Lake Champlain United - Forums

The Fleet Assembled at Converse this morning for most likely to be the last time for a float for a while as water at the ramp was 35.8 deg.

Today We had Instigator with Reggie & Jermy Lucia, Capt. Swilly Will Nolan and his Nephew & Surprise with Ron Winter and Al Morehouse.

We all were in hunt mode around in the puddle with 37 degrees. Each had their own spread and we set out 2 slide divers and 2 riggers @ 25-30ft.

It didn't seem to be a day of much lure choice and all in our boat were able to take Lakers. We ended the day in the mid 20's on lakers and 1 16 in salmon landed with a couple others dropped.

Started the day with Walnut Orange Cranberry Biscotti, Lunch Spring Vegetable Soup and Roast Chicken Sandwiches, & Grapes and Honeybell oranges.

Pulled the plug @ 4:00 and had to break ice to get in. With the upcoming forecast we look to be in for a wait to get back.

All in all a great day with friends on the pond. Thanks for sharing the day.

Will Nolan:


Instigator:








Best Group of Frostbiters Today!




Day is done in my Drive:




And the Question we all Ponder:

Another nice Sunday on the water with a fine representation out there on the water with Will and Reggie's boats! Thanks Randy for the ride and menu and it was cool listening to Al "Fish Farmer" stories of all the interesting work they do for us to enjoy this fishery! Al is a few years away from retirement he told us. Might be the last trip till March with the deep freeze upon us. 21 salmon DNA samples to turn in today at USFW in Essex.

Today's short video:


https://youtu.be/PMG13vQORxI

Nice job randy and crew,forecast for the next 10 days looks absolutely terrible!!!!

Somedays the silvers will jump in the boat. Sometimes not.
Thanks for the post.

Way to go guys! As much as I wanted to get one more trip in before lock up I just couldn't coerce my fair weather lady (and First Mate) to come out of hibernation so my Mistress will get a three month vacation in a nice warm garage........

My thanks once more to the guys who brave the onset of hard water conditions and thereby shorten the limbo period till Spring with their reports.
Had every intention to make a showing myself but (I forget who) one of these brave souls said something very sobering about the condition of one boat that traveled through all the road salted slush from here in NH. "The boat was barely recognizable as one". And right about here Pat Wright makes another valid point about cleaning off that mess upon return. Whaddaya gonna do do if ya don't have "A nice warm garage"? Another something for my wish list to include a paved driveway.
Will Rogers famously said, "I spent most of my money on beer and women. The rest I just wasted." Ha ha ha!
I guess for the time being I'll just pin my hopes for a Champlain visit on showing up with ice fishing gear.
Still in hopes for any divine guidance on that subject

And speaking of warmth, that didn't look like much of a Wintah hat 40 Up Tackle furnished you with, Razz. But could be you just have tougher ears than me.
Chuckle

Where have you gone Chessy Man "Our nation turns it's lonely eyes to you" -Paul Simon

More snow here in Not-so-sunny Northfield today
Ugh!
Jump

Jump wrote: ↑Mon Jan 19, 2026 9:29 am Will Rogers famously said, "I spent most of my money on beer and women. The rest I just wasted." Ha ha ha!

Funny stuff right there Jump!

Jump wrote: ↑Mon Jan 19, 2026 9:29 am And speaking of warmth, that didn't look like much of a Wintah hat 40 Up Tackle furnished you with, Razz. But could be you just have tougher ears than me.
Chuckle

Yessir...not a wintah hat for sure... Fair weather only!

I like to keep the humor in it with no offense intended. But you gotta admit, Gerry, that am strange apparel coming from a company that specializes in Winter fishing gear.
I suppose it might be just as simple as realizing the guy who loves fishing well enough to brave the elements will likely ply his trade when the air gets comfortable too. A fishing hat knows no season as it were and that's about the same with all you Frost Bite guys. My watch cap is off to ya!

So...Now this teen aged kid has an epiphany! He runs to his father and says, look dad, if I wear my hat backwards the visor blocks the sun.
I'm sure you have all seen them planing across the lake...Rebelling against conformity, with the tear drops streaming from their ear lobes.
It's twue, it's twue
-Elmer Fudd

Jump

Here is cool drone footage of Will's boat on Facebook yesterday:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GhAuJ ... tid=wwXIfr

raz wrote: ↑Mon Jan 19, 2026 7:28 am Somedays the silvers will jump in the boat. Sometimes not.
Thanks for the post.

Well...Ron kept handing me the rod and I'm known to drop fish. First one tore off 25 feet back.