hey Troy – thanks for posting your progress & info! I was actually out in the canal about a week ago, and I too was looking for a topwater bite… no such luck. I met a guy at the ramp that fished close to where I was at – his depth finder read 58° which seemed odd to me – because the water doesn’t FEEL that cold still. I checked water temp at a nearby city lake yesterday and it read 72° – granted, there is a large super-shallow area there that could warm up really fast, but a 14 degree difference seems crazy to me. I hope to do a bit more research soon – but thanks again for sharing the info! Best – AJ
Yes, that does seem odd. I do not have a temp gauge, I usually put my hand in the water and my brain says, “It’s warm or it’s cold.” I was out today (May 4) and my reading was “warm” but I could still not muster a bite on either a buzzbait or Whopper Plopper. I did get one on a Spro Frog but it was my lone topwater strike. In contrast, my brother was down on a Knox County public strip pit and did well with a popper (an old Mann’s Chug and Spit). As I often say, “That’s fishing.”
UPDATE: was able to drop a temp gauge in last week and I was getting 66° all over the place in the canal. So for whatever reason, that city lake I mentioned got really warm really fast… you ever see any spawners in the canal? I leave spawning fish along, but with all of the muck and thick weeds I don’t even know where they would make beds in there?
Have a great weekend!
Thanks for the update. I figured the water temp had to be above 58 degrees so your data is more like it. As far as spotting spawners, I often fish out of my little eight foot johnboat and don’t have a real good perspective to see many beds. I have seen a few when hiking or biking. As early as the April 15 hike, I saw two different bass exhibiting spawning behavior. Sitting in the shallows, would not even look at a Senko wacky rig, would spook off and return shortly to cruising the same small area. I may toss a Senko at them but otherwise leave them alone if they show no interest. I do not camp on them for extended periods of time preferring to move on to other bass that are in a different stage.
You bet my man. I agree, I prefer to leave the spawners alone so they can focus on what they are doing. I will usually throw once or twice at them because… well, because I am a weak sinner and I cannot help myself! But I definitely don’t try to tick them off for 30 minutes. That isn’t fishing it’s shooting fish in a barrel.
I think I will pop over to the canal tomorrow and check it out again. I am anxious to get back and I hope the weather holds out, but I am even more anxious to fish that Sue And Wes Dixon Waterfowl Refuge. I think that’s what it’s called… the DNR told me to poke around in there after he stopped me for the third time last year to check my papers. I wonder what that place is like?
Thanks man – tight lines!
Sue and Wes Dixon (Hennepin-Hopper) has intrigued me for a number of years. I did a drive by last summer as I explored The Canal to the east. The bass were finicky on The Canal, and it was hot, bright, and sunny so I shifted from casting to exploring. The refuge was a vast sea of lily pads with a lengthy channel cut from the ramp to the ditches that contained open water. I have seen many pictures of quality bass, pike, and muskie but it would be a long row in my boat and if there is much wind it gets a little wild. Had a couple sketchy moments down at The Emiquon Preserve many years ago with the wind. In those days, I did have access to a larger johnboat which was safer but I no longer have that use. I was going to take one of my boys to Hennepin-Hopper a few years ago and play hooky on his birthday in late May but the weather turned ugly. I had even bought leaders to fend off losing lures to the toothy residents. Anyway, it is on my wish list but an all-day investment if I ever do so being a bit of a drive. Certainly looks worth a shot from numerous internet reports I have seen over the years and sounds like the premier pike fishery in the state. Don’t wait too long though as nothing lasts forever. Emiquon got compromised by carp infestation and non-fishing related management decisions. Hennepin-Hopper has also had a complete rehabilitation due to carp prior to its present status. Sooner or later, I suspect it will happen again. Nature does its thing.
You bet my man. I agree, I prefer to leave the spawners alone so they can focus on what they are doing. I will usually throw once or twice at them because… well, because I am a weak sinner and I cannot help myself! But I definitely don’t try to tick them off for 30 minutes. That isn’t fishing it’s shooting fish in a barrel.
I think I will pop over to the canal tomorrow and check it out again. I am anxious to get back and I hope the weather holds out, but I am even more anxious to fish that Sue And Wes Dixon Waterfowl Refuge. I think that’s what it’s called… the DNR told me to poke around in there after he stopped me for the third time last year to check my papers. I wonder what that place is like?
Thanks man – tight lines!