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"

[Slip Sinker]

Spent a nice late morning with my g’son Brenden and his new rod and reel… searching for some shoreline panfish by the bridge… We came up empty handed with t’storms rumbling in the back ground and had to scurry home. Watching the weather on Accuweather I timed a period between t’storms and launched my kayak hurriedly into the shallow flats. In all the hurriedness I forgot my tackle boxes and tools! A phone call home for aid came up empty handed for awhile.

 I still had 3 fully rigged rods … 1 slip float and two jig rods. I headed to my first waypoint and set a spring cricket towards the shoreline with a fine cast with the wind. A few twitches later I set the hooks into a bite. At first indication seemed like a fine LMB but the circling and vibrating head shakes signaled a B.Gill and a fine one at that. I saw a flash in the water a few feet from the boat that signaled this was a fish that needed to be netted! A few seconds later I brought the Bull into the kayak… shaking… thinking to myself this fish had to be all of ten inches.

 The jig was completely engulfed… with no tools or hemostats I felt helpless. A few prods with my pinkie finger dislodged the barbless hook. After a few pictures and reviving the fish lowered into the net suspended in the water I had a decision to make… there was a chance it may be over the 10” mark… it was close and there was a distinct possibility it may be protecting a nest. Keep the fish floating in the net to officially measure once I had the scale or release the genetically fine specimen to protect its nest and finish passing on those genes?  

I cut two segments of electrical tape that I found in my kayak crate and laid the fish out on the kayak and marked the ends with the tape and quickly released the fish. I had no idea at what stage the fish was in the spawning cycle. Instinctively I decided to preserve the fine genetics of this specimen… after all it very well may be my personal best!.

 My son later met me at the launch and delivered the tackle boxes and fishing tools. I continued fishing and tagging three more fish between 9 and 10 “! Then a bragger sized crappie of 12.6”. Not a significant quantity of fish caught between t’storms but quality was there.

 The distance between tapes was 10.3”… my Personal Best! … after a short pause I thought giving up that Certificate was a small price to pay for the Genetic position that fish could play in Wixom Lake.

A good day of fishing!

BFOTD!! at 10.3" Cpr'ed

4 bruisers between 9 and 10.3"

collage of the catch

[Slip Sinker]

Comparing my time stamp and dates on some significant fish I’ve caught in the past with the solunar tables and have been coming up with some wide-eye opening discoveries… here is my PB trophy B.Gill at 10.3” Tagged at 16:24 pm and the solunar table below… perfect match to a major period near the New moon!!

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[Slip Sinker]

20160607- ...----~~<")))))><(----------------------------

[Slip Sinker]

…definitely feeling the burn today... maybe a few days off fishing is needed.

[Allen Morgan]

Say it ain't so Slip!!!

[Slip Sinker]

…usually i take a neck brace with me fishing and in a rush to miss the t'storms yesterday i left it at home. i use when needed but i decided to fish thru the pain on a good bite yesterday and paying the price today. when the neck shoulder arms and hands ache together its tough to fish.

[Slip Sinker]

20160608- ...----~~<")))))><(----------------------------

[Slip Sinker]

…who needs a big ol bass bug when your Spring Crickets need legs

[Allen Morgan]

Every now and then I will find someone's discarded bass jig skirt.  I will snag those up.  I will also buy skirting material, if I like the color(s).

[Slip Sinker]

its a great idea... since my heavy fishing tackle days are numbered... these jigs are semi-retired anyways... might as well make use of them. there was some great colors on this one.

[Slip Sinker]

20160609- ...----~~<")))))><(----------------------------

[Slip Sinker]

20160609- still feeling beat up today... maybe some light shore fishing with a brace.