Lake Champlain Advice for August? - The Hull Truth

bpevans · 07-24-2008, 06:08 AM

I used to fish a lot growing up but put it aside for the last 10 years b/c of where I moved and work, etc.

I'll be up in Vermont on Lake Champlain in early August near South Hero Bay (just North of Sandbar State Park) with access to a small jon-boat. What tackle and species should we plan on targeting for some fun action? I'm tentatively planning to pack a mid-weight (14#) spinning rig.

Thanks,
Barry

ladyjane · 07-24-2008, 05:43 PM

Small mouth is great Some salmon lures Moosealoks stop at datellios in s. burlington he will fix you up IT is a sunoco gas station on the right route 7 north before burlington pm me if you need more info

bpevans · 07-24-2008, 07:37 PM

Smallmouth bass it is then, I know my brother-in-law caught a nice one there last year.
What type of lures work? Any type of cover you look for or other tricks to finding them? We won't have sounder to find bottom features. Any trolling to speak of?

Thanks,
barry

M&M · 07-25-2008, 05:48 AM

Good site to get infos: http://cjohn2979.proboards31.com/index.cgi?board=Forum

GhostShip · 07-25-2008, 12:06 PM

Might be a good excuse to pick up a portable fishfinder.[img]../images/emoticons/wink.gif[/img]

I've got an Eagle Strata128 w/ a selfcontained 12V battery and it's been EVERYWHERE. Flyin's to Canada, river trips in canoes, my rowing dory, sailboat AND as a backup for my hardmount(even used as a second station).

bpevans · 07-26-2008, 12:57 PM

I've considered one of those ultra-portable sounders for my sea kayak. Are they really useful when looking for smallmouth?

Any lure tips are appreciated, some small jigs, spinner baits, or rattletraps in order?

ladyjane · 07-26-2008, 04:35 PM

small yozures rattletraps even the dardevil pm me it might be at burtonisland that week

GhostShip · 07-27-2008, 12:59 PM

Quote:

bpevans - 7/26/2008 1:57 PM I've considered one of those ultra-portable sounders for my sea kayak. Are they really useful when looking for smallmouth? Any lure tips are appreciated, some small jigs, spinner baits, or rattletraps in order?

Threehot-spots here are on rocky humps that are really hard to find w/o GPS or a fish finder. Sharp 12'-40' drops. Weedless jigs w/ crawlers or leeches. Have you ordered up a lake map yet?The buggers can be anywhere, but usually like a deep water break nearby. Deep diving Rapala's also work well, in the "flavour" of the lake. like ladyjane said the best thing to do is hit a local bait shop for info when you get there.

bpevans · 07-27-2008, 02:54 PM

I'll be bringing along my handheld Garmin 76. I have the digital NOAA charts as well as digital topo maps for the area and already plugged in every PWI and the odd-ball rocks in open water into my GPS. I figured those rocks would be likely places to find fish congregated.

I'll hit up a local bait shop when we arrive for a license and the local suggestions. I'm only bringing a handful of tackle and will pickup whatever is suggested locally.

Thanks again for the advice, much appreciated.

bigmig19 · 07-31-2008, 11:24 AM

Post some pics when you get back!

ladyjane · 07-31-2008, 05:41 PM

also you can get off the web noaa site the charts that show the depths.

M&M · 07-31-2008, 09:02 PM

Take a look at those:http://www.nesportsman.com/cgi-bin/siteframe.pl?frameurl=http://docs.unh.edu/nhtopos/nhtopos.htm&state=ri http://www.nesportsman.com/cgi-bin/siteframe.pl?frameurl=http://docs.unh.edu/nhtopos/nhtopos.htm&state=ri http://www.nesportsman.com/cgi-bin/siteframe.pl?frameurl=http://docs.unh.edu/nhtopos/nhtopos.htm&state=ri http://www.nesportsman.com/cgi-bin/siteframe.pl?frameurl=http://docs.unh.edu/nhtopos/nhtopos.htm&state=ri http://www.nesportsman.com/cgi-bin/siteframe.pl?frameurl=http://docs.unh.edu/nhtopos/nhtopos.htm&state=ri http://www.nesportsman.com/cgi-bin/siteframe.pl?frameurl=http://docs.unh.edu/nhtopos/nhtopos.htm&state=ri http://www.oceangrafix.com/o.g/Chart...ro-Island.html

ncifuentes · 08-05-2008, 12:40 PM

Hey:

At Burlington Boatyard - we offer an exclusive community website just for the the Vermont region, and our new angler, Mickey Maynard - is welcoming any questions you might have. He is the official Lake Champlain Angler and will have all the boating and fishing advice you might need: You can read up on him at our blog. http://burlingtonboatyard.com/blog/

bpevans · 08-06-2008, 10:42 AM

We got back Monday. It was a rainy few days in Vermont. We didn't have any luck on the lakers or pike but we did catch a lot of small bass (mostly little guys) and perch with a token catfish and a couple sunfish/warmouth. I had my best luck with 1/4oz rooster tail, an orange #2 Mepps, and a small silver spoon or two. All fish caught were released.

Thanks for the advice, it helped us find the fish we did catch.

Some of the bass took spinners nearly as big as they were.

My in-laws little boat got us over to Savage Island but not much further, we stayed within a few miles of camp but still found some perch hot spots off a point south of the boat ramp.

Looking forward to venturing further next year and hopefully we'll be a bit quicker finding the fish then. Thanks again.