Slip’s 2016 LOGS, STATUS AND STRATEGIES

[Slip Sinker]

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"

[Gary Boysen]

The rod was a Fenwick Elite Tech Bass rod, 7 ft medium heavy fast action. I'm working with Fenwick Customer Service to get it replaced. For now to continue fishing with my baitcaster, I picked up a Dobyns Fury series 7 ft 3 inch heavy/fast action rod. I doubt this one will break...we'll see. I am headed out to a new location for me tomorrow at dawn...Merrill Creek Reservoir. I hear it's got big bass, so I'm hoping for the best.

[Slip Sinker]

good luck! i hope ya hit your target LMB

[John Sheehan]

Did you get snagged? Were you using Braid ? .Years ago I got snagged ( with 10 or 12 #  mono)and  I broke a Berkeley Bionix rod  6 inches from the tip by tightening down the drag and putting stress on the rod . Berkeley replaced it . I've broken rods since but never by doing that again . Now I break or cut the  line  and keep the tip straight to the snag .

[Gary Boysen]

Well...I snapped my 6'6" Shimano Clarus medium/fast rod on July 1st doing exactly what you just described on a snag. I had 6 lb mono on the reel. Live and learn. So, I've had to buy two new rods within three days. Whew!! Yes, I am using 30 lb J-Braid on my baitcaster. Hopefully, Fenwick will replace my pole.

[John Sheehan]

Appeal to them Gary  and they should come through . Many years ago I replaced a reel that got busted up by a Cow nose Ray and my fear of losing it . Ryobi/Fintek appreciated my snail mail letter of the account and replaced it with a new comparable reel and a package  of line . I was very pleased with them !  Companies  want customers to be happy and know you'll give them good reviews to your friends if they show mercy .( and we will not show mercy to them if they don't ,haha ) I 'd like to see U.S. companies stand behind this line of thinking ! Problem is , few U.S companies are making stuff .Upsets me .

[Slip Sinker]

...concentrating mainly on the drop shot... gonna mix it up with the big boats in my kayak.

did a little tweak on my drop shot rig... instead of just a bare hook and bait i tied on a small dry fly much like what ive been using on the Slip/Float/Fly/Waxie combo to mix it up a bit... i dont think it will be as weedless presentation as the drop shot rig with circle hook... so im taking both rigs as well as the slip/float.

... and of course ill be tipping with Gulp Pink Waxie and 1" minnows

[Slip Sinker]

July 4^th was really frustrating… just way to many big boats out there to make fishing comfortable or show any level of success. Heavy wave action pounding against the bank soiled the water considerably from shore to 8 FOW.

I ended up tagging a few fish with one just breaking the 8” mark in calmer waters deeper in the cut with the Slip/Float/Fly/Waxie.

I started experiencing some heavy back and leg spasms so I called it quits as soon as things settled…. Maybe too much rocking wave action. Hopefully a few days rest ill be back on the water again.

decent fish:

[Allen Morgan]

I had to work the 4th.  Didn't get out.  I did get out on the 3td, and I just got back from a sunset excursion on the 5th.

Yeah, those boat wakes are really annoying.  Luckily, I can take most of them on my beam and not worry about turtling.  I always seem to get TWO boat wakes hitting me at the same time from different directions.  Makes for a very interesting movement, to say the least.

There's been one time where I woke up at night, and could have SWORN I was still in my boat, being tossed by boat wakes.

That mud line near shore could have been a Bass hotspot.  I would have explored the downwind side of the lake, tossing a search bait along the mud line for LMB's.

[Slip Sinker]

lol... i make quite a few casts in my sleep!

things started getting crazy when all the pontoons started collecting from the center out... then the bigger speed boats traveled the outside perimeter close to me.

[Allen Morgan]

Get some Tannerite.  Mix the stuff up, put it into some empty water bottles.  Toss them out into the lake, no where near anyone.  Go back to shore and set up with a .22 rifle.  Pop one of the bottles. That should clear the lake lice out.

And, I'm just kidding!!!

[Slip Sinker]

lol.... no.... in a way i kinda like all the boats ... am i the only one out there that is addicted to the smell of boat exhaust?

[Leo Nguyen]

Yes..yes you are. Exhausts from jetskis and boats make me tear up. Cars, not so much.