Lake Champlain United - Forums

Just a heads up. Out today in the Converse / Split area and the fleas were bad. 30 minutes they goop up and stop at the rod tip and get stuck.

Never seen them this early in the year. August is when they have showed up in the past.

Heard the main lake was bad to up at Cumberland Head.

I will get out my Ugly Sticks I use for Ontario with 30 lb test spooled up. Oh well!

Oh... Lost a big Chromer right behind the boat. Good fight!

Digitroll (Ron) wrote:Just a heads up. Out today in the Converse / Split area and the fleas were bad. 30 minutes they goop up and stop at the rod tip and get stuck.

Never seen them this early in the year. August is when they have showed up in the past.

Heard the main lake was bad to up at Cumberland Head.

I will get out my Ugly Sticks I use for Ontario with 30 lb test spooled up. Oh well!

Oh... Lost a big Chromer right behind the boat. Good fight!

Sorry to hear you lost a good one! As for the fleas, I surprised they are this bad so early, as the water is cool and the season otherwise is late. I hope that this doesn't mean it's just going to get worse and that we have a REAL problem on our hands. I don't know anything about fleas, but this isn't promising.

Fished out of Westport this morning just out of the bay heading north. Spiny water fleas gooping up on cables and lines. Nasty. None at Split Rock area last Friday. So the things are at the Split now?

They were worse in Whallons than on the VT side on Saturday. They are with us until they die off. I can't remember when they dispappeared last year...can anybody tell me?

Yesterday we fished Barbers to Split fleas were worse than I have ever dealt with Lake Ontario or Lake Champlain I found it odd as surface temps have not even hit 70deg yet normally they show up in 70+ deg water from my prior experience

Last year most were down closer to the thermocline or below so not a surprise they are here early. I’m wondering based on how they gunk up big line too, if they are the fishhook fleas like ontario and not spinys

It's the Fishhook variety. The other type you can shake off. These are the nasty bigger critters. 30 lb test works.

Started seeing them. 2 weeks ago.

30 lb big game works to keep them off in Ontario, not much fun for 4 and 5 pound fish though. Forget about braid and lead core when they're bad. I haven't tried it yet but I Believe Cortland Flea Flicker mono is available in as light as 20 lb which sounds like a good alternative for here.

From what I've heard and seen Cortland doesn't make the Flea Flicker line anymore. Please see attached.

http://www.lakemichiganangler.com/store ... r_Line.htm

" Sea Flee" by Blood Run Tackle is another good option

https://bloodruntackle.com/line-leader/

JTM203SOUTH wrote:" Sea Flee" by Blood Run Tackle is another good option

https://bloodruntackle.com/line-leader/

It’s a 30lbs mono

The problem make me think twice before putting my boat in another body of water!

The heavier line ( 30 lb) isn't much of a problem if you use a lighter longer leader. Typically, the fleas attach primarily to line that is near vertical ( eg. from the rod to the rigger release) and very little on horizontal segments ( eg. from release to lure). It is a compromise but it sure beats cleaning lines every fifteen minutes.

Anyone who fishes the lake after this point this year until they subside should not take their boat to another water-body without doing a VERY thorough cleaning of all gear, and fully drying everything. The biggest risk is the gear not the boat, rigger cables, reels, rods, lures, all are a potential harbor for the pesky bastards.

Should be a special sticker for Champlain only boats