Post by Brian on Oct 20, 2010 18:05:20 GMT -5
We had a chance to get up to Champlain for a two day trip this week. I almost didn't go knowing the lake was all stirred up and strong winds were forecast for Monday. But, then looking at the calander.......it's now or "wait until next year" time of year.
We hit the ramp at Ti at 12:30 Monday. Not very early, but being out early usually isn't great in the fall anyway. Plus we could fish until full dark. We quit at 6:15, which wasn't hard because we weren't getting a sunset bite anyway. The lake level was 97.5 something and the water was dirty to not so dirty (1.5' to 2' visibility), temp was 51 - 53.. The first bass bit in 3' around some flooded over lily pads. Next one , a four lb. job, Di got on the "big spoon" in 6'. Then quite a lull in the action. I figured since the lake has come up 2.5' since 9/30 maybe we could get something going on the inside weed edge. Especially since the only way to find the outer edge was with electronics, and I ain't KVD. We caught enough bass and pickerel to gain confidence that shore line fishing would work. Also, we tried some clean water around the fort and got a couple of nice smallmouths and pickerel. By days end we'd caught and released 6 LM, 5 pickerel (up to 26") and 2 chunky SM.
Tuesday we got out at 9:30. Nice day, south wind, water temp was 49 up to 52, and the water had cleared up somewhat. Some areas had a good 3' of vis. (not counting the Lachute delta.......gin, as usual.) Started out at the delta but Di was nervous they were going to fire the damn cannon at the fort and scare the bejeezus out of her, so we scrammed further south. Caught one LM along the bank. Then had a pickerel fest in a clear water pocket north of Wilsons bay. Great fun, they were big fish and hit the spinnerbaits hard. Got out of there and went to the banks where we'd caught the fish the day before. Caught even more this time. Kept up with the shoreline pattern for a couple of miles. It worked. Not quite dummy fishing, but certainly not too technical either. Find hard bottom with points and thicker grass...find bass, pike and pickerel. A day to remember, by it's end we'd caught and released 19 LM (only one dink and few less than 2.5 lb.), 4 pike (up to 31") and 14 pickerel (4 over 24").
A few pics.
24.5" during the pickerel fest.
4 lb 11 oz. smacked a chatterbait in 3' of water.
The big spoon comes through...again.
There it is, 19.5" 4 lb. 7 oz. lb.
Not finished yet...another toad. 19.75" 5 lb. even.
I get in on the action too with a 20" fish. It ran hard and I figured it to be a pike.
A pretty day on the pond. Memorable.
We hit the ramp at Ti at 12:30 Monday. Not very early, but being out early usually isn't great in the fall anyway. Plus we could fish until full dark. We quit at 6:15, which wasn't hard because we weren't getting a sunset bite anyway. The lake level was 97.5 something and the water was dirty to not so dirty (1.5' to 2' visibility), temp was 51 - 53.. The first bass bit in 3' around some flooded over lily pads. Next one , a four lb. job, Di got on the "big spoon" in 6'. Then quite a lull in the action. I figured since the lake has come up 2.5' since 9/30 maybe we could get something going on the inside weed edge. Especially since the only way to find the outer edge was with electronics, and I ain't KVD. We caught enough bass and pickerel to gain confidence that shore line fishing would work. Also, we tried some clean water around the fort and got a couple of nice smallmouths and pickerel. By days end we'd caught and released 6 LM, 5 pickerel (up to 26") and 2 chunky SM.
Tuesday we got out at 9:30. Nice day, south wind, water temp was 49 up to 52, and the water had cleared up somewhat. Some areas had a good 3' of vis. (not counting the Lachute delta.......gin, as usual.) Started out at the delta but Di was nervous they were going to fire the damn cannon at the fort and scare the bejeezus out of her, so we scrammed further south. Caught one LM along the bank. Then had a pickerel fest in a clear water pocket north of Wilsons bay. Great fun, they were big fish and hit the spinnerbaits hard. Got out of there and went to the banks where we'd caught the fish the day before. Caught even more this time. Kept up with the shoreline pattern for a couple of miles. It worked. Not quite dummy fishing, but certainly not too technical either. Find hard bottom with points and thicker grass...find bass, pike and pickerel. A day to remember, by it's end we'd caught and released 19 LM (only one dink and few less than 2.5 lb.), 4 pike (up to 31") and 14 pickerel (4 over 24").
A few pics.
24.5" during the pickerel fest.
4 lb 11 oz. smacked a chatterbait in 3' of water.
The big spoon comes through...again.
There it is, 19.5" 4 lb. 7 oz. lb.
Not finished yet...another toad. 19.75" 5 lb. even.
I get in on the action too with a 20" fish. It ran hard and I figured it to be a pike.
A pretty day on the pond. Memorable.
, preferring a 3/4 oz. Johnson with 4" trailer (mostly broken off). But I get a big kick out of seeing her hook up when throwing it. 