Hey I like those ST.............a little peace of mind.

Well I'm bringing an absolute pile of fishing tackle. I even have a extra plano box so I can pick out what I want to use for the day. An insane 7 rods are coming along. Why not? 1 portage and base camping with a move every 2 days with 11 days of nothing but fishing in a complex mid summer large body of water. Specialization is at a premium.

rod 1...........6' 6"light action spinner with 4/6 lb mono. slider heads/shakey jig heads and 4" straight worms will take the smallies when all else fails down to 15ft

rod 2.........7' med hard action spinner 6/8 mono for deepwater jigging and larger plastics.

rod 3........7' baitcaster with 12 lb XT mono. Night trolling with large rapalas and night casting 1 oz single blade spinnerbaits for smallies

rod 4......muskie rod 50lb braid..........big spoons, 30 manns, dipsy diver, 8oz in line weights

rod 5.......8' walleye trolling rod/line counter with 30 braid.........smaller dipsy divers and in line weights

rod 6........9' steelhead rod..........my go to rod for running deep diving cranks on light line. The length lets me get by running light line with hard pulling cranks like tail dancers and not get busted off when mister big walleye decides to eat. Very forgiving.

rod 7.........trying something new, jigging spoons (butterfly) on mid lake reefs

So yea.....a lot of stuff. But what the heck, I'm solo with nothing else to do but keep trying new stuff until I banish my August jinx. It's not like the fish stop eating in August but I have done poorly my last 2 trips in the Q in August. Maybe to much traveling and to much afternoon fishing.......I dunno.

I am going to make a serious attempt at panfishing (yes I like to catch small fish too as long as they are big  ;D ). I'll plop out a jig with a maggot of gulp while in camp on a slip bobber. I'll probably cast the slip bobber set up occasionally while I work a shoreline as well especially if it is calm. I even have some tiny flutter spoons to try behind some in line weights. I am partial to eating big perch or large gills if I can get them. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to bang a big crappie or two as well. Anyway, I do intend to try for the panfish this time.

I have never tried the dipsy divers but with the line counter reel I think it could be effective if done right. When we used to fish the shield in August by powerboat I was always surprised just how deep the big fish were. Walleyes 6lbs seem to be at least 30 ft during the day and we caught one over 8 on some spikes in water over 40.

I usually fish at least an hour after dark but it is usually fruitless after it gets totally dark. I think I give up to soon. The plan is to start around 2 A.M. and fish until mid morning. Snooze during the heat of the day (and avoid the flies). The big 6 inch flat raps will get the nod along weed edges. The 1 oz single colorado spinnerbait will be used along rocky points.

what else? a few other wrinkles. Should be interesting. I am totally jacked up to the point it is spilling over on this keyboard. I think I REALLY need a vacation  ;D. Who knows.........maybe I'll just sit in camp and read and drink coffee all day. That has some appeal after a summer of go-go. But I'll certainly have options and specialized tools which are in and of themselves enjoyable to employ. I'll try and take a few pics and give an honest appraisal of how I did. If I suck you'll know it..........if I do good I'll share what worked. If I do REALLY good you can PM me for details (contributions/donations are handled via my secretary at MT enterprises). Wish me luck  8-)