2025 Top 5 Champ Jim Junk with a a strip mine largemouth bass

Jim Junk returns to the top of the Top 5 after a runner-up finish the previous year. This marks Jim’s fourth title in the last five years as he racks up another batch of impressive catches from his public strip pit stomping grounds. Five anglers posted a total of 70 bass along with a couple additions of other species during a productive year on the water. Read on for all the stats from our twelfth year of the Top 5 project.

Bass Totals (largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted)

Angler Weights
Jim Junk 24-9 (5-7,4-15,4-15,4-13,4-7)
Troy Jackson 20-11 (4-14,4-14,3-13,3-12,3-6)
Brent Jackson 16-1 (4-10,3-8,3-1,2-8,2-6)
John Kirkemo 11-1 (2-8,2-8,2-4,1-15,1-14)
Carly Jackson 1-2 (1-2)

2025 Totals
March = 10 bass
April = 16 bass
May = 22 bass
June = 5 bass
July = 11 bass
August = 0 bass
September = 4 bass
October = 1 bass
November = 0 bass
December = 1 bass

Brent Jackson with a strip mine smallmouth

Top 5 Weight by Month (as a group)
March = 11-3 (2-15,2-8,1-15,1-15,1-14)
April = 18-9 (4-14,4-10,3-13,2-14,2-6)
May = 22-9 (5-7,4-15,4-7,3-15,3-13)
June = 16-3 (4-0,3-9,3-4,2-11,2-11)
July = 19-15 (4-15,4-13,3-8,3-6,3-5)
August = no submissions
September = 11-7 (3-12,3-6,2-8,1-13)
October = 4-14 (4-14)
November = no submissions
December = 1-15 (1-15)

Boat vs. Bank
Boat = 36 bass
Bank = 34 bass

Boat vs. Bank Weight
Boat = 18-14 (4-14,3-12,3-8,3-6,3-6)
Bank = 25-0 (5-7,4-15,4-15,4-14,4-13)

John Kirkemo with a South Carolina spotted bass

Public vs. Private
Public = 68 bass
Private = 2 bass

Public vs. Private Top 5 Weight
Public = 25-1 (5-7,4-15,4-15,4-14,4-14)
Private = 6-11 (3-13,2-14)

The Baits
Plastic Worm = 16 bass (Top Bass 4-15 Jim Junk)
Jerkbait = 12 bass (Top Bass 2-8 John Kirkemo)
Frog = 11 bass (Top Bass 3-6 Troy Jackson)
Chatterbait = 9 bass (Top Bass 4-14 Troy Jackson)
Lipless Crankbait = 8 bass (Top Bass 4-10 Brent Jackson)
Underspin = 4 bass (Top Bass 5-7 Jim Junk)
Spinnerbait = 3 bass (Top Bass 4-14 Troy Jackson)
Swimbait = 3 bass (Top Bass 4-13 Jim Junk)
Popper = 2 bass (Top Bass 2-4 Brent Jackson)
Grub = 1 bass (Top Bass 2-2 Troy Jackson)
Propbait = 1 bass (Top Bass 3-13 Troy Jackson)

Carly Jackson with a Hennepin Canal largemouth bass

Monthly Top Bass
March
2-15 Jim Junk
April
4-14 Troy Jackson
May
5-7 Jim Junk
June
4-0 Jim Junk
July
4-15 Jim Junk
August
No Submissions
September
3-12 Troy Jackson
October
4-14 Troy Jackson
November
No submissions
December
1-15 John Kirkemo

Troy Jackson with a Lake Storey largemouth bass

2025 Top 10 Bass
5-7 Jim Junk 5/17
4-15 Jim Junk 5/25
4-15 Jim Junk 7/19
4-14 Troy Jackson 4/19
4-14 Troy Jackson 10/12
4-13 Jim Junk 7/10
4-10 Brent Jackson 4/6
4-7 Jim Junk 5/30
4-0 Jim Junk 6/7
3-15 Jim Junk 5/2

Other Species

Channel Catfish
Brent Jackson 3-4 (3-4)

Walleye
Brent Jackson 1-6 (1-6)

Stay tuned for a follow-up post that tracks the all-time stats covering the twelve years that we have pursued a Top 5. Talk to you later. Troy

Only one bass was added to our list in October, but it was a good one as it represented my largest Lake Storey bass of all time. It also tied for my Top Bass of 2025 and provided the boost that I needed to reach the coveted twenty-pound mark for the year. So, as another month begins, here are the latest cumulative stats for 2025.

2025 Totals
March = 10 bass
April = 16 bass
May = 22 bass
June = 5 bass
July = 11 bass
August = 0 bass
September = 4 bass
October = 1 bass

Top 5 Weight by Month
March = 11-3 (2-15,2-8,1-15,1-15,1-14)
April = 18-9 (4-14,4-10,3-13,2-14,2-6)
May = 22-9 (5-7,4-15,4-7,3-15,3-13)
June = 16-3 (4-0,3-9,3-4,2-11,2-11)
July = 19-15 (4-15,4-13,3-8,3-6,3-5)
August = no submissions
September = 11-7 (3-12,3-6,2-8,1-13)
October = 4-14 (4-14)

Boat vs. Bank
Boat = 35 bass
Bank = 34 bass

Boat vs. Bank Weight
Boat = 18-14 (4-14,3-12,3-8,3-6,3-6)
Bank = 25-0 (5-7,4-15,4-15,4-14,4-13)

Public vs. Private
Public = 67 bass
Private = 2 bass

Public vs. Private Top 5 Weight
Public = 25-1 (5-7,4-15,4-15,4-14,4-14)
Private = 6-11 (3-13,2-14)

The Baits
Plastic Worm = 16 bass (Top Bass 4-15 Jim Junk)
Frog = 11 bass (Top Bass 3-6 Troy Jackson)
Jerkbait = 11 bass (Top Bass 2-8 John Kirkemo)
Chatterbait = 9 bass (Top Bass 4-14 Troy Jackson)
Lipless Crankbait = 8 bass (Top Bass 4-10 Brent Jackson)
Underspin = 4 bass (Top Bass 5-7 Jim Junk)
Spinnerbait = 3 bass (Top Bass 4-14 Troy Jackson)
Swimbait = 3 bass (Top Bass 4-13 Jim Junk)
Popper = 2 bass (Top Bass 2-4 Brent Jackson)
Grub = 1 bass (Top Bass 2-2 Troy Jackson)
Propbait = 1 bass (Top Bass 3-13 Troy Jackson)

Monthly Top Bass
March
2-15 Jim Junk
April
4-14 Troy Jackson
May
5-7 Jim Junk
June
4-0 Jim Junk
July
4-15 Jim Junk
August
No Submissions
September
3-12 Troy Jackson
October
4-14 Troy Jackson

2025 Top 10 Bass
5-7 Jim Junk 5/17
4-15 Jim Junk 5/25
4-15 Jim Junk 7/19
4-14 Troy Jackson 4/19
4-14 Troy Jackson 10/12
4-13 Jim Junk 7/10
4-10 Brent Jackson 4/6
4-7 Jim Junk 5/30
4-0 Jim Junk 6/7
3-15 Jim Junk 5/2

Angler Weights
Jim Junk 24-9 (5-7,4-15,4-15,4-13,4-7)
Troy Jackson 20-11 (4-14,4-14,3-13,3-12,3-6)
Brent Jackson 16-1 (4-10,3-8.,3-1,2-8,2-6)
John Kirkemo 10-15 (2-8,2-8,2-4,1-14,1-13)
Carly Jackson 1-2 (1-2)

Other Species

Channel Catfish
Brent Jackson 3-4 (3-4)

Walleye
Brent Jackson 1-6 (1-6)

We are in the home stretch of another year, and things get lean as far as new submissions for most of our anglers. However, we do have a southeastern fisherman who is still experiencing favorable weather and water temperatures that may allow for a few more casts. And I am looking for a November bass before I call it a year. Maybe we can find another “good one.” I also have one late October trip to report from The Canal so stay tuned and talk to you later. Troy

Brent’s surprise catch adds another species to our 2025 Top 5 list, and I edge a bit closer to the coveted twenty-pound mark with a quality bass.

Channel Catfish
Weight: 3-4
Angler: Brent Jackson
Date: September 22
Weather: Partly cloudy/windy
Water Temp: 74F
Location: Lake Storey
Lure: Spinnerbait (green/white)
Structure: Point
Top 5 Weight: 3-4 (3-4)

Weight: 3-12 (20.5″)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: September 29
Weather: Sunny/calm
Water Temp: 73F
Location: Lake Storey
Lure: Strike King Red Eye Shad (sexy shad)
Structure: Rockpile
Angler Comments: Rocks have been a winner at Lake Storey this year and a large rockpile came through with this quality fish.
Top 5 Weight: 19-3 (4-14,3-13,3-12,3-6,3-6) culls a 3-5

Hopefully there are a few more submissions to come as we head into the home stretch of 2025 fishing. Stay tuned for the latest Lake Storey fishing report coming later this week. Talk to you later. Troy

Our South Carolina angler is back in business with a pair of spotted bass submissions as we head for fall.

Spotted Bass
Weight: 1-13
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: September 16 (time on the water 8:00am-11:30am)
Weather: Sun with clouds at times, little if any wind, air temperature high 70s
Water Temp: 83F
Location: Lake Keowee, near South Cove County Park, Seneca water filtration plant and the Port Santorini subdivision – Seneca, SC
Lure: Black and silver 3.5” shallow running Rapala
Angler Comments: Lake level down somewhat. Began the trip casting to shoreline structure with the Rapala and a bubblegum trick worm. Had follows but no hits. Observed frequent surface feeding in open water by spotted bass so began trolling. Caught bass trolling the Rapala close to the shore in 10-15’ of water. Two fisherman landed three bass, but only this fish weighed over a pound. Lost a good-sized fish that might have been over two pounds.

Spotted Bass
Weight: 2-8
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: September 19 (time on the water 4:45pm-7:30pm)
Weather: Sun with clouds, calm wind, air temperature low 80s
Water Temp: 83F
Location: Lake Keowee in the vicinity of the Port Santorini subdivision – Seneca, SC
Lure: Black and silver 3.5” shallow running Rapala
Angler Comments: This fish hit while casting to downed shoreline timber not far from the Port Santorini boat ramp.
Top 5 Weight: 10-15 (2-8,2-8,2-4,1-14,1-13) culls 1-10 and 1-6

Good to see John back on the water as the summer heat in the southeast looks to have subsided. And way to go on the boost into double digits. Talk to you later. Troy

Eleven more bass in the Top 5 log and time for an update as we begin a new month.

Bass Totals (largemouth and spotted)

2025 Totals
March = 10 bass
April = 16 bass
May = 22 bass
June = 5 bass
July = 11 bass

Top 5 Weight by Month
March = 11-3 (2-15,2-8,1-15,1-15,1-14)
April = 18-9 (4-14,4-10,3-13,2-14,2-6)
May = 22-9 (5-7,4-15,4-7,3-15,3-13)
June = 16-3 (4-0,3-9,3-4,2-11,2-11)
July = 19-15 (4-15,4-13,3-8,3-6,3-5)

Boat vs. Bank
Boat = 30 bass
Bank = 34 bass

Boat vs. Bank Weight
Boat = 16-8 (3-8,3-6,3-5.3-4,3-1)
Bank = 25-0 (5-7,4-15,4-15,4-14,4-13)

Public vs. Private
Public = 62 bass
Private = 2 bass

Public vs. Private Top 5 Weight
Public = 25-0 (5-7,4-15,4-15,4-14,4-13)
Private = 6-11 (3-13,2-14)

The Baits
Plastic Worm = 16 bass (Top Bass 4-15 Jim Junk)
Frog = 11 bass (Top Bass 3-6 Troy Jackson)
Chatterbait = 9 bass (Top Bass 4-14 Chatterbait)
Jerkbait = 9 bass (Top Bass 2-8 John Kirkemo)
Lipless Crankbait = 7 bass (Top Bass 4-10 Brent Jackson)
Underspin = 4 bass (Top Bass 5-7 Jim Junk)
Swimbait = 3 bass (Top Bass 4-13 Jim Junk)
Popper = 2 bass (Top Bass 2-4 Brent Jackson)
Grub = 1 bass (Top Bass 2-2 Troy Jackson)
Propbait = 1 bass (Top Bass 3-13 Troy Jackson)
Spinnerbait = 1 bass (Top Bass 1-8 Troy Jackson)

Monthly Top Bass
March
2-15 Jim Junk
April
4-14 Troy Jackson
May
5-7 Jim Junk
June
4-0 Jim Junk
July
4-15 Jim Junk

2024 Top 10 Bass
5-7 Jim Junk 5/17
4-15 Jim Junk 5/25
4-15 Jim Junk 7/19
4-14 Troy Jackson 4/19
4-13 Jim Junk 7/10
4-10 Brent Jackson 4/6
4-7 Jim Junk 5/30
4-0 Jim Junk 6/7
3-15 Jim Junk 5/2
3-13 Jim Junk 4/6
3-13 Troy Jackson 5/16

Angler Weights
Jim Junk 24-9 (5-7,4-15,4-15,4-13,4-7)
Troy Jackson 18-10 (4-14,3-13,3-6,3-5,3-4)
Brent Jackson 16-1 (4-10,3-8.,3-1,2-8,2-6)
John Kirkemo 9-10 (2-8,2-4,1-14,1-10,1-6)
Carly Jackson 1-2 (1-2)

Other Species

Walleye
Brent Jackson 1-6 (1-6)

Good luck if you get out there and stay tuned for another strip mine report and a batch of Top 5 Trip Tunes. Talk to you later. Troy