Where Have All The Salmon Gone?

Wow, not a salmon to be found at my favorite fishing spot yet. Makes me wonder if the alewives in the inland sea have something to do with it? Used to catch at least one a day, but haven't even had a flag on a tip up trip yet. Matter of fact, haven't caught anything more than a handful of perch.

I'd think it was me, but I saw the derby results from the last two years the other day. Only one was entered in two years out of a possible ten. At least a couple Brown Trout bit for someone, as they can be entered in the same category. I guess I'll have to broaden my horizons, and find a new spot.

Broad lake maybe? Just like to catch something anyways. Dunno, I'd like to make it to the kingdom to give Willoughby a try. A majority of the state record Lake Trout have come from there but it's such a deep lake! The fish could be anywhere.

Another spot I got interested in this winter was Waterbury Reservoir. It's the first year it's been full in about seven years since they began work on it. The edges that reflooded contain brush that grew up, and all the bigger fish hang out there waiting for the schools of smelt to swim by. Not only can you fish bass through the ice there, but the State stocked it with thousands of trout this year. Very tempting....

It's On......

Lake Champlain's hardwater season......my favorite time of the year!

That's right, ice fishing is upon us. The recent cold has set ice in some of the bays in the Champlain Islands, and I was able to take advantage of it this afternoon. Bundled up, grabbed my auger and a handline and set out. Fair warning though, it's still a bit sketchy!

I was able to get out on some anchor ice that had locked up. Water temps are still in the mid-upper 30's, so not quite full on freezing yet. I walked further out to some new ice but it was about two turns with the auger and I was through......not really my cup of tea. So I settled in to a couple holes in the anchor ice where a couple deer had walked across the night before.

All in all it was cold and I only had one bite. Then a baby chain pickerel bit hard, I set the hooked, and pulled it out. I released it back through the hole, and called it a day. Only a matter of time now, every night the temps drop, and the ice will get thicker. Pretty soon it'll be time to pull the tip-ups out!

What To Say About The Weather

What a roller coaster this fall for temperatures. It's December and since the end of October, temps have gone up and down, up and down constantly. I just don't know what to think, global warming? What causes such frequent change?

Last winter started with a bang. First week of December we got dumped on, and it kept coming. This year, we've been getting hit, then having it all melt off. The bays of Lake Champlain freeze, then it all breaks up and melts away. I guess it is early to be thinking about ice fishing with the lake still at 38 degrees still. I just can't wait to pull my first Salmon of the year through the ice.

I can't help it though. What good are the cold temps withou ice or snow to enjoy it? No skis or snowshoes, no running line of tip-ups. After a year without winter you long for it. Sure it'll wear out it's welcome in a few months, but for now, anxious anticipation reigns.