Category: Top 5

Top 5 All-Time Stats

Posted on by Troy Jackson

2025 marked the twelfth year of the Top 5 project and saw seventy more bass added to the logbook. This brings the all-time total to just shy of 1,200 bass. And before we get the 2026 Top 5 kicked off, let’s look at the statistical breakdown and records from the last twelve years.

Group Totals (1195 bass)
2014 = 154
2015 = 106
2016 = 136
2017 = 79
2018 = 116
2019 = 95
2020 = 90
2021 = 92
2022 = 100
2023 = 88
2024 = 69
2025 = 70

Submissions by month
282 April
209 May
157 June
146 March
119 July
79 September
69 October
41 August
38 November
33 February
14 December
8 January

Top 10 Top 5 Monthly Weights (group total)
37-9 May 2014
29-8 June 2014
29-7 March 2016
29-2 April 2014
28-10 April 2022
28-9 October 2018
28-7 December 2016
27-14 April 2015
27-12 March 2015
27-11 July 2014

Top 5 Weights by Month (group total)
January (2018) = 13-5 (3-15, 2-7, 2-6, 2-6, 2-3)
February (2016) = 22-9 (6-7,4-15,4-10,4-1,2-8)
March (2016) = 29-7 (6-5,6-1,5-14,5-10,5-9)
April (2014) = 29-2 (8-0, 5-11, 5-10, 4-15. 4-14)
May (2014) = 37-9 (9-4, 8-10, 8-8, 6-1, 5-2)
June (2014) = 29-8 (6-11, 6-4, 5-10, 5-8, 5-7)
July (2014) = 27-11 (6-6, 6-0, 5-5, 5-0, 5-0)
August (2019) = 19-4 (4-14,4-10,4-6,2-14,2-8)
September (2019) = 24-5 (5-3,5-0,5-0,4-12,4-6)
October (2018) = 28-9 (6-3,5-14,5-10,5-10,5-4)
November (2018) = 26-1 (7-2,6-12,4-3,4-0,4-0)
December (2016) = 28-7 (7-7,6-5,5-13,4-11,4-3)

Monthly Top Bass
January
3-15 Mark Balbinot 1/27/18 Crankbait
February
6-7 Mike Overturf 2/27/16 Plastic Worm
March
7-0 Randy Sampson Sr. 3/22/15 Jig
April
8-0 Kamryn Kaesebier 4/13/14 Crankbait
May
9-4 Jake Bresson 5/23/14 Jig
June
6-11 Ty Hartlipp 6/11/14 Topwater Frog
July
6-6 Jake Bresson 7/11/14 Plastic Worm
August
6-8 Gary Le 8/16/14 Swimbait
September
6-0 Austin Chapman 9/19/15 Jig
October
7-4 Mark Balbinot 10/29/17 Jig
November
7-2 Mark Balbinot 11/23/18 Underspin
December
7-7 Mark Balbinot 12/11/16 Underspin

Public vs. Private Water
Public = 910 bass
Top Public Top 5 Weight Record and 2025 Weight
32-2 (2014)
25-1 (2025)
Private = 268 bass
Private Top 5 Weight Record and 2025 Weight
33-14 (2017)
6-11 (2025)
Undisclosed = 17 bass

Boat vs. Bank
Boat = 641 bass
Boat Top 5 Weight Record and 2025 Weight
33-14 (2017)
18-14 (2025)
Bank = 548 bass
Bank Top 5 Weight Record and 2025 Weight
40-14 (2014)
25-0 (2025)
Undisclosed = 6 bass

The Baits (44 undisclosed)
316 Plastic Worms (Top Bass 6-8 Mark Balbinot 11/20/16)
132 Lipless Crankbaits (6-3 Mark Balbinot 10/20/18) – moved up
125 Spinnerbaits (6-14 Chris Schwarz 3/25/20)
98 Chatterbaits (5-15 Jim Junk 6/22/20)
87 Crankbaits (8-0 Kamryn Kaesebier 4/13/14)
67 Jerkbaits (5-10 Ty Hartlipp 6/5/14)
66 Jigs (9-4 Jake Bresson 5/23/14)
36 Buzzbaits (5-9 Troy Jackson 4/25/17)
36 Swimbaits (8-10 Gary Le 5/4/14)
33 Topwater Frogs (6-11 Ty Hartlipp 6/11/14)
30 Creature Baits (6-15 Mark Balbinot 5/13/17) -moved u
29 Swim Jigs (6-13 Jake Bresson 4/9/15)
18 Propbaits (6-2 Jake Bresson 5/1/15)
18 Underspins (Top Bass 7-7 Mark Balbinot 12/11/16)
15 Poppers (3-1 Troy Jackson 9/25/01)
12 Tubes (Top Bass 5-0 Jake Bresson 4/28/15)
11 Grubs (Top Bass 7-0 Chris Schwarz 11/28/20)
8 Livebait (5-14 Jim Junk 7/4/14)
6 Stickbaits (6-6 Mark Balbinot 8/27/17)
5 Ultralights (3-1 Paul Kessler 10/12/17)
2 Inline Spinners (5-2 Jake Bresson 9/17/17)
1 Blade Baits (5-3 Mark Balbinot 11/16/19)

Top 10 Top 5 Bass
9-4 Jake Bresson 5/23/14 Jig
8-10 Gary Le 5/4/14 Swimbait
8-8 Jake Bresson 5/23/14 Jig
8-0 Kamryn Kaesebier 4/13/14 Crankbait
7-7 Mark Balbinot 12/11/16 Underspin
7-4 Mark Balbinot 10/29/17 Jig
7-2 Mark Balbinot 11/23/18 Underspin
7-0 Randy Sampson Sr. 3/22/15 Jig
7-0 Chris Schwarz 11/28/20 Grub
6-15 Mark Balbinot 5/13/17 Creature Bait

The 20-Pound Club * = 2025 entry
33-14 Mark Balbinot 2017 (7-4,6-15,6-13,6-8,6-6)
32-13 Jake Bresson 2014 (9-4, 8-8, 6-6, 4-10, 4-1)
32-13 Mark Balbinot 2016 (7-7,6-8,6-5,6-5,6-4)
32-0 Gary Le 2014 (8-10,6-8,5-12,5-10, 5-8)
31-9 Mark Balbinot 2018 (7-2,6-12,6-3,5-14,5-10)
30-5 Chris Schwarz 2020 (7-0,6-14,5-12,5-7,5-4)
29-7 Austin Chapman 2015 (6-4,6-2,6-0,5-14,5-3)
27-13 Jim Junk 2022 (6-9,6-0,5-12,5-1,4-7)
27-12 Jake Bresson 2015 (6-13,6-2,5-5,5-0,4-8)
27-6 Randy Sampson Sr 2015 (7-0,6-1,4-13,4-12,4-12)
27-6 Jake Bresson 2016 (6-3,5-13,5-4,5-2,5-0)
26-13 Troy Jackson 2017 (6-2,5-11,5-9,5-0,4-7)
26-4 Austin Chapman 2016 (5-14,5-10,5-2,4-14,4-12)
26-1 Brice Wangler 2014 (5-11, 5-5, 5-2, 5-0, 4-15)
26-0 Jim Junk 2021 (6-0,5-5,5-3,5-2,4-6)
25-13 Jim Junk 2020 (5-15,5-5,4-15,4-14,4-12)
25-9 Jim Junk 2023 (5-9,5-5,5-1,4-14,4-12)
25-8 Brice Wangler 2015 (5-7,5-4,5-2,4-14,4-13)
25-4 Mark Balbinot 2019 (5-5,5-3,5-1,4-14,4-13)
24-14 Ty Hartlipp 2014 (6-11, 5-10, 5-5, 4-0, 3-4)
24-14 Jim Junk 2019 (5-3,5-1,5-0,4-14,4-12)
24-9 Terry Isbell 2014 (5-8,5-4,5-2,4-8,4-3)
*24-9 Jim Junk 2025 (5-7,4-15,4-15,4-13,4-7)
23-12 Jake Bresson 2017 (5-4,5-2,5-2,4-3,4-1)
23-11 Randy Sampson Sr. 2017 (6-0,4-14,4-12,4-11,3-6)
23-8 Jim Junk 2018 (5-4,5-2,4-9,4-5,4-4)
22-15 Adam Bean 2015 (5-13,4-9,4-6,4-2,4-1)
22-13 Mike Mooney 2014 (6-4, 5-7, 4-3, 3-9, 3-6)
22-12 Troy Jackson 2015 (5-13,4-13,4-10,3-12,3-12)
21-8 Randy Sampson Sr. 2016 (5-12,5-8,4-11,3-1,2-8)
21-10 Troy Jackson (5-3,4-10,4-2,4-1,3-10)
21-7 Brice Wangler 2016 (4-8,4-7,4-4,4-2,4-2)
21-3 Troy Jackson 2016 (5-9,5-4,3-9,3-7,3-6)
20-15 Chris Schwarz 2018 (4-11,4-11,4-8,4-0,3-1)
20-14 Troy Jackson 2014 (4-13, 4-6, 4-2, 4-1, 3-8)
20-12 Chris Schwarz 2019 (5-3,5-0,3-11,3-10,3-4)
*20-11 Troy Jackson 2025 (4-14,4-14,3-13,3-12,3-6)
20-9 Austin Chapman 2014 (4-15, 4-4,4-0,3-13,3-9)
20-1 Bruce Zilkowski 2014 (4-11,4-3,4-0,3-12,3-7)
20-0 Troy Jackson 2021 (4-10,4-4,4-3,3-9,3-6)

And just for fun…
All-Time Weights (60-pound minimum “career” mark)
(Note: not all anglers have participated each year)
237-6 Troy Jackson
(20-14,22-12,21-3,26-13,15-9,14-4,18-12,20-0,18-9,21-10,16-5,20-11)
236-10 Jim Junk
(11-7,16-5,13-7,23-8,24-14,25-13,26-0,27-13,25-9,17-5,24-9)
184-7 Brent Jackson
(18-7,6-10,13-2,10-2,19-2,13-7,13-3,18-11,18-9,19-3,17-14,16-1)
123-8 Mark Balbinot
(33-14,32-13,31-9,25-4)
111-11 Jake Bresson
(32-13,27-12,27-6,23-12)
76-4 Austin Chapman
(20-9,29-7,26-4)
73-0 Brice Wangler
(26-1,25-8,21-7)
72-15 Bruce Zilkowski
(20-1,17-0,17-14,18-0)
72-10 Randy Sampson, Sr.
(27-6,21-8,23-12)
72-0 Chris Schwarz
(20-15,20-12,30-5)
66-12 Paul Kessler
(18-6,17-6,16-6,14-10)
66-0 John Kirkemo
(10-8,6-14,8-0,11-14,7-2,10-9,11-1)

Okay, now that we are caught up on the stats through 2025, feel free to send in those 2026 fish as we are all set to kick off year number thirteen. But that doesn’t mean that the 2025 recaps are wrapped up quite yet. I’ve been slacking on blogging and still have a batch of stats and some video to post from last year. My water is locked up but open water should be back in less than five weeks, so I’d better get on the ball before the catching starts for 2026. Talk to you later. Troy

2025 Top 5 Results

Posted on by Troy Jackson

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

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Thanks to our South Carolina angler, we get at least one more Top 5 Update as we hit the final days of 2025. Read on for the scoop on our seventieth bass entry of the year as John Kirkemo posts another fine spotted bass.

Weight: 1-15
Angler: John Kirkemo
Date: December 26 (time on the water 12:50pm-3:15pm)
Weather: Mostly cloudy, calm wind, air temp low 60s
Water Temp: 58F
Location: Lake Keowee along the Port Santorini subdivision in Seneca, SC
Lure: Black and silver 3.5” shallow running Rapala
Angler Comments: Spotted bass were feeding on the surface in open water, but it still took me two hours of trolling before I finally hooked and landed this one. I had no other hits.
Top 5 Weight: 11-1 (2-8,2-8,2-4,1-15,1-14) culls 1-13

Way to go John, and kudos for sticking it out and finding a quality bite. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and stay tuned as the final results of the 2025 Top 5 project will be posted in early January followed by some further 2025 recaps. Talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Stats

Posted on by Troy Jackson

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

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

I get a significant boost courtesy of my largest Lake Storey bass of all time. The added significance of the boost is that it pushes me past the coveted twenty-pound mark for the year.

Weight: 4-14 (20.5″)
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: October 12
Weather: Partly cloudy/very windy, 75F
Water Temp: 68F
Location: Lake Storey
Lure: War Eagle Spinnerbait (chartreuse/white)
Structure: Stump/logs
Angler Comments: My final catch of a productive day ended up being the Top Bass of the day and equaled my Top Bass of the year.
Top 5 Weight: 20-11 (4-14,4-14,3-13,3-12,3-6) culls a 3-6

Not sure how much fishing remains for me this year as my annual goal is a November bass before putting the gear away. Hard to believe, but November isn’t very far away. Still trying to catch up on two Lake Storey reports and another from The Canal. Stay tuned and talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

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

Top 5 Stats

Posted on by Troy Jackson

It has been a lean couple of months in terms of adding any bass to our quest. Plenty of bass have been landed but it generally gets tougher to boost your weight as the year progresses. At this time of the year, it often takes a darn good fish to knock the others out of your creel. Read on to see where we stand as we head into the home stretch.

Bass Totals (largemouth and spotted)

2025 Totals
March = 10 bass
April = 16 bass
May = 22 bass
June = 5 bass
July = 11 bass
August = 0 bass
September = 3 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 = 7-11 (3-6,2-8,1-13)

Boat vs. Bank
Boat = 33 bass
Bank = 34 bass

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

Public vs. Private
Public = 65 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)
Jerkbait = 11 bass (Top Bass 2-8 John Kirkemo)
Chatterbait = 9 bass (Top Bass 4-14 Chatterbait)
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)
Spinnerbait = 2 bass (Top Bass 3-6 Troy 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
3-6 Troy Jackson

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 18-12 (4-14,3-13,3-6,3-6,3-5)
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

Walleye
Brent Jackson 1-6 (1-6)

Don’t put those poles away quite yet as the fall bite can produce some quality fish. Good luck and talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

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

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

It’s been over a month since the last Top 5 Update. We’ve been catching fish but nothing to boost our totals. A Lake Storey trip last week produced a quality fish to bump me up a couple of ounces as noted below.

Weight: 3-6
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: September 8
Weather: Sunny/breezy
Water Temp: 71F
Location: Lake Storey
Lure: War Eagle Spinnerbait (chartreuse/white)
Structure: Tree/logs
Angler Comments: An old faithful spot on the lake came through with a quality bite. It is a spot that we’ve named “The Most Fished Tree” for short. Perhaps I will relate the rest of the story about the name in the full report on this trip later this week.
Top 5 Weight: 18-12 (4-14,3-13,3-6,3-6,3-5) culls a 3-4

I always like to take a shot at Lake Storey as fishing heads into the home stretch and so far so good with a pair of trips. I still need to catch up on the full report for the September outing and I am currently in the process of trying my luck again. Stay tuned and talk to you later. Troy

Top 5 Stats

Posted on by Troy Jackson

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