Lake Champlain/Vermont spring bass season

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worm31
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Lake Champlain/Vermont spring bass season

Post by worm31 »

Hey everyone

I was watching Bob Izumi the other day and he was fishing Lake Champlain in Vermont during the spring for large and small mouth bass. Its only catch and release by the way. It was taped a year ago and I was wonderin if the season is the same for this year. It opened the 2nd sat in april and went to the 2nd fri in june. Since Vermont isn't far from Ottawa I was thinkin of takin a trip down there. Does anyone have any expericence fishing lake champlain in the spring for bass, if you do please share it.

Thanks in advance, Worm

p.s. is there a Vermont regulations site or book that I could check out?
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Salar
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Post by XXXL »

Champlain is actually on the border of New York and Vermont.. as well the northern tip which is right up in to Quebec. South of the border you can fish under a NY or Vermont license but regs depend on which section of the lake you are fishing. December 1 thru the Friday preceding the 2nd Saturday in June is catch and release for NY regs. I'll hopefully be heading down in a couple weeks if the weather cooperates. Let you know how it goes.

Check this out for special NY regs for Champlain

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/31510.html
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lhousesoccer
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Post by lhousesoccer »

Hi there .... I'm Shawn Good - the fisheries biologist in Vermont that Bob taped the show with. I'm glad to see that folks saw the show and are interested in coming to Vermont to fish Champlain's catch-and-release bass season. The season opens the 2nd Saturday in April every year - and this year that will be April 12. Catch and release only with artificial lures. The fishing is just outstanding at the time of year.

I thought I'd just let anyone reading this know though that winter's holding on a little longer than normal this year (as I'm sure it is in Ottawa). If you do plan on coming down, I'd shoot for late April or early May to ensure the ice is out and the bass are biting. I can't wait myself ! If you want more information, go to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife website. There's a page with information specifically on spring bass fishing. Here's the link :

http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/bassfishing.cfm

If people want any more specific information, send me an e-mail at shawn.good@state.vt.us. I don't know if you caught it in the show, but I'm a Canadian as well. I've been living down here for 10 years now. I'm always willing to help out a fellow Canadian to get into some great bass fishing, especially knowing that everyone back home has to wait until the end of June !!!!
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Post by Andy_L »

hey Shawn, I saw that episode as well....welcome to Fish-Hawk btw :) Hope we hear from you often about fishing in Vermont...its not THAT far away to come down there for a weekend :)

cheers

Andy
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Post by lhousesoccer »

Hi Andy ... I used to live in Ottawa and you're right. It's not far from Vermont at all. Most of my friends and family are spread between London and Peterborough and even they make it down a couple times a year, especially in the spring to fish bass ! Here are some pictures of some spring bass from Vermont, with an "upper Kawarthas-region" Ontario pike - my best ever - thrown in for fun !

ImageImage

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Abraxus
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Cool

Post by Abraxus »

Thats pretty cool. I watched that episode as well. I have an aunt that lives in Barrie. I have spent a few summers over on Champlain. It certainly is a little further away from Toronto, but maybe I will consider visiting my dear old aunt this spring! lol

Ab
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Post by lhousesoccer »

Looks like you should make a trip to Vermont to visit dear old Auntie ! Barrie is a bit of a trip from Champlain (~45min) but the catch-and-release bass season that starts this coming Saturday is NOT Champlain-specific. This regulation applies to all waters of the state, and there are some great smaller lakes and ponds in the Barrie area you could and essentially have the bass all to yourself ! Check out Waterbury Reservoir - that's one that comes to mind, but if you want more info, let me know.
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