webertime

Right now there are a few fish shallow, but we were getting our bigun's last weekend on humps in about 14' of water. However yes they come in shallow until around Halloween. Spinnerbaits, Flukes (PLEASE try the double Fluke rig, you will thank me), Perch X-Raps, and bright cranks all produce right now.

You've got about a month left on Champlain assuming we get normal temps.

Nice! Those are from down south right? We were out Wednesday and we saw a largemouth that was the size of those gallon jugs of Gatorade come up in the middle of a weed bed off a popular beach. It swam straight up and destroyed a 10" Perch. My buddy and I just about lost our minds... easy 8.5+lbs.

By polluted they mean???? Phosphorus? oh hell yeah, between all the new development with their "gotta have green lawns, so let's fertilize the heck out of them". And the farmers growing crops on nothing more than clay "so let's fertilize the heck out of that too" then I do agree 100%. Some of the scientist that study the lake have hypothesized a lot of the non-industrial pollution (phosphorus/sulfur) is because of the sheer size of biomass (fish) in the lake is so large that natural die off of Smelt, Perch, Lakers, etc. might add tons of those chemicals to the lake. Hence the algae blooms/stink that can happen in the summer. There are a few spots (barge canal in Burlington, and two places on the NY side) were the lake bottom has some pretty toxic stuff going on, the specifics are escaping me at the moment, and those areas are currently being cleaned with Federal $$$. Champlain has some pretty unique issues, chief being VT, NY and Canada all do different things to it. VT has the agriculture run off issues. NY has some manufacturing (paper mills) that create some gnarly chemicals as well as agricultural to a smaller extent. Then the Canadians with the industrial pollution from up the Richelieu/St. Lawrence rivers from Montreal. In addition to looser agricultural practices by the farms south of Montreal. Trying to get 3 completely different governments and mindsets to sit down and work together has been an issue in the past. However over the last few years there has been more cooperation amongst the parties involved. From a fishing stand point though Champlain IS CLEANER now than even 20 years ago when I really got into it. I know it's clearer (thank you Zebra Mussels). This summer alone the Champlain record for Lake Trout was set and broken 3 times! This past winter a 15+lb Walleye came came out of there, a VT record. My last tournament we had 14 bags come in, 12 limits, 2 5+lb Smallies and one boat has 22lbs of Largemouths in 4 fish. For a lake that is 1/2 way to the North Pole those are some pretty good numbers. If I had to say there was anything about Champlain that stinks (well 2) is the frickin' ever present south wind. And the fact that all the good spots/beds/humps have boats on them all season long.

Lamiglas Excel 703 or 704. I have a 703 with a Pflueger Supreme XT and YoZuri Hybrid 6lb. Works really well for shaky heads for me. It might be a bit soft/slow for drop shots but the 704 takes care of that. $100 shipped from that "Warehouse" store.

In my tournament up on Champlain yesterday my avg Smallie was 4.12lbs using Carolina rigged speed craws. Biggest was 5.09.

Through the lily pads... Yes in the grass...

Nemire Red Ripper spoon? (HAMMERS bass)

I'm sure the Daiwa line is amazing, but for my $$ Tufline XP is the way to go. Softer and smoother than PP. I've used the Palomar and Trilene knots with it and only had one I don't understand moment when a freshly tied lure broke off on a cast, however that day I had landed about a dozen Pickerel and I'm pretty sure they nicked the line. $11-$15 a spool at the big outlets. Spiderwire cuts itself, between that and too short of a tag end that may be your problem.

Exactly!

I have a 6'9" MH Carrot Stick with a Shimano Sahara 2500/3000 that I use for exactly what you are looking to do. It's a sick set up, I've been using a lot so far for Fat Ikas and Sebile Magic Softs in a VERY weedy/heavy cover pond. Grab one from *** for $86 and a Sahara and you'll have $$ left for some nice braid (Tufline XP 8/30 is a great braid for spinning gear).

I was just wondering if anyone knew of any software/downloads that had lake charts for handheld GPS units? Specifically for a Garmin Etrex Venture HC? I see Garmin has an inland lakes available, however the reviews seem to indicate that the depth charts aren't accurate and some rivers/channels are missing. Anyone have this program or have this unit with a good lake chart? I'm up in VT just a few miles from Champlain so obviously if there are any specific to my area I'd be a pretty happy camper. Any leads or help would greatly appreciated!

For $200 (what the Reese combo costs) I'd prefer: Shimano Citica 200E $100 Shimano Caenan $90 Cabela's Prodigy $70 (sick!!!) BPS Pro Qualifier ($80 if you use the right code) with a... Lamiglas Excel (American made and a great rod, I have one.) Falcon BuCoo St. Croix Triumph ($50 and basically an uglier Mojo for $30-$50 less) Abu GarciaVeritas (again $80 with the right coupon) Closeout Carrot Stix OR Daiwa Cielo from ***. A Cielo with a Prodigy would suit me just fine...

Weightless texas rig those wacky worms, Fat Ika's, Chatterbaits, Rage Shads and something along the lines of the Rapala Subwalk. I fish a very similar pond to yours and these work really well.

It has to be a certified scale and a witness (at least in VT). A certified scale would be like one at a butcher/grocery store/deli, you see those little stickers on the scale saying it was certified at a certain time and date by the state. It's to keep a butcher from selling you 2 oz. of steak and saying it's 2lbs. I believe Postal scales are certified as well.

I have that reel (25 size) on a Lamiglas Excel 703, it is amazing.

1/16-1/4 go spinning.1/4-3/8 you can either. 3/8+ go casting.

There is at least 30 yards of backing, I haven't used any lube yet on or near the reel yet. I will go double check the spool tension knob to be extra sure. If you were palming this reel yourselves you could put your thumb over the top into the window and use your thumb to move the spool forward and backward when the drag is tightened. I'll get a video up later on youtube or something and have you all take a look.

Yes and Yes (old Trilene XL and Tuf Line XP 12/50)

My 2 month old 2010 Citica has developed an issue that is sort of baffling to me (25 years as a pure spinning and fly fisherman). It will NOT spin/spool up any line if the drag is set with really any tension. The guide moves back and forth as the handle gets turned, the drag feels tighter as I tighten it, but the spool gets loose and spins freely. However if I have little to no tension set on the drag it works fine, except for the fact a Bluegill could spool me with that drag setting. Obviously this is not cool... Before I get into it or send it out I was just wondering if anyone had any idea what an issue like this would be?

At least at my dick's those Revo/All Star combos are the 08/09 model revos.

My Dick's has them in lefty (good for me) but STILL at $149... not a bad price though...

My local Dick's has a deal going on now where you buy a regular priced rod and reel you can take 20% off the total. So I am going to pick up another Citica ($96) and am looking at the St. Croix Triumph and the Field and Stream Tec Spec rods to go with it. This rod will fill the 3/8-1oz Baitcasting hole in my arsenal, I'll be using it for jerk baits and spinnerbaits. At any rate, these are the 2 I've narrowed it down to. I know the Triumph is a Mexican Premier and I really have no problem with that. The Tec Spec is universally said to be a good rod, however most of what I read is "The (blank, guides, seat) LOOK nice and feel good" but nobody knows who makes them or exactly what they are. So I am kind of getting the "lots of make-up on the busted chick" feeling about them. So if it were you, 7ft Medium or Medium Heavy 1/4 to 1oz. which one would you get? Or at least does anyone have any information about the Tec Spec? Thanks!

Daiwa procaster from *** and a fish eagle 2 from cabelas. With shipping you are just over $70.

Phil's Tenacious Oil is VERY thick. We used it for lubing nipples (wheel builds) and to silence squeaky pedals and hubs. A little goes a long way. It does attract a TON of dirt though. If I'm having to use an oil lube I am using Boeshield T-9 or Remington Rem-Oil.