30TH Annual

Lake Champlain

Islands

ICE FISHING DERBY

SATURDAY – SUNDAY:

FEBRUARY 13 – 14, 2010

MARK YOUR CALANDERS AND BUY YOUR

TICKETS TODAY!

YOU COULD WIN:

Now in it’s 30th consecutive year, the derby is proud to award over $4,000 in cash and prizes. There are seven categories of which to compete for cash prizes up to $300.00, plus a trophy for the first 3 places in each category. However you don’t have to catch the biggest fish in the lake to be a winner. Your derby ticket qualifies you to win a jiffy power auger at the awards ceremony on Sunday night, You must be present to win.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

you may call one of the following committee members : Mindy and Gilbert Granger ( Martin’s General Store) 802-868-4459; Steve Martell (Bayside Bait and Tackle) 802-524-2222; or George Fowler (The Islander Newspaper) 802-372-5600.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL !

Get your gear ready , Cold weather has brought us an early ice season. I came across this article in the Sunday paper while drinking my coffee and my excitement level shot through the roof . I ran through the house showing everyone, and now sharing this info to you my fellow ice anglers. Our first ice fishing adventure will take place after the new year. Also just got an HD camcorder so Keep an eye out for great ice fishing Videos. (Coming Soon)

Now that winter is here time to reorganize my gear for storage. Here is a look inside my tackle box and some of the lures and tools I use for spring, summer, and fall fishing.

Here is a collection of crank baits, my Favorite ones being the two cranks that look like small perch. I’ve had alot of success with all the cranks shown, the strike king itsy bitsy minnow works great for crappie, the fire tiger color works best in any lighting condition, the blue fox minnows work well on the crappie, blue gill, and perch. The perch cranks that i mentioned before work on everything from bass, crappie, pike, pickerel, and big perch. I love feeling the strike of fish when reeling in a crank bait.

Here Is the Luck “E” Strike ring worm kit. I purchased this kit from Bass Pro Shop and as I’ve said before this is the best plastic worm set and at a sweet price $5.99. We were very success full with this kit especially the blue colored worms in both sizes in fact a 3lb bass hammered the smaller ring worm and it seemed like the 2lb bass were hitting the larger ones, could there be a pattern here? Either way the verity this kit comes with I believe will catch fish anywhere. This is also a great kit for someone who hasn’t used plastic worms before. It’s easy to use and comes with every thing you need to rig many different ways. (Highly Recommended)

This top water frog set was something new I’ve never tried before and I’m still learning how to use them. We’ve had many hits with these frogs but have yet to land one. This Was a Great buy All frogs shown came in one kit can’t remember which store I ordered this kit from but I can tell you it was either Bass Pro Shop or Cabela’s.

Here are other lures which we’ve used over and over, such as the banjo minnow. The banjo minnow catches fish and has great action but I find those weed guard rubber bands a pain in the butt. The plastic lizards are great lures we use them without weights and run them over the top of lillypads and the fish just hammer them, also if you let them sink just bellow the surface and slow retrieve you’ll catch those lazy fish that are not in feeding mode. in this box there is a chatter bait and other odds and ends.

This box contains another kit by Luck “E” Strike, It’s there tube kit i bought this for two reasons. One I’ve never used them before and two there being used more and more in the ice fishing world. Again this kit comes with everything you need to start fishing with tubes, cost a little bit more than the ring worm kit but worth every penny to learn something new. Also pictured here are some bobbers that were on sale at Walmart for twenty five cents, and a Lindy worm blower.

Here are a few of my rods and reels all cleaned and ready for storage, (Not all rods shown) Now that My gear is organized and ready for the spring and summer months it’s time to prep all the ice fishing gear .

Good Luck And Happy Fishing

Ice Fishing Derby 2009

As the anticipation of ice fishing season fast approaches, I can’t stress enough the importance of ice safety, here are a few tips that could save your life or the life of a fellow fisherman.

* Attach a long cord to your sled. Not only does this make the sled easier to pull but should someone fall through the ice you can push the sled to them holding onto the line.
* Carry two picks – spikes protruding from wooden hand holds – to help pull your way out if you should fall in.
* If you should fall through the ice, once you spike your way out or are pulled out, don’t stand – roll across the ice in the direction you came.
* Carry a throwable seat cushion. It’ll add to your seating comfort and give you something throw to someone fallen through.
* Keep your auger covered. The blades are sharp, and can easily cut you, your dog or your children.
* Spray vegetable oil on your auger and snowshoes. Snow won’t stick and you won’t cut yourself cleaning off the show.
* Wear creepers. Slip on, or spiked shoes will keep you from slipping and falling on the ice.
* Bring a phone to call for help.
* A first aid kit
* Watch for weak spots. Weaker ice often looks different than strong ice.
* Carry a spud and test, test, test.
* Watch out for weedy areas. Weeds produce heat and the ice is weaker around them.
* Watch the bottom. If it moves, LEAVE IMMEDIATELY!
* Use your brain when evaluating the conditions and decisions. Never let a desire for fishing incite you to do something hazardous.
* Keep your eye on what direction the wind is from, the speed, the topography of the area, and the condition of any cracks you cross.
* Keep in mind that no number or size fish is worth your life.
* Learn when you make a mistake so you don’t repeat them.
* Wear wool clothes a few layers out from your body. It retains it’s insulating properties when wet and, after your body warms up the water soaked in between your body and the wool, the water will also insulate you from the cold.
* Watch the temperature. While it may not be warm enough to melt the ice, it may very well weaken it substantially because soft ice is much weaker than hard.

When the ice is questionable:

* Go only in waters you or somebody you’re fishing with know.
* Remember to go out only as far as you can make it back if you’re wet.
* Exercise extreme care if you go in water over your head or in a current.

These tips and more can be found here: https://www.lake-link.com/icefishing/IceFishingSafety.cfm

Remember be safe and Happy Fishing

This is the story of me and my partners first time fishing together. After meeting Nate through my wife, We sat around had a few beers and talked about how we wish we were fishing. Since i had left all my fishing gear in Florida when i moved up I knew I would have to buy all new equipment. So the next day I went online to research all the species of fish here in Vermont and what are the best ways to catch them. after learning what I needed to get I went to Dicks Sporting Goods And Walmart to purchase 2 fishing rods some simple hooks in a variety of sizes and split shot weights some slip bobbers (Which I never used before) and Some Simple red and white bobbers. with all the basics in hand I went home to prep the lines so we would be good to go.

We set it up on what was a nice weekend with possible light showers, which we weren’t concerned with. We met at Nate’s house since he lives right down the road from were we where going, we filled our coffee cups and Headed out. Now keep in mind this was a point before spring at the tail end of winter. we first looked for a good spot to start fishing. there was a extension of the land that formed a cove to the left and right, perfect! The Sunfish were nibbling and then i pulled out my first perch. “Woo Hoo!” I shouted, so much excitment for a small fish, to be honest I would have woo hoo-ed if i pulled in a minnow. After that we were catching little sunnies here and there, we were having a great time. But all of a sudden the bites died and the sky became gray and It began to lightly snow, That didn’t stop us oh no, we continued to fishing as a few minutes later the sky became clear and the sun was warming us up. But the fish had not started biting again we continued to hunt the fish walking up and down the shore of both coves as the weather made another atempt to stop us by raining on us then turning into snow again then back to sunny then rain,snow, and sun. At this point I looked at Nate and said “This is by far the strangest weather I’ve ever seen in my life.” But it did not stop us from trying to catch a beast of a fish.

We walked back out to the furthest point and made a long distance cast. we sat on a make-shif  bench and was talking about our next fishing trip and about exploring the other side of the lake when all of a sudden Nate Flew off the bench jerking back on his pole screaming in excitement “SET!, SET!, SET!” He reeled in as fast as he could When he pulled up a bull pout he did a song and dance that looked like the scarecrow from the wizard of oz. I went to un-hook the fish I realized he had set the hook in the whisker of the fish and not the lip. We laughed and talked about the set!, set!, set! he screamed and the fact that he set the the hook in the fish’s whisker. as we continued to fish the sky had once again turned ugly but this time we were pelted by hail we endured it for a minute before calling it a day.

Didn’t catch much that day like we do now but what a crazy day. I also learned how to use those slip-bobbers that day and I love em. We love telling this story especially over a few cold ones. I hope you enjoy it too.

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