Vermont Bass'n Help!

[JellyMan]

I grew up in Florida my entire life. 28 years. So I am in Vermont till the end of the summer. I live right on Lake Arrowhead here in Vermont and this place HAS to hold tons of bass. There are tons of grass beds. I have tried fishing from shore a little with no luck at all but I am going to be picking up a nice inflatable fishing boat next week and I am going after em!

Question being:

- Should I approach this the same as Florida? Like fishing grass beds, sunken cover, and drop offs?

- What baits work well with the spring and summer seasons? Jigs, senko's, top waters, trick worms, spinner baits, brush hogs? Should I just approach it like I did in Florida?

Here are some pics of the areas I am thinking of fishing

http://4.bp.blogspot...00/IMG_7248.JPG

http://farm3.static...._0e62217076.jpg

http://activerain.co...87485715611.JPG

http://www.flickr.co...05481/lightbox/

[grampa1114]

If you do anything different, it might be to downsize one notch. Smallmouth tend to hit a slightly smaller sillouette but even that isn't always true. If you know how to fish in Florida, then you probably know how to fish in Vermont. Just remember, if you hook a big Smallmouth, hold on tight.

[JellyMan]

Thanks for the input. I cant wait to get out on the lake and work em' this summer.

[jaystraw]

Yeah I agree. Downsize. I'm sure the water is clear so just match any color plastic you use to the bottom of the lake. You may have to fish a little faster with a spinnerbait as well in the clear water.

I'm sure you will kill it! Good luck.

[JellyMan]

Well I'm not off the shore yet, next week, but I finally found a little success! Nice healthy 2 1/2'lb'er! I am now positive there are some big bass here! I also hooked up on something BIG but my line busted! I was heart broken because it was seriously at least 6 pounds. Devastated.

I used the same technic's, colors, and presentation as I did in Florida. Worked like a charm.

[grampa1114]

WTG Jellyman keep it up.

[UPS VT]

If you have access to a boat, go to Champlain you aren't far from there and you won't regret it.

[webertime]

Arrowhead can be pretty goofy, all the spots that look "bassy" will often have nothng but pickerel or sunnies, then you go to a sandy/silty flat and they are all over. Fish around that bridge in your pix, especially now with the smallies running up into the Lamoille now.

It can get nasty brown in the blink of an eye after a good rain and it can get a pretty crazy current.

There are some big fish in there, but they are few and far between. There are some BIG Bowfin in there though.

Senkos, Fat Ikas and Pit Bosses!

[dcfdpipeman]

I'm heading to Champlain this summer in August for a week. Fishing near Charlotte area.. got any tips, do's/don'ts or where to get good info? I grew up in VT but always flyfished. Never fished the big lake but hear so much about it.

I do fish Lake Salem over by Newport. It's clear as can be, we fish jerk baits and soft plastics (jigs/creatures/sencos). All light in colors.

[webertime]

I'm heading to Champlain this summer in August for a week. Fishing near Charlotte area.. got any tips, do's/don'ts or where to get good info? I grew up in VT but always flyfished. Never fished the big lake but hear so much about it.

I do fish Lake Salem over by Newport. It's clear as can be, we fish jerk baits and soft plastics (jigs/creatures/sencos). All light in colors.

PM me where you are staying and any other questions, I live in the next town over and know some SICK spots right in the area.

[JellyMan]

Another FATTY from on shore.

I will be getting my boat and trolling motor Friday so I can finally get off the shore. I will be doing up Champlain once a week as well.

I will get in touch with you weber. I would like to know some good areas for bass close to me in Champlain.

[grampa1114]

I'm heading to Champlain this summer in August for a week. Fishing near Charlotte area.. got any tips, do's/don'ts or where to get good info? I grew up in VT but always flyfished. Never fished the big lake but hear so much about it.

I do fish Lake Salem over by Newport. It's clear as can be, we fish jerk baits and soft plastics (jigs/creatures/sencos). All light in colors.

If you are that close to Newport, fhen don't forget Memphremagog, also filled with great smallies and some, bullet fast, lake trout who will hit crank baits and finesse plastics readily.

[dcfdpipeman]

Memphremagog for some reasons scares the crap out of me. Everytime we got to newport for something, the water is very rough.. I assume there are some good coves/bays not far from launch? Also, what happens when you cross into Canada via boat? is it mark with a bouy on the lake?

[dcfdpipeman]

PM me where you are staying and any other questions, I live in the next town over and know some SICK spots right in the area.

PM sent, I really appreciate this!

[grampa1114]

Memphremagog for some reasons scares the crap out of me. Everytime we got to newport for something, the water is very rough.. I assume there are some good coves/bays not far from launch? Also, what happens when you cross into Canada via boat? is it mark with a bouy on the lake?

First of all there is wind and wave action on every lake.....this is just another North-South northern lake, Champlain, finger lakes, Lake George etc. There are many sheltered areas on both sides of the border. The border is clearly marked with many bouys and a check point house. You must check in every time you cross the border. For all the obstacles that you may encounter, the fishing can be very rewarding.

[JellyMan]

Got out with the boat today, Your right weber. Those grass beds of the boat ramp are not grass beds. They are extremely shallow sand bars with a little grass on top. Looked dead and completely unproductive. They looked so good from shore lol.

I have not had a chance to get out to any other areas yet. My motor mount will arrive on Monday so I can finally get out and explore a bit. Need to find some actual aquatic vegetation! Muck, grass, sticks ect..

[Tego]

I'm heading to Champlain this summer in August for a week. Fishing near Charlotte area.. got any tips, do's/don'ts or where to get good info? I grew up in VT but always flyfished. Never fished the big lake but hear so much about it.

I do fish Lake Salem over by Newport. It's clear as can be, we fish jerk baits and soft plastics (jigs/creatures/sencos). All light in colors.

This (Salem) is my neck of the woods! I frequently fish Memphramagog from my canoe. I saw in another post that you are concerned about the waves/rough water. Try the South Bay access area. It's much calmer there and I have caught a lot of both Sallies and Larrys in there. Also, Shadow Lake in Glover, Parker Pond in Craftsbury, Echo, Pensioner Pond, etc, etc. PLENTY of good bass spots.