Hey, anyone having any luck in upstate VT? I've been out pounding the banks on the lamoille a few times without a bite.. Champlain is final starting to thaw out.. in everyone's experience, when do the bass start becoming more active? 

This year is frustrating seeing how it refuses to warm up at all.  Idk how many more times I can organize my tackle!! Haha

On a plus side, I'm looking at purchasing my first fishing kayak this year. Hoping that helps the ability to try more spots. 

 

There are a couple ponds in the Champlain valley that are ice free. As of this past weekend the inland sea still had some ice. Central Vermont and the northeast kingdom look more like February than April. Depending on the pond there is still well over a foot of ice closer to two feet. Sadly ice out seems a couple weeks away for those areas. As soon as it’s open Bass can be caught. If you get a kayak there is a pretty fun small kayak fishing series in Vermont through NEBassin.

Yea I live right next to Arrowhead lake in Milton.. that's open but so is the dam.. once the weather breaks I'll hit the shoreline.  Some of the shoreline is opened up enough to fish, idk if the bass will be that shallow yet.. I'm having a hard time remembering what the tug feels like! Hopefully this weather turns soon

2 hours ago, Mainebass1984 said:

There are a couple ponds in the Champlain valley that are ice free. As of this past weekend the inland sea still had some ice. Central Vermont and the northeast kingdom look more like February than April. Depending on the pond there is still well over a foot of ice closer to two feet. Sadly ice out seems a couple weeks away for those areas. As soon as it’s open Bass can be caught. If you get a kayak there is a pretty fun small kayak fishing series in Vermont through NEBassin.

What other ponds in the Champlain valley are ice free? Thanks for the info on the kayak series.. that may be something I look into.. 

Monkton, Shelburne, Bristol, and Lake Iroquois are supposedly all open.

17 minutes ago, Mainebass1984 said:

Monkton, Shelburne, Bristol, and Lake Iroquois are supposedly all open.

Great, thanks for the info.. I'm going to try and get out this Sunday if the weather is nice enough.. 

6 minutes ago, Adam.love05 said:

Great, thanks for the info.. I'm going to try and get out this Sunday if the weather is nice enough.. 

I’m sure you won’t be alone. Lots of people plan to be out this weekend. Everyone is anxious.

I live 6 minutes from Arrowhead, there are giants in there that eat right now.  They are off to the south of the High bridge in the shallows.  An 8.3 came out of there last spring.  The Mill River and it's Delta will have fish before most areas.  This weekend the Sea should be open.  Down near Ti I hear of 42 degree water already.  Fairfield Pond is great for Kayaks and had huge LM in it, it should be open now.  The mouth of the Lamoille is a great Kayak spot earlier (May-Early June).  Monkton is on right now.  I have a ton of little ponds around that are awesome for Kayaking, message me if you want.   Don't go to Berlin Pond with Nate... 

1 hour ago, webertime said:

I live 6 minutes from Arrowhead, there are giants in there that eat right now.  They are off to the south of the High bridge in the shallows.  An 8.3 came out of there last spring.  The Mill River and it's Delta will have fish before most areas.  This weekend the Sea should be open.  Down near Ti I hear of 42 degree water already.  Fairfield Pond is great for Kayaks and had huge LM in it, it should be open now.  The mouth of the Lamoille is a great Kayak spot earlier (May-Early June).  Monkton is on right now.  I have a ton of little ponds around that are awesome for Kayaking, message me if you want.   Don't go to Berlin Pond with Nate... 

Yea I've seen some big LMB come out of Arrowhead.. there's also a lot of nice smallies that I catch east of the Highbridge, heading up the lamoille, I grew up fishing Fairfield pond at my grandparents camp.. that place is a hidden gem for bass.. a lot of fun.. I've never fished monkton. I'll have to try it.. I'll shoot ya a message after work.. thanks! 

19 hours ago, webertime said:

I live 6 minutes from Arrowhead, there are giants in there that eat right now.  They are off to the south of the High bridge in the shallows.  An 8.3 came out of there last spring.  The Mill River and it's Delta will have fish before most areas.  This weekend the Sea should be open.  Down near Ti I hear of 42 degree water already.  Fairfield Pond is great for Kayaks and had huge LM in it, it should be open now.  The mouth of the Lamoille is a great Kayak spot earlier (May-Early June).  Monkton is on right now.  I have a ton of little ponds around that are awesome for Kayaking, message me if you want.   Don't go to Berlin Pond with Nate... 

Haha. Broke through 2 inches of ice for hundred yards but we still got fish. Sniper got you.... Any pics of the 8.3 ? 

The taxidermist in Milton has the fish.