surprise catch today while fishing tip ups for perch

[cpmaple]

Well the morning started out wrong lost a blade on the augar when I got to the lake and drilled two holes so back to the bait shop to get new ones. Finally got on champlain around 8am and starting fishing. Picking up a few perch by noon the bite stopped which I had a half of pail of nice fish so I was ok with it. Moved south by a half mile and set back up got 6 tip ups in and the first one went off. Get there and the line was only moved about 3ft. Thinking it was a perch I pulled on it, it pulls back I now think a pike but when I got it to the hole I could see it under the clear ice rainbow I was happy. 18.75 long just under 3 pounds that was a great end to the day. Now the best part was this was 1 miles south of ny/vt bridge.

[fishy1]

how was the ice and how much? going to button up this week with a deep freeze comin gin.

[Crazy Ivan]

Sweet catch.....
Many monster salmon have been caught south of the bridge over the years and some old timers would tell ya the linker lakers are south in the hole in front of the pier. Keep after them.
Todd

[cpmaple]

4 inches on the new ice and 7 on the old . and crazy ivan that rainbow was caught a little farther south then that in 6ft of water and cloudy water to boot.

[cpmaple]

http://i1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc3 ... 68e3f1.jpg


Not sure if the pic worked first time trying to load one to the site please let me know and thanks if not tell me what im doing wrong thanks in advance chad

[raz]

Wow! Nice Rainbow!
Yes, the link to your picture worked.

[cpmaple]

Thanks Raz

[Thorny]

STEEL on the ICE sure is NICE!

[WildFisherWoman]

Thats a beauty for sure! Great day there.

[plantstone]

That is sweet! Great job. Another forum member mentioned a similar situation a year or so back. Caught a rainbow jigging for perch in shallows, but mid summer. Can't remember the location. Fun times.

[Reelax]

Chad what did that Rainbow have in it's belly? It looks very fat.. Thanks for the look

[cpmaple]

Reelax it has small smelt and a few small bluegill. Yes football just under 3lbs I was happy and also had a half of pail of perch to boot.

[littleship]

I did similar a few years ago, about 50' off Willsboro Boat Launch on about 6' of water, only it was a salmon. Nothing huge, but since I didn't do well with the perch, it was welcomed.