heading to Maine

[hillbillyhunter1]

Leaving for East Grand Lake for a week of smallmouth fishing. That's the main thing I fish for here in WV too.

My arsenal is mainly made up of:

tons of 5'' single tail grubs...mymain lure I use here at home

a good many senkos and flukes.

a few spinnerbaits, spinners, and several trusty ol crankbaits like rapalas, lipless cranks, and crawdads...and of course somebig poppers and a torpedo or two

and....

because of the great NEW posts I've been reading here...

five bags of the horny toad....I hope that's enough, not sure thanks chuck7 and others. I haven't had a chance to fish them yet and probably won't until I get there...just been too busy here lately.

I'm also taking a bunch a fly fishing equipment, even though my partners (on this trip) don't fly fish...they'll just have to bear it

I hear it's gonna be spawn time up there and have got a few new (to me, at least)ideas related to that including incorporating a chartruese salmon egg or two into my lure presentation...seems logical to me...nest robber.

The guys I'm going with are repeat customers with several years of trips up there and they say we should hit "the spawn" pretty well.

Any advice from anyone on something I'm missing or a helpful hint for fishing the north woods??? Phil ???

thanks

[Champlain Islander]

I like the 3" or 4" single tail white grubs (Mr. Twister) fished on an 1/8oz or smaller jig head cast to the shore from a boat and brought back to deeper water. I use UL spin tackle and either 4 or 6 pound test. Another good grub is the kalen's 5" in salt and pepper smoke. The northern smallies love them and this time of year are right at shore in the shallows. It is pre spawn here on Lake Champlain but they are gathering all along the shore.

[Phil from Maine]

I am not sure about them being on the beds yet up here.. I do think they are almost the same as C.I. is saying though. I like using a buzz bait to locate them at first. I just can't help but love the way they will break a calm day up. I like using the crank baits and poppers the most this time of year. However those frogs Chuck has been talking about should be almost a sure bet! I find bass loves frogs anytime of year pretty much. If you find them starting to bed up a medium sinking bait should start them if not go with something a little heavier. Be carefull of snagging themm up in the rocks though.

A flyrod and some decent poppers shoul work OK as well. I enjoy trolling a few poppers around some of the waters I supect that they will be in to help locate them quicker. If you folks get a chance try and get down to Brookton and fish the Baskahegan Lake. It's very rocky but you will not be disappointed in the bass in that lake. That is for sure.

I am thinking you will be staying in around Danforth somewheres? When will you folks be up this way? IfI can get the time perhapsI can bump into you up here. I am quite aways south of Danforth prolly around 45 minutes or so. If i can get the chance it would be nice to be able to talk for a few with someone on here. Good luck

[hillbillyhunter1]

Thanks For the input CI. Iv'e got some of those exact salt&pepper grubs you're talking about. I've also got some clear ones (salt&peper) I really liked the looks of those for certain conditions

Phil,

we are staying at rideout's lodge on the southwestern side of the lake...we'll be right on the lake. I'll pm you with the name the reservation is under (as soon as I find out myself) and my cell phone number. I'm sure a local fisherman would be a welcomed guest by everyone and it sounds good to me

[Phil from Maine]

I know where Rideouts is, I used to go freshwater smelting up that way years ago.. It was a good time.. What week are you folks coming up this way? I can PM you with my cell number if you wish..