We are out of here......Northern salmon move South. FACT

[Crazy Ivan]

Squeezed three early morning trips in this week. I am still working the top area of the water 15ft and up. On the boards i am running Lead core, mini dipsys, or flat lines with one or two split shots. Riggers down 10-15 way back behind the boat. Sausage Gravy Milk Shake, Chartreuse and silver Speedy shiners seem to rule the water. I have not changed colors in two weeks. Great fishing in the early morning, then it seems to slow down, not a problem for me because i have to work in the early afternoon. There are alot of great afternoon fishing spots..... you just have to find them.
So the last trip of the week was with Bill and Wes the Diesel Man. Set up the boat at first light and had action right off, I had Three salmon in the boat from my side while I was trying to set up...... Not sure what Bill was doing on his side but there was some mumbling...... Bill will tell you all that he lost the biggest Brown of his life do to a faulty snap that stretched and let the fish and Monster fish swim away...... Wes HAd a nice steelie come off behind the boat after Putting on a great show!
Anyway the first fish in the boat was a small 18" salmon.... But it had a tag in it. The tag was covered in Green algae and has to be cleaned so we could read it, we took great care in this so we could let this fish go.

On one side there is an address and the other side there is a tag number, Just so happens that Bill Knows everyone in the state of Vermont and at 9 am he started making calls. The fish was happy and safe in his on board aquarium and after several calls we had the right people on the phone.
This Salmon was tagged in Hatchery Brook by the Grand Island Ferry in November of 2011, It was 17.3 inches at the time. Yesterday it was just under 18" and had a fresh lamprey wound. Quite the long trip south just hang out with us! We let this fish go and I hope to catch it again in 3 years!
Here are some more photos from last week

Nice cold morning Landlocked

Monster 20" Lamprey that was almost as long at the lake trout we plucked it off


The Play Tank

Where is SALMON EYE

Chef Bill Lowell..... Fresh (caught Wednesday) Salmon Burger Sliders with Creole
Remulaude..... A feast for kings

Get out there and Have Fun!!!!

[Del Gue]

Well, if the Salmon are moving south then so will I! Thanks for the update.

[Black Ghost (Ken)]

Baitfish, water temperature, and girl salmons. If you can figure that out, you'll find the salmon.

Ken

[digitroll (ron)]

Todd / Bill,

So that is where all the salmon go in the Inland (d**d) Sea when the white perch move in! Go South!

I love the fish aquarium. Has that fish and game look at the Champlain Valley Fair when we would drool over the brood fish in the tank 30 years ago.

Great report!

R

[Trackertroller]

Very nice report, cool tagged fish too, not a bad winter growth spurt either. Thanks for posting, hoping to be up on the big lake next weekend.

[popster]

I swear it was a huge Brown, Todd. What else could straighten out the Duolock Snap?


Good times on both Todd's and my boat the past couple of weeks. Nothing that we've caught has been deeper than 20'. This time of year I also love to put out a light spinning rod just under the surface in the prop wash. I've had some success using a 1 oz. Stinger Dive Bomb about 50' in front of the lure at a speed of 1.8-2.0 mph. Not sure of the depth curve yet, but seems to be in the 10-15' range..... probably the same as about 2-3 colors of lead.

great having Todd & Wes to fish with yesterday
FISH ON

[raz]

Waaaay up north today I had one hit in three hours.
Great post Todd...Thanks.

[Fishdawg]

Raz,
I was way up north on the lake today as well. Didnt see you, but saw several boats trolling and many bassers and anchored fishermen. We should have hit the water earlier (didnt get started until 8am), but we got into some fish early. Ended the day with 2 nice fat browns around 18 inches and 2 salmon (1 was just over 20") and a smallmouth bass that must have been close to 4 lbs. all the fish came on long lines off the planers with several split shot on the lines. All fish also came on watrermelon, or rainbow trout type lures and all but the bass were carrying lamprey. You guys should do well in this area tomorrow. Good luck to all!!!!!

[raz]

I was busy here at home Dawg. I didn't even get on the water until 11:00. Good to hear you picked up fish!

[plantstone]

I love facts. Nice case presented here. Great couple of fish too.

[fishhuntadventure]

I love facts. Nice case presented here. Great couple of fish too.

For sure.

There is so much I have learned over the last few years since I was given the chance to procure a Champlain Addiction. Before Champlain it was all-day fishing for one little salmon on a lake you could never run out of gas on. With all I have learned I often feel like I could write a book... But every time I am on the water I realize the truth: I know so little!

Good info and still in awe of that boat-mounted non-electric dual-screen Fish TV

[WildFisherWoman]

Looks like a great time. Good food and entertainment. That tag is cool. Cant believe they venture so far.

[Brian]

Good stuff! Very interesting tag.