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Do you love big bluegill?

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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I go with the attitude more is better. No chance this baby will fly off the roof rack. One strong line tied to the bow and four strong straps cinched down really tight to the rack. I stick to a maximum of 65mph on Rt.80 or Rt.287, which are my usual routes toward my favorite lakes and reservoirs. Fortunately, the Nucanoe Frontier is only 80 lbs stripped down, so it is easy to get up on the rood by myself. A pair of roof rack pads and a yoga mat for the back of the hatch so I don't scratch it getting it up and down make for easy work. Like you, Allen, I like to see the bow through my front windshield. Gives me comfort to see it staying put. Good advice to stop occasionally to re-tighten the straps. My nightmare is watching it slip off the rear of my suv while doing 60mph on the highway...ugh!! 

Not bad.

I've seen where some folks made a PVC loader that suction-cupped to the rear hatch of their vehicle.  Not sure I'd want to risk that, though.  Not sure if the rear window could handle the load.

i got to hand it to you guys to have the guts to haul like this ... i was never able to. now my spine is so messed up i would never attempt something like this. looks good Gary all rigged and ready to go.

Gary... any problems or quirks at all with your NuCanoe?

The only quirks were mine when I first started getting it out in March. Since then I've steadily made improvements in my use and technique for transportation, navigation and fishing application. The Frontier is an all around fine fishing machine.

20160705- ...----~~<")))))><(----------------------------

20160706- ...----~~<")))))><(----------------------------

...maybe i can squeeze in a shorefish or a short kayak trip

20160707- ...----~~<")))))><(----------------------------

Another poor showing yesterday… spent a lot of time fishing the slop with the Slip/Float/Fly/Waxie today with numbers of sub 7” b.gills… the quality fish were not there.

Could not mark any fish along the first deep break on the sonar. Drop shotting and deep/shallow jigging along weedlines proved scoreless.

Tough time of year on this leg of the reservoir. One decent LMB on the Slip/Float/Fly/Waxie

good looking cover:

0707161216 ~STUFF WORTH FISHING

keeper LMB

0707161712~LMB PRED CRASHING THE PANFISH PARTY

20160708- ...----~~<")))))><(----------------------------

Wow… what a day on the water… we weren’t out fishing more than an hour an a t’cell popped up out of thin air. Stopped fishing to seek shelter under the highway bridge … engine wouldn’t start so had to use the electric to get there just made it before it broke loose. I have never seen white caps on that lake until then. Held on to the bridge girders to keep us in place because they anchors were breaking loose.

After the t’storm we couldn’t find a bite thru long stretches of nice looking shoreline cover… we tossed our best jigs and floats with baited flies … nothing bit. We finally found a laydown with some pads surrounding and hit a few quality fish… b.gills and up to 12” crappie. We wore down that spot and continued using the electric to cover some shorelines picking up some quality pan fish here and there.

Noticed a b.gill staring at my slip/float/fly/waxie that was every bit of 11” while I continued tinkering with the motor.Before I could reach my pole to make the fly jiggle the fish slowly sank into the depths. i now know where this fish lives!

BFOTD!!

0708161804- BFOTD!!

Today's catches... all Cpr'ed

20160708-PANFISH TRIPxxxx

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