Lake Champlain United - Forums

I picked up a couple copper rigs last year and ran them on Lake Ontario with good luck. Has anyone tried running copper on Lake Champlain and if so, how'd it work for you?

if I have to run copper to catch these little salmon,they can stay in the lake,
............now,.......if some of you want to run copper,it's perfectly fine with me,I just think it would take all the fun out of catching a truly fine fish

I have not run copper. Know a little about however.

Thing that I recall the most about running copper from friends who have is that I have been told you feel everything through the fight including the heartbeat of the fish. Well maybe not that but I have been told it is quite fun.

The other thing about copper is that it is primarily a weighted-line presentation designed to reach extended depths (like leadcore only thinner). I personally will probably not set up for copper as I have other ways of fishing deep enough in Champlain and other Vermont waters, and I don't think Vermont fish are very boat shy.

Finally, for me anyway, the expense to tackle-up to copper isn't worth it to me for local waters.

Nevertheless, since you already own them I have watched people deploy copper off split. I am sure they will work. I just think if someone was going to go out and buy an outfit specifically to catch Champlain fish I think the inconvenience and expense would not be worth it.

not to mention that it's 400 feet behind the boat using it,which creates a hazard for others using downriggers

That is the one and done rig - also refered to as the client killer rig.

if you got them...run them! not much differnt than running your leadcore. The sink rate for 45lb copper is about 22 feet down per 100 feet back...so on MOST days on Lake champlain you are going to have out 400 feet of it! and as far as being client killers...they are tuff on a person with a big flasher and fly and a 25 lb king on ontario...as i'm sure if you ran them you already know that! there not going to kill you with a Crazy Ivan & a 5 lb salmon! good luck & some days they will be you hot rod...just like leadcore is.

Dukdog....I have two copper rigs on order for this summer, going to run them off from Otter boats on Lake O, right alone with my Leadcore stuff. I have had good success on Champlain with Lead core, so I dont know why they wouldnt work. That being said I am going to experiment with the copper on Champlain before heaidng to the BIg O for the end of the summer, get a little fine tuning done.
we'll see how they do & we'll be sure to fill you in!

I can see where copper would work on Ontario where you have 30# fish but I don't see it on LC.its gotta take all the fight out of the fish and I think the smaller salmon here deserve better,and also,by the way,and not to mention,,,but...what happens when you get a 8# salmon on your downrigger line and he's jumping and carrying on all over the back of the boat? don't ya think he might get into that copper line you got back there 450 feet???

I Look at it as one more tool in the box Frank. Wont say that it will have the same fight as a fish caught on mono, but probably no differnt then one caught on Slide Divers run on Braid or 10 color cores that are 300ft behind the boat. As far as getting caught up....yeah they can be a pain if your running them straight down the chute. Most guys run them out & away on inline boards or big boards like Otter boats.
Some times the fish become more spooky and want the stealth of having the baits away from the cable hum.
Are they a bit over kill for our fish....maybe. But i am also looking at them as away to experiment & fine tune things before heading the Lady O later this summer!

I don't see how running copper is any different than running lead on Champlain. I have heard good things about dive bombs and being able to reach depth and run much shorter leads on both lead and copper. I have them coming but haven't tried them yet. I will say not much challenge catching cookie cutters with a big copper rig but you can feel every twitch. I have quite a few people that buy copper rigs in 28# and 45# for jerking lakers on the bottom in local lakes as well as going to Big O. Ramel

I have used 45# copper on Ontario, Champlain, Winnipesaukee and other NH lakes. Leadcore is used from the beginning of the season until when 7 colors are needed to get to the fish and then the copper comes out. Copper sinks at about 2X leadcore so now it takes less line out to get to the fish and less cranking. Copper is just another bait delivery system like dipsy, litebite and snap on lead weight, etc.
30# copper has about the same sinking rate as 18# leadcore.


Stainless steel and copper are of a lower density when compared to lead. The advantage of using copper or stainless steel is there is no sheathing as in lead core providing tensile strength to the lead core line, sufficient tensile strength is inherent in the material. For about the same overall diameter as lead core line, copper or stainless has more mass, subsequently weighs more than the core of lead core line. The following table shows the diameters of the core for lead core line and a comparable SS wire and copper with the associated areas. 18 lb lead core line has a core diameter of 0.020 and an over all diameter with sheathing of 0.032.

Nice data Gus!

I wouldn't want copper if they build that high voltage submarine cable down the lake - LOL.

On the serious side, a good discussion on a topic I know little about.

Ken

Good point Ken!

I have used wire but you need roller tips and I don't feel the need to put roller tip rods in the boat just yet....

Hey Ben You dont need a roller tip to run wire..just a twilly tip. And you don't need any kind of a special tip on your rod for copper...its soft and won't hurt the eyes of your rod.