CATCHIN' ABOARD THE POINTER

Yesterday I had the opportunity to fish with Bill and Rob aboard Bill's boat "Pointer".  Man...what a great vessel to fish from.  I can only dream of owning a boat as seaworthy as this.

We hit the water early in the morning in search of Lake Champlain Land locked Atlantic Salmon.  It didn't take long, and we found the piles of bait we were in search of to fish over. 

The first fish netted came soon after finding the bait, Rob netted this pretty 3+ pounder that was soon to be filleted.

Fishing was pretty steady for a couple hours after that.  We ended up putting eight salmon in the net along with two lake trout.  Several nice fish were dropped behind the boat including one that hit a Slide Diver Lite Bite, peeled a BUNCH of line, and dropped the hook.  That's' fishin'!

The best fish of the day measured right at 24 inches and weighed 5 pounds, 12 ounces.  Once again, the Slide Diver Lite Bite provided the stealthy presentation that fooled this fish.

Fortunately for me, I was the one that grabbed the rod with the fish on, while Rob was working another fish to the net. 

I think I'll enter this one in the new Vermont Master Angler Program!

Thanks again to Bill and Rob for a fun day of catchin' aboard the Pointer.

Fish on, fish H8 me.

Raz

CATCHIN' ABOARD THE POINTER

LAKE CHAMPLAIN HAS A NEW FAN

Last week, my cousin Dan and his wife Cheryl paid us a visit from Michigan.  Dan is an avid Walleye fisherman on the Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron.  He had never had the opportunity to fish over deep water such as Lake Champlain.  We fished the better part of one day.  The fishing was slow and we picked at them, but Dan was pleased with his two Steelhead, the Lake Trout that we boated, and a school of young stocked salmon.
He loves our lake.
Champlain has a new fan!

Fish on, Fish H8 me.

Raz

LAKE CHAMPLAIN HAS A NEW FAN

BIG BEAUTIFUL LAKE CHAMPLAIN BROWN TROUT

What a big beautiful Lake Champlain Brown Trout.  Absolutely the finest specimen I've seen from the jewel we call Lake Champlain.

Theresa Bilodeau was trolling on the Inland Sea with her husband Matt.  They were in the third day of the Lake Champlain International Derby when the fish hit a black and white Hi-Tech with a purple stripe, running behind the stealthy Lite Bite Slide Diver.
Theresa's fish weighed an impressive 5.78 pounds, the largest I've seen from Champlain!  Although it was the largest Brown Trout entered into the derby, it fell short of "placing", due to the derby not having a separate category for Brown Trout, and it had to be entered into the salmon category.

Theresa and Matt decided to give the catch a permanent place in thier home, on the wall.  I would have done the same!

Congratulations Theresa on a fine catch!

Fish on, fish H8 me.
Raz

BIG BEAUTIFUL LAKE CHAMPLAIN BROWN TROUT

NEW LAKE TROUT RECORD SET FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN

During the recent 2010 Lake Champlain International Fathers Day Derby, A new lake record was set for Lake Trout. The new record Lake Trout tipped the scales at 16.77 pounds and was caught by Dana J. LaDuke of Bomoseen, Vermont. 
Congratulations to Dana.
Dana's fish is testament that the Lake Champlain fishery is improving by leaps and bounds, thanks to the tireless efforts of Vermont Fish and Game, New York DEC, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Complete Lake Champlain International Derby results can be found on thier site by clicking here, and then by clicking "Current Results".

Fish on, fish H8 me.
Raz

NEW LAKE TROUT RECORD SET FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN

THE "FINAL FOURTH" ON A SLIDE DIVER LITE BITE!

Late last fall, news starting spreading around Lake Champlain of the Slide Diver Lite Bite.  I ordered one during the winter months, and early in the spring, consulted with the designer of the product, Randy Even, of U-Charters Inc.  Randy was very helpful in helping me set it up properly and recommending the proper line to use with his product.

I began fishing with it once the fish began to move from the shallows out over deeper water in early May.  It wasn't long before I realized this was a great "stealthy" presentation, enabling me to put the spookiest of fish in the net.

On May 23rd, Cathy and I were fishing the northern "Georgia" shoreline on the inland sea when the Slide Diver Lite Bite fired.  Once the fish was netted, we realized this was a steel-head!  Normally, quite a rare catch in Lake Champlain I knew I had been blessed by the fish-gods, A steel-head on the Lite Bite!

I had already caught Landlocked Atlantic Salmon and some very nice Champlain Brown Trout on the Slide Diver Lite Bite, now, with a Steel-Head in the net, I realized there was just one more Lake Champlain cold-water species to hook up and net using the Lite Bite...A Lake Trout.

Not being a Lake Trout fisherman, I thought it might take me a while.  My Lake Trout are far and few between and are "incidentals" while fishing for Salmon and Browns.  I began to use stick-baits with the slide diver, hoping to catch a Lake Trout while concentrating on my usual targets with a downrigger on the other side of the boat.  Three or four trips out, nothing.  Small, freshly stocked Salmon were all I was able to hook up with on the stick baits.  This was beginning to be a challenge.  A challenge I was liking!

Thursday night, June 17th I spoke with a friend of mine, Mark.  Mark owns the MarknFish and invited me to join him on Friday for a day of trolling.  Mark suggested I bring the Slide Diver Lite Bite as he hadn't yet seen one in action.  I explained I had already planned on it...I need a Laker!

We hit the water early Friday morning with his young neighbor, Wade.  We set up and began trolling for Salmon, but one of my rods was set up and on a mission:  to get a Lake Trout on the Lite Bite Slide Diver!  I put the diver out, changed lures periodically, and watched and waited.  Then I decided to have it dive deeper, off the chart that comes with the diver.  Down I sent it, down, down, down...

And soon it happened, it fired and line started peeling.  I grabbed the rod and begun to adjust the drag, playing the fish.  "Laker" I yelled, "It feels like a Laker!"

After a few tense moments at the net, the fish was in the boat. A Lake Champlain Lake Trout on the Slide Diver Lite Bite!  THE FINAL FOURTH!!  Ye-Haa's echoed off the steep rocky banks of the lake, and high-fives all around!

Here is a picture of Wade, holding the Lake Trout that closed the deal, THE FINAL FORTH!!

If your looking for a new presentation or wanting to do some controlled depth fishing without using a down-rigger for whatever reason, I highly recommend the Slide Diver Lite Bite! 

IT WILL PUT FISH IN THE BOAT!

Slide Diver Lite Bites are available locally on Lake Champlain or on-line by visiting Dockside Outdoors!

Tight lines!

Fish on, fish H8 me.

Raz

THE "FINAL FOURTH" ON A SLIDE DIVER LITE BITE!

Can-Am FISHING TROLLING LURE WANTED

Anyone out there have one (or some)
Can-Am trolling spoon(s) they'd like to part with?
The color isn't important, it's the shape, the design that counts.
If it's what I'm looking for, it will have CanAm and/or Al's Goldfish Co. stamped on it.

PLEASE Contact me  by clicking here if you have one or more that I can purchase.
Thanks!

Fish on, fish H8 me.
Raz

Can-Am FISHING TROLLING LURE WANTED

BIG LAKE CHAMPLAIN LANDLOCKED ATLANTIC SALMON

A very nice clean BIG Lake Champlain Landlocked Atlantic Salmon was recently caught on the lake. 
With the upcoming LCI Father's Day Derby less than one week away, I'm sworn to secrecy...I won't divulge the anglers identity or the location where the fish was caught. 
I will mention however, the fish was caught on a spoon from Dockside Outdoors. A Tamiron Honeybee, #2 black and white, also recently named the KopKar!. 

This picture is my modified version of the lure, I added the dots.

The fish wasn't weighed on certified scales untill the day after it was caught! It weighed in at an impressive 9.45 pounds and measured out to an impressive 28.5 inches!

Congratulions to the angler!

Fish on, fish H8 me.

Raz

BIG LAKE CHAMPLAIN LANDLOCKED ATLANTIC SALMON

DORKFISH

DEFORMATION, MUTATION, OR INJURY?

Tyler "Sanman" hit the water last Friday aboard the Bassbuddy II with a couple of his fishing partners.  They launched out of Converse Bay, Charlotte, Vermont in search of Lake Champlain Landlocked Salmon, Steelhead, and Lake Trout.

They landed this Lake Champlain Landlocked Atlantic Salmon which they named "Dorkfish".
The fish had a big hole in its throat with it's tongue hanging out!
Apparently, this abnormality hadn't affected the fishes ability to feed, as Tyler harvested it and found its stomach to be full of smelt and alewife's.

Thanks for sharing Tyler!

And...congratulation on catching Lake Champlain's "Dorkfish"!

Fish on, fish H8 me.

Raz

DORKFISH

UNDERWATER BASE JUMPING

It isn't Lake Champlain, heck it isn't even fishing. 
But...it's cool!
I can't help but post this video I came across.

World champion freediver Guillaume Nery,  performs a dive at Dean's Blue Hole, the deepest blue hole (underwater sink hole) in the world.





Fish on, fish H8 me.
Raz

UNDERWATER BASE JUMPING

THE 2010 PLATTSBURGH ROTARY FISHING CLASSIC: THANKS GUYS!

Thanks to the fellas for inviting me to join their team in the 2010 Plattsburgh Rotary Fishing Classic.  I had a blast and want to do it again. 
I've never been much into the "competition" thing, but that's not what it's really about!
Pete called me one night last week and asked if I'd join the team because they had a fisherman drop out.  I elected to fill the spot. 
Pete and Kevin targeted Lake Trout in the main lake.  Pete's brother-in-law, Bill and I fished the inland sea targeting Landlocked Atlantic Salmon.  We didn't net a fish worthy of entering the contest, but the new friendships I gained were what puts smiles on my face!

I knew Pete and Kevin prior to this weekend, but haven't really spent much time with them.  Bill was a stranger.  I hadn't met Bill prior to getting on his boat on Saturday to "partner up".  Bill and I had a lot of laughs together, fishing the inland sea, in search of a salmon worthy of entering into the event, but it wasn't meant to be.

We all got together on Saturday night for a barbecue of venison, fish, burgers, salads and sides.  Beer too!
Pete brought his wife Michelle.  Kevin brought his better half Pam, and her sister Sherry.  Lots of laughs, a fun little get together, but far too short.  Thanks for letting me hang out everyone!

A big thanks to Bill for providing our fishing platform: The Woodchuck Express.  A boat geared up well for cold-water species fishing on Lake Champlain.
Also, Bill provided the fishing camp, The Weekender, located along the shores of the inland sea.   A place to rest, regroup, hang out, and have a beer or seventeen.
Thanks Bill!
I also owe a big thanks to Ben at Dockside Outdoors.  Thanks Ben for the "sponsorship"!
Thanks to the ladies, for cleaning up the mess in the camp kitchen.  A mess I helped make.

I'm already looking forward to next years "Rotary Derby", and hope I'm invited back! 
Thanks guys!

Here are the final results:
Top Five Fish in Each Division
Official Results (8:30 p.m. Sunday, June 6, 2010)

DIVISION WEIGHT ANGLER CITY, ST

Lake Trout:
15 lb. 12 oz. Vincent Dattalio So. Burlington, VT
15 lb. 5 oz. Roland Poulin New Hampton, NH
14 lb. 7.5 oz. Todd Rockwood Colchester, VT
13 lb. 5.0 oz. Eric White Wells River, VT
13 lb.6. 5 oz. Randy Trombley Mooers, NY

Salmon: 
7 lb. 13.5 oz. Dave Charron Colchester, VT
7 lb. 11.5 oz. William Stewart Ballston Lake , NY
7 lb. 0.5 oz. Nick Arnold Peru, NY
6 lb. 9.5 oz. Shane Bombard Ausable Forks, NY
6 lb. 4.5 oz. James Baker So. Hero, VT

Walleye:
5 lb. 5 oz. Eric St. Croix Northfield,VT
5 lb. 2 oz. Kevin Lambert Winooski, VT
4 lb. 10 oz. Bruce Baker Saranac Lake, NY
4 lb. 7.5 oz. Ben Boileau Burlington, VT
4 lb. 4.0 oz. Rick Reyor Malone, NY
Team Competition (Points)
Official Results (8:30 p.m. Sunday, June 6, 2010)

TEAM POINTS
Cold Water Wizards 996
Here Fishy Fishy 872
Dattilio's Gun & Tackle 837

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!!!


Fish on, fish H8 me.
Raz

THE 2010 PLATTSBURGH ROTARY FISHING CLASSIC: THANKS GUYS!