Theresamarie1

Ditto my comment to RW.. We've tried the points, the bluffs, with every plastic and lure I have (can't fish live bait yet in Vt). Our techniques have been successful in the past but maybe it's because we've started earlier than previously. We're ready to try again this coming weekend. But thank you for the suggestions, we'll find-em eventually. We've stuck close to the bay so far this year but if it's nice this weekend, we'll probably head up around the islands where we've found some nice spots in prior years. Terri \I am with roadwarrior on this one. This is a good time to target smallies. Look for those rocky points and flats. If the wind is blowing and making it hard to keep contact with the bottom use more weight : The smallies are there and you will love it when you wack a 4 pounder

RW, how about a little break! We've been out every weekend looking for smallies including last weekend. We're just not that good yet with knowing where to find them at each time of the year. We're working on it though. We've had a few bad weather days where it's difficult to be on the main lake without a death wish (it's a very big lake.... not like those southern ponds). When all else fails, I've been able to find some nice largemouths, but so far this year...nadda. Geez...You're fishing one of the premier smallmouth lakes in the world! Why would you want to waste a minute searching for green fish? :

Thanks VTBassin NEKVt, Nice Smallie for Champlain!! I wish we were so successful. So far we've gotten 2 really small smallies (<1lb) and a bunch of northern Pike and perch. But can't find a large mouth (which I've always had luck finding when I couldn't find a good smallie spot) and no real good smallies. Last weekend we were limited for weather to protected areas in Mallets bay. While we're not fair-weather--nly folks by any means, when the wind is blowing too hard it just isn't any fun being blown all over and trying to make casts. Last weekend I tried the 4" worms on a texas setup, tubes, craws, and top waters. Actually saw a couple of swirls on topwaters and got excited, but no takers. Oh well, there's always next weekend. In the cove we fished in, the surface water (on sensor) was around 63.5 degrees, but suspect that it's much colder a few feet down.

Thanks Zel for your post. We've never gone below Otter Creek on Champlain so maybe it's time we head way down south. I know it's shallower and the largemouth action is supposed to be really good. I hear many of the pro's spend a bit of time down there during the tourney's.

Thanks Colonel, we'll give it a try this weekend.

Thanks VTBassMaster, In Mallets bay and the Gut last weekend we were reading up to 62 degrees water temperature. The main lake though is still pretty darn cold. What would that tell you about the spawn? Is it the main lake temperature that defines the spawn? Do I lay off until the spawn is done? I've been reading a lot, and maybe I need to try smaller lures and plastics with less action (lots of 'dead stick').

Thanks Bassinboy, I will keep on trying. Fact is, we love being on the water, even if we're not cathing anything.

Anyone?? Not looking for anyone to give away their secret places, but just not even getting bites. Does anyone know if we're still in spawning time or past? Thanks for any insight anyone can provide. I'm sure the pro's know what's going on..but we're just recreational fishers.

Hi, back out on the lake for another year of boating and fishing on Lake Champlain. We've started a little earlier this year than last (by a month or so) and have not had any luck at all. We've been fishing all the same spots as last year, and tried just about every lure and plastic we have, and just not getting any luck. We've been in the shallows and deeps, around structure, etc. Any words of wisdom? (I know it's a large open ended question)...

Thanks NJfishingguy, you've noted the common theme.. more manual 'thumb' control. Thanks,

Shadcranker, thanks for the suggestions. I may have to head up to lake george, as they hae a shop with powell rods. I have tried the Real magic, but haven't found the KVD. I may have to order some to see how it works. Thanks,

Flechero, thanks for the suggestions. I'll give them a try. I do have many other casting reels I haven't had issues with, but maybe this is the answer for the bigger line. I've only been back into it in the last 18 months or so, so I'm far from an expert. Especially with all of the new techniques. But I love to learn new things.

Hi Michbass, thanks for the response. I was using a brand new calcutta TE 200GT and could not get that reel to behave well with 15 lb yo-zuri. Behaving is not overrunning. I have lots of other baitcasters that I can dial in for all kinds of fishing. The day I was using it, I had 3/8 oz jig with a small craw trailer. It was not overly light but no matter the settings, i could not get it to stop overrunning. And given I had all of the brakes on, even with the spool loosened, I couldn't get a decent pitch. But I think I've figured out my issue, I think it was the line. I put a 10lb trilene max on it and practiced some casts and pitches around the house with a 3/8 weight on it and it casts fine without overruns. So I guess the yo-zuri 15lb is a bit too stiff for the small diameter spool for casting... surprising, but seems to be the case based on my experiments. I'll try again with this setup and the lighter line. If this doesn't do the trick for me, I'll try a spinning setup. Michbass, does this stand for 'Michigan Bass Angler'? I'm originally from Michigan and have fished for Walleye with my grandfather on Lake St. Clair. One of these days I've got to get back to St. Clair to try some bass fishing. I will trade you a trip on St.Clair for one on Champlain I also normally keep my brakes off and tension very low and use my thumb. Are the backlaches happing in the air or when it hits? Just curious? The backlashes happen upon the initial cast and not the drop or when it hits, so I'm pretty sure it had to do with the braking phase and not the spool tension phase. In any case, the new line on this reel behaves much better but is probably too light for pitching. I have an old browning agressor reel that's as smooth as silk that has 30 lb power pro on it and maybe I'll use that for pitching. It's starting to get cold up here, so not many more weeks before I put the boat in shrink wrap! I sure miss the longer warm seasons of Michigan!

Add Gander Mountain to that list.. they don't have them on sale either.

Hi Michbass, thanks for the response. I was using a brand new calcutta TE 200GT and could not get that reel to behave well with 15 lb yo-zuri. Behaving is not overrunning. I have lots of other baitcasters that I can dial in for all kinds of fishing. The day I was using it, I had 3/8 oz jig with a small craw trailer. It was not overly light but no matter the settings, i could not get it to stop overrunning. And given I had all of the brakes on, even with the spool loosened, I couldn't get a decent pitch. But I think I've figured out my issue, I think it was the line. I put a 10lb trilene max on it and practiced some casts and pitches around the house with a 3/8 weight on it and it casts fine without overruns. So I guess the yo-zuri 15lb is a bit too stiff for the small diameter spool for casting... surprising, but seems to be the case based on my experiments. I'll try again with this setup and the lighter line. If this doesn't do the trick for me, I'll try a spinning setup. Michbass, does this stand for 'Michigan Bass Angler'? I'm originally from Michigan and have fished for Walleye with my grandfather on Lake St. Clair. One of these days I've got to get back to St. Clair to try some bass fishing.

Vermont's record is 6.81 pounds taken from Lake eden. Our biggest is just a smidgen south of 4 pounds taken on lake Champlain. We only catch and release.

We have this area on north champlain, where an old wooden railroad tressel runs across the lake (still used) that they say it's good for smallmouth. I've tried to get in there with the equipment I have, and tried pitching, but I'm just not doing that good a job. I know it's practice, practice, practice, but I'm finding that my line will just not come off the spool easy enough (baitcasters) to make a good pitch. I've just read elsewheres that it's best to use a spinning reel for pitching. Any comments, suggestions here? I need to go around 30' horizontally, then to a 13-15 foot depth. We could get closer if we had a bass boat, but alas we have a 23' sport boat which is difficult to get in close quarters in a stealthy manner.

Check out your local Dick's. I found some AVID spinning rods in the size/action you describe but yours might have some casting rods. Terri

Frogtog, look here. http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&partNumber=52793&hvarTarget=search&cmCat=SearchResults And color 31, I believe, is it.

Ronnie, congratulations! That looks like some serious kit to do some serious wrapping. You'll have to post your first project done with it!

Interesting. I stopped at Dick's tonight to see if I could find the same exact lizard (worried about running out), but they didn't have it. Luckily, it seems bass pro has the right thing. You can bet we'll be out on the lake this weekend trying the same thing.

We were out this weekend on Champlain and caught quite a few smallmouths, the biggest being a 3 lb. 11oz. The thing that was most interesting, is that we caught every single one on these on old stock purple-flake powerbait lizards on a carolina rig. We were also trying worms, kreatures, jigs, rat-l-traps, spinners, you name it. But the lizard was king, by far. There was a tournament going on at the same time, not sure which one though, so we were surrounded by bass boats (so to speak). Just wondering if anyone on the forum was there and had similar experience?? A long shot I guess. Does this happen in other lakes?

This is the setup I just purchased at Dicks for $140 ($65 for the rod with a $10 off coupon and $75 for the reel). You will have to ask the sales guy to scan the reel and the rod to make sure but they will ring up that price at the register. Thanks for the pointer fishtank. I went to Dick's and they have full compliment of Stradics (4000, 2500, 1000) .. it's not like I 'NEEDED' another reel but this seemed like a great buy that I couldn't pass up. At my Dick's they are 79.99 (unadvertised clearance) but I have a $20.00 off boosters card for my son's football team for any $100 purchase (i picked up some lizards) and ended up getting it for around $59.00. They also have quite a few Avid spinning rods left that I'm sure I need another of for this nice Stradic... : The Avids are also 79.99.

Thanks David, I will look at the alignment of the brake drum. If I can't see the alignment issue, would you suggest I return for an exchange (they had 3)? I have to trudge back over to plattsburgh anyways to try and return a st. croix crankbait rod that's just terrible. Terri

I own 3 of the 4, the Cardinal, president and Symetry. The cardinal isn't in the same leage (my opinion). The president is a fine reel but not as nice in feel as the symetry (again, my opinion). The symetry is a little more expensive than the President, so I think either is a great deal. I'm actually dissapointed in the Cardinal (in comparison).