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The past few seasons it’s been season outdoing the last. Knowledge base on top of knowledge base. Building on some great info from this site and time on the water. I’m anticipating and looking forward to even better results with more citation fish. Anyway that’s the game plan.

Last year was the season of fishing TINY. Thin UL Lines loaded on tiny 50 series reels and light UL rods tossing tiny baits in front of fish targets…quantities of quality panfish and trophy SMB. Tossed the baits into thick cover with reckless abandon. Tiny presentations under slip bobbers thrown next to thick weed slop and weed pockets. Mid day fishing out of the kayak in less than two feet of water and tagging quality fish. Never really had another fishing boat come close to me fishing. it was like i had the lake to myself. looking forward to making some more good memories in the upcoming season.

Looking forward to any hints suggestions or comments from the BBG membership… sharing is the best way to learn and progress!

hope everyone a successful "2016 Open Water Season"

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its amazing how quickly fall is settling in... 55degs for a high today!

47 here today, maybe high of 52, leaves are starting to turn.

Great P-seeds the other day, Slip!

What is the fishing app do you have on your phone? My son does not have any electronics right now and would like something for his smart phone. Thanks.

ohh the fishing app i use for  lunar timings, weather and gps is call "Fishing Points" ... its great!

Thanks Kelly!..on my computer I use HTML language to write my logs and post the pictures as well as the video on a program called Microsoft Expression Web then copy it into BBG web site using their HTML button. It’s an extra step but I like the way the fonts look and I have control over it. It looks different then everyone elses so I can quickly scan everyones posts and pictures for my comments… I like to comment on everyone’s discussions and pictures.

On the Android phone I use fast note app and can use the voice to text button so my voice is converted to text and no typing… its easy on my sore arms and hands. Then copy the text to the bbg right on my phone or tablet.

The P.Seed was an awesome catch and my personal best… tagged him Long Casting the 2” Power Minnow… then the next two fish were lunkers in the 90% plus Master Angler category. With my sonar we found a small stump field surrounded by a weed bed on a muddy flat. Went back there the other day and I tagged a 13” B.Crappie over  the wood and weeds as well as the rest of the school. It’s a hotspot. Marked a waypoint on it and will go back there for ice fishing . it should produce for us.

When you are long casting do you start retrieve right away or let it sink for some time?

Thanks for the fishing app for my son. He has an iPhone and I have an Android so may use that for myself if I can figure out how to get it on my phone.

-Kelly it all depends on the depth of the water i am fishing... i adjust the size of the jig head and/or tail to fit the presentation. Long Casting shallow shorelines we need to have the presentation ride up so a lighter jig head paired maybe with a larger ighter plastic tail. Some of the plastic tails manufactures mold their bodies with very slightly bouyant plastic to make a jig in a vertical presentation ride horizontal in the water column . the tiny Lil Minnow is a perfect body for this with its bouyancy.

 

other times we are long casting deep weed lines making long casts and ride it high for fish up in the zone or letting sink for the deeper fish.

 

 i just recently had a great bite on schools of y.perch on the shallow edge of the weedlines... i let the jig fall to the bottom and hopped or twtched the bait back.

 

 Kelly... to install the Android App... while on your phone go to the Google Play Store ... do the search for "Fishing Points" download and install... its a great app..

I did install the free version from Google Play but could not get it to work. Everytime I tried something it wanted me to buy the premium version. Got very frustrated and finally uninstalled it. Oh well, thanks.

And thanks for the tips on how you are using the power and lil minnows. Will give them a try. I watched your above video and could see your twitches but most times it looked like lots of slack line so wondered how you detected a bite?

I have 5# Power Pro on my reels so hoping that this floating line won't hinder the action/sinking of this jig/minnow.

   must be the vertical jigging video... jig sinks slow and sometimes I let the jig sit on the bottom for a sec... sometimes it drives the fish nuts

It the video on page 44 of this thread. You were in the boat with another guy and a boy. The guy catches a 27" pike on the lil Minnow.

   that day I had (3) setups going with the bait Lil Minnow mounted on the 1/64 oz jig head... Earl had (2) setups ... one with 1/64 an one with 1/32 oz jig heads. I believe the bait sinks to fast with 1/32 oz jig heads... but he has good luck with it. when I use the setup with 6# Nano it tends to coil more loosely but I still feel and cast the jig well. the feel when reeling in is still solid and can still feel the subtle b. Crappie bite well. I lose a little casting distance with braid on these tiny jigs unless I use coated ice braids. I'm finding GLISS at 8# test is giving me some decent distance as well as the line strength when the bigger preds hit to winch them in.

I know you like to use the longer rods... I have been testing and using a 7-0' setup that has been getting better distance with a bit less in sensitivity but still tagging fish

My 8 footers are made from fly rod blanks, 4 weight. They are pretty sensitive and cast lightweight stuff really easy. Mostly use them out of the big boat. When I'm using my Sun Dolphin Sportsman then I use 6 and 6'6" ultralights because this boat is only 8 foot long. Usually fishing small waters where I can't go with the big boat.

Wow, those lil minnows are tiny-got some in the mail today. Will use them tomorrow.

   ...  just to assure you when fishing with setups I describe I feel constant tension and contact with the bait.

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