SLIP’S 2018 LOGS, STATUS AND STRATEGIES

[Slip Sinker]

As I turn the last page of the “SLIP’S 2017 LOGS, STATUS AND STRATEGIES” log book on an astounding year of angling… I think back on the initial strategies and goals for the year. I wanted to tag at least (4) Trophy Master Angler Panfish and that would include one thru the ice which would be a PB using that method. I ended up with 2 trophy P.Seeds thru the ice with a PB at 9.8" as well as(13) total Master Anglers thru the rest of the open water season!

To accomplish this feat I would greatly scale down my presentations to micro lite equipment… rods, reels, lines and baits. Careful considerations of lines were incorporated into my methods which would not exceed 2# mono diameter…and super lines that would approach 8# test or above to handle the trophy quality of fishes sought.

I would also aim to make my time on the water more productive by timing the trips with solunar periods… majors and minors on New and Full Moons. I've discovered big fish follow the moon… period! 2017 proved that especially considering the hard water Ice Period. I was on the big fish spots on the peak periods and it paid off!... BIGly!!!

I think I coined a phrase “Fishing for the Numbers by the Numbers” by incorporating all methods and strategies to gain my odds on the water for numbers as well as numbers of trophies. By the end of the day and all the numbers were tallied for 2017 I broke many records for the Master Angler Program in at least 2 counties.

I’m hoping for an even better season for 2018 and success for the fishermen following BBG!

Ken

[Slip Sinker]

...planning a trip for this afternoon Minor.Period thru the Major. Uptick

[John Sheehan]

Best of luck Slip , go get them!

[Slip Sinker]

...thanks John!... i recorded my Personal Best day of a lifetime of fishing!

[Slip Sinker]

Just got to masterangler within 10 minutes of each other

[Slip Sinker]

[Slip Sinker]

20180524-Personal Best day of Fishing... Ever!

My fishing plans usually start initially by the month and as the days become focused I narrow down the lakes and the solunar periods to fish them. As I approach the boat launch on this fantastic spring day I notice the weed control are out on the lake in full force! Not good!! Once spraying starts the fish are beat down for a few days… some lakes recover quicker than others, I was not going to waste my day! It was either go to the backup lake or call it quits and go home.

At the stop sign I made the decision make that left turn and head to the backup lake.

Once out on the lake in the summer like weather I noticed 70° surf temps, very clear water with a slight west ward chop on the water. Dang all my good spots were with the wind making line control difficult in the strengthening breeze. I pushed on.

I entered a few cuts and noticed LMB’s on the beds along with many 10-14” cruisers. I had a little fun and tagged a few with the swim jig. My agenda was Lepomis so I continued on.

I made casts close to the bank and picked up many small silver B.Gills. my eyes turned deeper as the side scan revealed a few targets in short weeds in 9-12 ft of water a marked a few way points and concentrated my efforts on those targets. I started with my proven reliable Long-Cast/.016oz plain jig/Pink or Chartreuse Waxie. The fish were there better in quality and they were dialing in on the preference for chartreuse. Historically  Chartreuse has historically worked better for me in bright skies and clear water.

Wasn’t long efore I set my hook into a solid brick wall. With the circling and the violent head shakes I knew it was a large Lepomis taking drag and rattling my reel to it’s core. Once along side the boat I recognized it as a trophy b.gill and eased it into the boat with my hand under the belly.

I marveled at it’s fullness shoulder and height… once pictures and photos were taken along the measuring board for DNR certification I released the fish back into the gene pool.

Minutes later I was into another Lepomis violently shaking the spinning rig. For you fishermen that fish monofilament you probably have no idea what I’m talking about. When fishing with no stretch superlines you actually feel the fish chewing and head shaking your bait rattling that spinning reel to its core… the fight is night and day. It’s worth the switch up to superlines.

Once in the boat I was shocked at the fuyllness of the fish it was bursting with eggs… it’s length stretched to 9.0” and she was released quickly back into the lake. WOW! Two trophies in less than 10 mins. I was literally shaking.

The pattern exploded into many fish between the 9-10” mark… true lunkers and trophies here in Michigan. It takes many years (8-10) to reach that size here in Michigan. The numbers were escalating as well.

After the Minor.Period expired I could tell the bite was waning on this first break pattern. I kept the side scan running and started doing a perimeter search around the lake. I soon came across an area of beds with fish in the area. A few casts revealed a tight school of chunky R.Bass. these fish are first class fighters. They were females full of eggs so I continued the fun.

A solid hook set and a spectacular Lepomis styled battle revealed yet another trophy P.Seed! this specimen was extraordinarily colored for the spawn season… ready to go! The measuring board recorded a 9.6” P.Seedtying for second place in personal bests. A mounter for sure.

After battling many more Lepomis in the shallows I hooked yet another Certificate P.Seed duller in color obviously a hen rounded with eggs… wow…wow…wow and wow! (4) Certificate fish for the day! A Michigan record? i'll certainly do the research to find out.

My best day fishing ever for me on record! at the end of the day my picture count registered a whopping 184 snaps!

[John Sheehan]

Congratulations Slip!

[Slip Sinker]

...thanks John!... a very memorable trip!

[Slip Sinker]

20180526-~~<")))))><(---*Spawn Period*--68%/72°

[Slip Sinker]

20180526-Celebrating one of my biggest days on the water!

when I’m on a successful pattern I stick with it… so I select similar lakes with similar condition and usually come out ahead of the game. 

So why not take the game to the same lake during the same periods.  With similar weather conditions and water temperatures I continue along the shoreline to the same successful waypoints on the same lake as the day previous.

The panfish were still there cruising the shallows with some bulls creating nests.  In the crystal clear waters I could see many 8 inch class Lepomis with some bruisers mixed in.  Targeting these larger fish with pinpoint casts I was able to obtain a large percentage of nine of 10 inch class fish.

Popular baits of the day continued with the Long-Cast gulp waxie mounted on 1/64 oz jigs chartreuse and pink in colors and slip/float/nite crawler bits cast along weed edges. Chartreuse proving to be the more popular color of choice for the Panfish.

bonus fishes included some 90%+ Master Angler Rated R.Bass.

with over 180 pictures again in my camera folder for the day gives evidence to a very significant day in my panfishing history.

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[Slip Sinker]

20180528-~~<")))))><(---*Spawn Period*--92%/72°

[Slip Sinker]

20180528-Full Moon Eve

… fish activity levels are at 92%... need to be on that lake!

Who’s going fishing?