Post by rgang4 on May 18, 2020 20:17:18 GMT -5
Took sometime off from work on Thursday and Friday to take advantage of the rare nice weather that was predicted. Seems lots of others did too, especially on Thursday. Guess nobody could pass up the first good day in weeks.
Ramp was packed when I arrived at 8:30. Luckily the overflow was still openđ Water still nice and clear but cold at 51. Would warm a bit during the day up to 57. Level has dropped about a foot or so making many places too shallow to hold fish any longer or so it seemed.
Took awhile at my starting spot but got a decent fish on a squarebill to start the day. Stuck with it for some time at other stops but eventually had to put it down in favor of a jig. Something had changed. Fish were there but would not hit my crankbait. Theyâd eat a swimbait if presented properly but a jig ruled the day Thursday and Friday.
19.5â, 3-12 from Dooley Pointđ
Swim jig worked around some new grass and a Trap did too. Never new what youâd catch though. Of course that is what makes Champlain so much fun!
25â chain pickerel, the biggest of many that day.
Friday fished much like Thursday with one exception. Fish were smallerđ˘ with one exception đ
27.5â 13-15. I think thatâs my heaviest sheephead to date. Surely the fattest!
While I fished my wife worked from the camper so on Saturday I took her out fishing. I know, I know, Iâm always thinking of herđ We went up to Lewis Creek hoping for white suckers, smallmouth bass and fiddle heads. We got three smallies but no suckers.
Fiddleheads we scored big! My wife made a pizza Saturday night and used them for toppings. Best pizza ever!
Sunday I launched from Lapham Bay. Beauty of a morning. Plan was to hit rocky spots around Crown Point hoping to find some prespawn bass up that way and hopefully revive the squarebill bite. Near total fail in that regard. Finally went into a bay hoping for a bass or two but expecting pickerel. Got a surprise fish.
36.5â, 12-7
Fish hit right at the boat and completely inhaled my swim jig. I didnât set on it thinking Iâd get bit off. Fish spit the lure out to the corner of its mouth and I quickly gave it a little jab with the rod. It took off like a rocket and I hit the thumb bar so the short line wouldnât snap. After a long fight and tearing up a half acre of pond weed I slipped the net under it. After all that the demon still wanted to wrestle when it got in the boat. I pinned it long enough to get a picture but with all the poop it left behind I think the fish actually won.
Rest of the day was a scramble just to catch a limit. Should have just gone home around noon and cleaned the mess out of my boat.
Donât know what to think as far as bass go. They could be spawning, they should be spawning, but still fishing should be better. Tonight I saw bass for the first time on the shore and on beds at the Retreat Meadows. Given that I canât believe southern Champlain is in the spawn/post spawn phase. Maybe this week of warm weather brings in a new wave of fish?
Ramp was packed when I arrived at 8:30. Luckily the overflow was still openđ Water still nice and clear but cold at 51. Would warm a bit during the day up to 57. Level has dropped about a foot or so making many places too shallow to hold fish any longer or so it seemed.
Took awhile at my starting spot but got a decent fish on a squarebill to start the day. Stuck with it for some time at other stops but eventually had to put it down in favor of a jig. Something had changed. Fish were there but would not hit my crankbait. Theyâd eat a swimbait if presented properly but a jig ruled the day Thursday and Friday.
19.5â, 3-12 from Dooley Pointđ
Swim jig worked around some new grass and a Trap did too. Never new what youâd catch though. Of course that is what makes Champlain so much fun!
25â chain pickerel, the biggest of many that day.
Friday fished much like Thursday with one exception. Fish were smallerđ˘ with one exception đ
27.5â 13-15. I think thatâs my heaviest sheephead to date. Surely the fattest!
While I fished my wife worked from the camper so on Saturday I took her out fishing. I know, I know, Iâm always thinking of herđ We went up to Lewis Creek hoping for white suckers, smallmouth bass and fiddle heads. We got three smallies but no suckers.
Fiddleheads we scored big! My wife made a pizza Saturday night and used them for toppings. Best pizza ever!
Sunday I launched from Lapham Bay. Beauty of a morning. Plan was to hit rocky spots around Crown Point hoping to find some prespawn bass up that way and hopefully revive the squarebill bite. Near total fail in that regard. Finally went into a bay hoping for a bass or two but expecting pickerel. Got a surprise fish.
36.5â, 12-7
Fish hit right at the boat and completely inhaled my swim jig. I didnât set on it thinking Iâd get bit off. Fish spit the lure out to the corner of its mouth and I quickly gave it a little jab with the rod. It took off like a rocket and I hit the thumb bar so the short line wouldnât snap. After a long fight and tearing up a half acre of pond weed I slipped the net under it. After all that the demon still wanted to wrestle when it got in the boat. I pinned it long enough to get a picture but with all the poop it left behind I think the fish actually won.
Rest of the day was a scramble just to catch a limit. Should have just gone home around noon and cleaned the mess out of my boat.
Donât know what to think as far as bass go. They could be spawning, they should be spawning, but still fishing should be better. Tonight I saw bass for the first time on the shore and on beds at the Retreat Meadows. Given that I canât believe southern Champlain is in the spawn/post spawn phase. Maybe this week of warm weather brings in a new wave of fish?
