In keeping with my effort to provide a fishing report for each trip, here is the scoop on a brief hour and a half bike and hike on The Canal. The aim was more of a reconnaissance mission but if you’re going out you might as well take your fishing stuff.

A small largemouth

Stats
Date: May 10
Location: Hennepin Canal
Time: 6:10pm-7:40pm
Totals: 2 bass
Weather: Partly cloudy/calm
Lures: 5” Yamamoto Senko (pumpkin black flake) – 2 bass
Top Bass: No keepers
Top 5 Weight: No Keepers

Winning lure

Notes and Nonsense

Gathering Intel – The primary objective of this evening bike ride (with poles included) was to assess the status of this section of The Canal. In my opinion, it has been a wreck for the last two years due to lack of water. The level is controlled by a valve/gate on the downstream end, and it has remained open for quite some time. Last fall, the water was so low that the bottom was visible on nearly the entire two-mile stretch and water covered less than half the width of span. The official explanation stated that the level was dropped to knock down the abundant aquatic vegetation. To me, it is a losing battle by solely dropping the water level. In 2021, I landed a 2-13 and coupled with an 0-14 in 2023, my paltry Top 5 effort consists of two bass weighing a combined 3-11. My two small bass did not help with a boost, but I did see a pair of “keepers” along the way and the water is nearly back to normal pool. Time will tell if/when I take another shot to see if I can find some more “keepers.”

 

What’s In a Name?
Common Name: Largemouth Bass
Scientific Name: Micropterus salmoides
Taxonomy dictates a scientifically recognized genus species designation to clearly identify organisms and avoid confusion over any regional variance in a common name. As noted below on a screenshot from one of the catches, the closed jaw of a largemouth extends beyond the eye. In contrast, a smallmouth bass jaw will generally be in line with the eye. Thus, while the catches on this outing had small mouths (and every other part of their anatomy), they still qualify as largemouth bass.

Not much else to report beyond saying that the stretch was formerly reported to contain quality bass. Here’s hoping that they found somewhere to hide during the “drought” and survived the low water winters. I have two more Canal trips in the books in a quest to boost the Top 5 Weights on these sections into double digits. Stay tuned for the reports and talk to you later. Troy