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

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[Slip Sinker]

20180913-Panfish Harvest Day!

Every now and then I select a trip and a lake to harvest a few slot fish… today was 8.0 and under B.Gills for the slot on a very popular sport lake with numbers of mid sized Panfish. Every now and then I’ll hook up with a trophy on this lake… they are few and far between. The fish are generally healthy and well nourished with an above normal growth rate.

I spend a lot of time on the water and know my lakes very well when it comes to the fish populations and ranges of size. I have a good idea what lakes are safe and even beneficial to harvest without damaging a population. A guideline I usually follow is I will usually keep a slot of 85% or under of full Master Angler Rating for the fish… eg. A 10” B.Gill is 100% Master Angler Rated. So at 85% the B.Gill are set at 8.5 a crappie is 12.0 85% of 14.0”. Today the slot was set at 8.0” for B.Gill. I never cull.

Note: I’ve had several 100 fish count days from this lake!

With a FAL sitting at 49% fish could show for a decent bite to bring home about 15 fish. The weather was fantastic with above normal temps and above normal water temps at summer peak levels. Fish should be on that pre fall eating binge.

Winds were near flat and calm… partial cloudiness. IMO fish bite in the bright sunshine as well as the cloudy skies. Solunar periods matter more than weather.

Once launched and on my way to the first waypoint water conditions looked perfect for the lake this time of year. Just a slight algae bloom … but did not pose a problem thru the trip.

This lake in particular first thing I make a beeline to a particular waypoint with an underwater cluster of stumps… area that is small in size but holds quantities of quality fish. A PB LMB earlier in the year came from this very spot as well as some jumbo B.Crappie. I never see fisherman fish this spot. The stump field was discovered when I mapped the lake with my sonar unit last year. Pays to know your lake bottom!

My rod bundle included the popular mix of Micro-jigging rods for the long-cast as well as a couple float rods one with braid and the other with Nano-fil.

I found some jumbo P.Seeds close to the shore in the wood as well as B.Gills at the 2nd break (deep) weedline edge

Im at the point in my fishing career that I take this sport very serious when it comes to balanced tackle. I don’t use a one rod “does everything approach” like I used to back in the day with LMBs’ etc. I have separate slip float rigs for shallow slop to deeper weed line edges same thing with the Long-Casters for the Micro-Jigs several different setups to fill the need. I enjoy that!

Using the balanced tackle, tagging fish and enjoying the weather the endorphins were flowing!

I filled my 15 fish personal limit quickly ( Michigan Limit is 25 panfish in combination) laying the fish on the ice in the cooler then started focusing on trophy fishing. Came close with a few P.Seeds that were CPR’ed.

I started fishing at the beginning of the Lull.Period… caught fish and the pace picked up as the Major.Period approached along with quality.

Really enjoyed tagging the fish on the slip/float/fly/waxie method on the visible structure along the shore.

Very good trip for the books!

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[Slip Sinker]

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[Slip Sinker]

20180914-Taking Yesterday’s Success to a Trophy lake

I felt really good about yesterday’s trip working with the slip floats in the shallow dirty water as well as the Micro Jig bite I needed the success level on my favorite lake.

I loaded up the previous day’s rod bundle and headed to the DNR launch. The launch was nearly half filled with boaters and jet skiers enjoying this extended good summer weather. Very popular lake with the boaters and fishermen.

I launched at the beginning of the Lull.Period and headed directly to my favorite pattern waypoints. The weedy 9-0’ flats.

I casted jigs and slip/floats for 45 mins without a bite! Without knowing the solunar tables many fishermen will then question their technique, bait color, the location you name it there will be an excuse. I looked at my solunar app and had faith in the tables. The bite is coming up with the approaching Major.Period. This inactivity is expected in a Lull.Period.

Yesterday’s FAL was at 49 and today is 37% on a downward slide for the month so it would be expected the fishing would be a notch less successful.

So the first fish was tagged at 15:39 just at the beginning of the uphill curve for the Major.Period. and continued to accelerate thru the period. The first jumbo fish of the day at just under the 10” mark came at 16:17 at the start of the Major.period. Fish were flying over the gunwales at times.

As the trip continued I started making my way back at the familiar waypoints with continued bites.

Approaching the launch I saw the boats gathering in front waiting their turn to pull out… I continued past the congestion to the end of the line. Noticing some dirty water shoreline close by I decided to make a few casts into some new territory never fished before.

Making some pinpoint casts with the slip/float/fly/waxie into pockets and edges I started connecting with some quality fish. I decided to extend the trip a little to thoroughly explore this area. Dinner will have to wait… lol

The fish were taking advantage of the floating weed debris collecting on top of the shallow weed beds. There is definitely a correlation between the amount of surface area of structure and the quantity of fish as well as quality. More debris = more fish. I was clearly seeing this formula at work.

Two more heartbreaking lunkers were landed just missing the 10” mark… wow!

While I was busy tagging fish I noticed the parking lot was now near empty with just a few stragglers. I called the trip and headed for the docks.

3 near trophy 10” class fish for the day just missing the mark! The Slip/Float/Fly/Waxie and Micro-Jig Methods were on fire!

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