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]

20160709- ...----~~<")))))><(----------------------------

[Slip Sinker]

20160709-There is a lot of boat activity going thru the narrows under the bridge causing cloudiness near the bank. I really like the long casts parallel to the rip rap with the thin lines and jigs. The cause of many hook-ups with my history on this spot.

so instead I waded out a couple feet and made multiple cast towards the pillars and finally got a strike. Thinking b.crappie I quick snap a hook set and a nice SMB instantly jumps 2 ft plus into the air followed with a few summersaults. After a lengthy battle on the thin ice braid I landed the beauty. After a few snaps she was quickly released to fight again.

Thru a the next half hours time I hooked up with a crappie and a a small rock bass all tagged on the 2” ripple shad mounted on a 1/64 oz jig head.

BFOTD!!

Todays catch

[Slip Sinker]

20160710- ...----~~<")))))><(----------------------------

[Slip Sinker]

Today I found the weed beds/lily pad fields were greatly advanced since the other day… bright sun and hot temps sure do make the weeds explode. I told myself also that I would be more patient on the spots then I was the past few days. That paid off handsomely with some nice quality fish. The rapid bite wasn’t there… but more minutes between bites. Hard to argue quality over quantity with some fisherman.

I slowly presented the Slip/Float/Fly/Waxie… pitching into small open pockets of weeds and pads. I left the bait in the zone longer and moved the bait in tiny increments and tiny twitches. I methodically covered as much potential fish holding cover as possible.  When a large flat is covered in this stuff there is a lot of area to cover. Less fish per hour but trophy tagging potential is there.

The Slip/Float/Fly/Waxie pattern has been so strong and productive for me I stuck with it despite a couple slow recent trips. I have faith in the artificial aspect of fishing. Very rarely do I use live bait to tip a hook or bait. It’s just the way I elect to fish. I have faith in that artificial bait methodology and have stuck with it since I was a teenager. I have tried the crawler nugget or live waxie… its just that fishing in the slop and pads you are rebaiting constantly while your hook is stripped crossing the pads or weeds. Gulp Waxies are more durable.

one of the best fishes of the day!!

Some of the tagged and released fish of the day

 

[Slip Sinker]

20160715- ...----~~<")))))><(----------------------------

[Slip Sinker]

so ive just been asked a few times recently "where have you been? whats up? no fish pics!?...

ive been trying to catch up on a back log of chores around the house with the intention of dividing my time between chores and fishing later... spine is barking and wont let that happen. i guess the chores come first... lol (thats what we tell our spouses any ways!)

i do enjoy the posts and pictures from everyone onboard here at BBG... also i try to comment on all or most of everyones snaps... hey sometimes thats tough to do... many great fishermen on this site catching many great fish and posting many, many snaps!

when i cant fish... i love watching and commenting on this site. next best thing to World Fishing Network!!

[Slip Sinker]

it was nice to see recognition of my PB B.Gill in the local paper!

hey ... if your not just fishing for food your fishing for some kind of trophy...

what was interesting was just how low the numbers were in 10" plus fish in wixom lake and the county of Gladwin in registered 10" plus fish... just (2) in Wixom Lake and 14 fish the past (10) years in the county

 

[Leo Nguyen]

Well, that is me all the time. I live through the eyes and ears of the anglers world wide, since my busy life don't allow much opportunity to enjoy life soaking lines in the water.

[Slip Sinker]

i hear ya on that one Leo...

there was one long period in my life where i was working 56 hrs a week, building a home, and raising four children... i dont know how i got thru it. still remember visiting my mom and dad on the lake while it was going on creating memories. those are important.

looks like you are doing the same. looks like you have a wonderful family and you devote your spare time with the baseball and your kids... those will be some great memories!

[Leo Nguyen]

Wife and kids come first. It's been quite hectic. But you have 4 kids to take care of, and the building project. That was a massive undertaking. Like most, I'm trekking through the craziest part of life. I'll have more fun later. For now, I'm squeezing every moment I can as I share my time with my kids. Baseball is one thing, swimming, dance, hunting, survival mode, and wife's events. So much things to do, and barely enough time in the day to accomplish it, aside from a slightly more than a full time job to bring home the bacon.

We all need to cherish what little time we have in building up as much memories as we can.

[Slip Sinker]

20160718- ...----~~<")))))><(----------------------------

[Slip Sinker]

Well its just been over a week since ive felt the tug … going thru some serious withdrawal symptoms…

 

Have some family over… with g’kids and friends with kids… all want to go fishing… not enough kids poles… going to have to take turns... going to be interesting.