Lake Champlain

Lake Champlain 6-1-08. Launched at Ticonderoga 1230pm. Water temp 64 degrees. Wind blowing out of the west at 20+mph. The lake at Ti is murky with a visual range of 2-3ft. The sheltered bays are much cleaner with a range of 5-6ft. Spawn is in full swing for the large mouth bass. Caught a couple of nice large mouths in the 3-4lb range. Most all fish were caught on rattle traps and crank baits. I found it difficult to try and site fish or do much pitching/flipping with the windy conditions, so I stuck with the crank baits and rattle traps. Fish were holding in the 4-6FOW along the outside of weed edges. Fish were keying on isolated pockets of weeds, or sparse clumps. The white Rebel WEE-R crank bait produced the best. It runs shallow enough to not bury itself in the weeds but deep enough to catch the top of the grass. Once the bait catches on the weeds a good rip pulls it free and most of the stikes came when ripping it from the weeds. All the female bass caught today were post-spawn. Skinny bellies and tails starting to heal. I figure the spawn is on the downhill swing and should be over in the next week or two. Some of the shallower grass in the bays are blooming and starting to scum over. It will only be a week or two before getting the scum frogs out! Recommendations: Look for the grass in the 4-8FOW, Key on the outside edges. If wind permits, flip jig and pigs in black/blue and greenpumpkin. Most of the fish have been keying on the outside edges but you may have to go in the weeds a little deeper to get the big ones. Keep the action baits handy, Rattletraps, shallow cranks for the fast action. If the fish are feeding you can boat a limit in a hurry. A few other fishermen have reported the spinner baits are working well, but loosing some to the Big Northerns.. Side note: I thought I had bagged a rather large Northern today, but turns out Catfish like crankbaits too.. Good Luck and FISHON!!

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