FIELD TESTING THE TEXAS STAR AND THE SILVER LIGHTNING STINGER MINNOW photos

I conducted a field test of the Texas Star minnow created by Bob Hinkle (Snake River) and my own Shipahoy 41 handcrafted Silver lightning Stinger Minnows yesterday at Lake Purdy in Alabama. These were the only two soft plastic baits that were used. No live bait was allowed in this testing. Crappie nibbles or liquid scent was used as needed. My home made scent had some Gulp, peanut oil, anise, sugar and garlic salt heated in a microwave to liquify all ingredients.

The weather was 55 degrees to start with an expected high of 84 degrees. Winds were out of the southeast at about 15 knots so there was a chop on the water. The method of fishing was single pole long line trolling. I was in a rental 16' Jon Boat from the marina with only a32 pound thrust trolling motor to navigate the entire lake. For those of you familiar with Lake Purdy I launched from the marina, Trolled to the Grants Mill Bridge area, to the Dam, and back to the marina. Trolling speed was .5 miles per hour.

These are the bait of choice for this field test: The Texas Star Monkey Milk) and the Silver Lightning Stinger Minnow (Clear glitter and Chartreuse tail) The jig heads were 1/8 ounce in pink or chartreuse only and the fishing method was long line trolling.

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Attachment 265789


I put on my life jacket and prepared to fish. You should always wear your PFD (Personal Floatation Device and tell someone where you will be fishing. This is for your own safety.

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Slowly I began to fill the livewell with fish. Both of the lures tested caught Crappie, Spotted Bass, Catfish, and even Shellcracker. The biggest crappie of the day was this 15 inch crappie.

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At the end of the test period these were the results and my observations. Both of these lures tested were very effective and will put fish in the boat and food on your table. They are excellent for long line trolling. I personally caught 32 Crappie. Many were about 7 inches, but I boated 16 keepers over 11 inches in length. I caught 7 Spotted Bass and 1 Channel Catfish with these lures too. I also caught about 10 shellcracker who just could not resist trying to mess with the lure too. I am Shipahoy41 and I approve this message.

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Nice post Ship! Those are some pretty fish.

Good report Mike

Way to go Mike!
Very detailed report...Good pix too!

Thank you very much Mike for the report I appreciate it .

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Originally Posted by snake River

Thank you very much Mike for the report I appreciate it .

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No problem Bob. This was the scent.Attachment 265848

Very nice !great job!

Nice looking baits, and the proof is in the pudding. Or fish bucket. Or something.

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Originally Posted by shipahoy41

No problem Bob. This was the scent.Attachment 265848

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Where did you get that scent Mike .

Bob, I make this scent up for my own personal use. I repurposed a bottle I had in the shed that held two cycle motor oil in it. Washed the bottle with soap and boiling water and rinsed several times. Cut a sprayer stem so that is fits the shorter bottle. Then I made a label because I am older (71.5 years ) and may forget the ingredients one day. Heated the mixture in a microwave so the sugar, koolaid, and garlic salts would melt. Then I bottled it using a funnel. Shake well and spray it on your lures before fishing them on each cast. I named the scent "YIPPEE" many years ago because that was when I caught my first two pounder and I yelled "YIPPEE!"

I know some of you might want to copy the label but that is NOT OK. You and others on c.com may copy the ingredients but you have to make your own labels. :biggrin:biggrin:biggrin


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Thanks Ship glad to see ya getting out.thanks for post always wear your life jacket.Beautiful lake in the back ground.You are blessed my friend.

It looks like a professional job Mike .

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Originally Posted by jackie53

Thanks Ship glad to see ya getting out.thanks for post always wear your life jacket.Beautiful lake in the back ground.You are blessed my friend.

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That was one of the things I really liked about the post....and the YIPPIE juice!

When I took the coast guard boating course everyone else had big boats and I had a dingy boat. I used to say " Shipahoy and I' ll see you on the water. One day someone told me I said that 41 times and from then on i was Shipahoy 41.

Ship, love your post. Some day when I grow up, I want to be just like you. lol

Ship I still have the scent recipe you gave me a few years ago. I have kelp some in the boat all the time. I usually just put some of your formula in the zip lock bags with lures to add the scent.
Does the sugar and Koolaid help the formula to be better.
(Thisrecipe is for Small Amounts....Heat, stir well until salts dissolve,put in spray bottle)

1/4tsp Anise Oil
3/4tsp sea salt
1/2tsp garlic salt
6teaspoons of water
3teaspoons Canola Oil
1/2tsp Cod Liver Oil (or Glycerin)
5cups of Confidence
2cups of Patience

Forlarger amounts just double of triple the recipe


(Mike)aka Shipahoy41 made this recipe

Quote:

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Originally Posted by scrat

Ship I still have the scent recipe you gave me a few years ago. I have kelp some in the boat all the time. I usually just put some of your formula in the zip lock bags with lures to add the scent.
Does the sugar and Koolaid help the formula to be better.
(Thisrecipe is for Small Amounts....Heat, stir well until salts dissolve,put in spray bottle)

1/4tsp Anise Oil
3/4tsp sea salt
1/2tsp garlic salt
6teaspoons of water
3teaspoons Canola Oil
1/2tsp Cod Liver Oil (or Glycerin)
5cups of Confidence
2cups of Patience

Forlarger amounts just double of triple the recipe


(Mike)aka Shipahoy41 made this recipe

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The sugar sweetens and the koolaid tastes great. All this does is give the Crappie one more reason not to let go of the lure yet. It is just like when you are sucking on a really great BBQ rib bone. You want to get all of it. By the time the crappie figures it out then he or she is on the was to another Lake called Lake Crisco. I added the little YUM / Gulp for added lubricant and scent.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by shipahoy41

I conducted a field test of the Texas Star minnow created by Bob Hinkle (Snake River) and my own Shipahoy 41 handcrafted Silver lightning Stinger Minnows yesterday at Lake Purdy in Alabama. These were the only two soft plastic baits that were used. No live bait was allowed in this testing. Crappie nibbles or liquid scent was used as needed. My home made scent had some Gulp, peanut oil, anise, sugar and garlic salt heated in a microwave to liquify all ingredients.

The weather was 55 degrees to start with an expected high of 84 degrees. Winds were out of the southeast at about 15 knots so there was a chop on the water. The method of fishing was single pole long line trolling. I was in a rental 16' Jon Boat from the marina with only a32 pound thrust trolling motor to navigate the entire lake. For those of you familiar with Lake Purdy I launched from the marina, Trolled to the Grants Mill Bridge area, to the Dam, and back to the marina. Trolling speed was .5 miles per hour.

These are the bait of choice for this field test: The Texas Star Monkey Milk) and the Silver Lightning Stinger Minnow (Clear glitter and Chartreuse tail) The jig heads were 1/8 ounce in pink or chartreuse only and the fishing method was long line trolling.

Attachment 265795

Attachment 265789


I put on my life jacket and prepared to fish. You should always wear your PFD (Personal Floatation Device and tell someone where you will be fishing. This is for your own safety.

Attachment 265790

Attachment 265793

Slowly I began to fill the livewell with fish. Both of the lures tested caught Crappie, Spotted Bass, Catfish, and even Shellcracker. The biggest crappie of the day was this 15 inch crappie.

Attachment 265791

Attachment 265792

At the end of the test period these were the results and my observations. Both of these lures tested were very effective and will put fish in the boat and food on your table. They are excellent for long line trolling. I personally caught 32 Crappie. Many were about 7 inches, but I boated 16 keepers over 11 inches in length. I caught 7 Spotted Bass and 1 Channel Catfish with these lures too. I also caught about 10 shellcracker who just could not resist trying to mess with the lure too. I am Shipahoy41 and I approve this message.

Attachment 265794

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You ought to post this on the Alabama board....you might find someone to fish with.

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Originally Posted by "G"

You ought to post this on the Alabama board....you might find someone to fish with.

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Thanks David. I did post it there.

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/alaba...m/#post3424308

Great post Mike. It didn't take you long to figure them out. Was this your first time to fish Purdy? I would love to meet you there sometime.

Regards
Ken

Great thread. Great report. Great catch. Thanks for sharing!

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Originally Posted by worminken

Great post Mike. It didn't take you long to figure them out. Was this your first time to fish Purdy? I would love to meet you there sometime.

Regards
Ken

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I have fished it before. I absolutely hate the 280 traffic. Perhaps we can meet one day and long line troll for crappie. The euro worms are doing fine in the beds. It was my pleasure to meet you at Based Pro.

Ship is that the recipe I may try make some but yours is a big ol bottle and that don't look like much in the recipe volume wise


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by Crappieplasticm

Ship is that the recipe I may try make some but yours is a big ol bottle and that don't look like much in the recipe volume wise


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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I originally was using eyedrop bottles because they fit in my fishing vest. For larger bottles you just tripple or adjust the proportions for the size of the bottle you have or add more peanut oil to fill the bottle.

Great post, thanks for sharing your results. I'd say that was a very productive test!!

Looks like you had a fun time. GTT

Making some more "Green Ice" two inch stingers. Those were excellent for long line trolling. I hope to get them wet within two weeks.

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