SLIP’S 2019 LOGS, STATUS AND STRATEGIES

[Slip Sinker]

2019 is finally here and another great year behind us for the books… taking back to back top certificate totals for the state of Michigan! … Breaking 2017 totals of 15 certs with a bottom of the ninth 22” trophy White Sucker! 2017-8 rocked!

Michigan DNR with a new change for Master Angler program only one length per species going to be tougher to get the totals. So the goal this year is to target more species.

I got the family on the trophies last year but on private lakes consequently they didn’t reach the DNR books… soooo more public lake fishing for the family! Need to get their names in the books!!

It will make for an interesting year.

Good Fishing Everyone!

Slip

[Slip Sinker]

20190506-~~<")))))><(---*Cold Water Period*--51°

[Slip Sinker]

Lunker Small Mouth Bass / Northern Pike While Panfishing

  With a Late spring season, snow just 2 weeks ago, I test the chilly waters of my “Home” for the bite. Historically I should be tagging multiple species at this time including many warm liking panfish including Blue Gills… water temps ranging into the low to mid 60’s. water temps have struggled to remain above 50 with winter temp like nights and below normal temps in the fore cast.

The reservoir has been on a -9 ft draw-down for repairs since November 2018. My local haunts are on the upper reaches of the reservoir leaving just a shallow river system thru half of the year.

Levels are returning to normal levels slowly but the fish have been slow to return with slim-picking numbers. I at times beg for the lowly N.Pike bite where more than 50% incur bite-offs.

I tag a large N.Pike that bites me off after a battle that settled with me trying to pull him out of a sunken laydown.

At the end of the Major.Period I finally tag a lunker Small Mouth Bass on my U-lite tackle while seeking the crappie/B.Gill bite…. What a battle!

[Slip Sinker]

20190514-~~<")))))><(---*Cold Water Period*--49°

[Slip Sinker]

Slow start to the open water season with winter like temps

  

Winter finally loosening it’s grip on the tundra of Mid-Michigan with normal temps in the near forecast. Wixom Lake Water temps tested at the bridge on Wixom lake registered a blistering 48°F…wow.

With the absence of normal temps for the area there is also a curious absence of fish presence as well as spawning activity. Last year at this time… Lepomis were on the move in the shallows seeking spawning territories. This season I have yet to see a Lepomis in the shallows. Not even a crappie!