ORIGINAL: VT_Hunter1980
ORIGINAL: Champlain Islander
ORIGINAL: VT_Hunter1980
Champlain Islander, is the lake starting to freeze over in any of the bays yet? I know it usually takes longer to become safe than the smaller lakes.
A few of the guys went to some of the smaller ponds today to check them out. I live on the broad lake in North Hero and all I have so far is steam coming off the water and slush at shore. The wind has been really strong out of the north and west and that has caused the main lake to stay open. I am a pan fisherman and will be checking some of the small bays just north of the house in the next 2 days. Tomorrow is tree day so Thurs will be my first day after the flat fish. I can almost taste that first hard water bull gill.
Sounds good.
I'm a trout fisherman myself, but I certainly don't turn up my nose when I land a perch. I'm living a little closer to lake Champlain this year, so I'm planning on giving that a try. I'm not entirely sure where to access the lake or even where to buy bait around here. I'm in Waterbury and ice fishing doesn't seem to be as big here as it was in the NEK.
I can't wait though. I actually enjoy hard water fishing more than open water.
Vt hunter take a trip up to the Islands some nice warm weekend and you'll see lots of ice fishermen. I live up there and usually panfish every day through the winter. I used to fish for trout but really got hooked on flat fish with a UUUL jigging rods. Access for trout can be had on the south end at Arnolds bay near Panton and Shelburne bay just south of Burlington. There are some reefs with good laker fishing just north of the Grand Isle ferry. For great pan fishing on Champlain perch can be caught in Shelburne bay and all through out the northern islands and the inland sea. Sunnies, bluegills and crappie are where it is at. PM me if you want to try it. I am out there with lots of friends almost every day and we all have plenty of equipment so there isn't any reason to buy anything. Be aware...it is wicked addictive. My season will start in a day or two as soon as I get the Christmas stuff done around the house....Frank D