Finally got out!

[Bender]

The weather was supposed to be 80, sunny, and windy today so I've been getting ready to hit the water all week. I headed over to Champlain since I read online that there was no ice. Backed the boat in and after three tries (forgot to pump the bulb) the motor started up without problems, just like last fall. The StarTron additive must have worked over the winter since it had 10% ethanol gas in it from last fall. There were 2 boats coming in when I headed out. Of course it was so warm I didn't need rain gear, until I speared a wave. NOAA said 3.9' waves but I think most were solid 2's with some over 3' thrown in. I just stopped and fished in the middle of nowhere to dry off since I was happy to be on the water. Jeans dried out and I changed my sweatshirt with the spare set of clothes I carry.

I started with a blade bait, then tried dragging a tube, then got out a couple jerkbait rods, a hair jig, and the drop shot. The lake finally calmed down a little around 2 or 3 so I moved out close to the middle (22') and drifted up over a hump that came up to 15'. On the fall I had a good tug on the blade bait and caught my first bass of the year. A very fat 3-14 smallie:


I still couldn't hold on that spot with the wind and waves so I drifted a little more and tried a deep diving Pointer and picked up another keeper sized smallie from about 17'. I moved in much more shallow to 9-11' and tried that before leaving but didn't have any more luck. The truck said 74 degrees but I had on bids, jeans, t-shirt, sweatshirt, rain jacket, and regular life jacket and I wasn't too hot out there. Water temps were right around 39-40 with 47 up in the river at the launch.

All in all a tough day to be out but great to get that first trip of the year in. I still feel like the ground is moving around though from all the waves.

[bamabassman]

Bender....that is a BEAUTIFUL SMALLIE MAN! Glad you got out today as well. I got out, went through a storm and my fish shut down afterwards. But i was out there ya know. Felt good to get on the lake and look at all the wildlife coming outta winters gloom.

[Jrob78]

Man, I gotta get on some smallies somewhere! Nice fish!!

[Bubba_Bruiser]

I would pay good money to stick my thumb in a small jaw's mouth. Nice haul Bender.

[MallenManson]

Way to go Bender! I'm countin the days till I can go after some

[BassinNC]

Nice lookin fish man.

[BigBassin144]

Very nice fish Bender! Congrats on a great first trip!

Most of the other lakes around you still iced over?

BB

[Bender]

I checked on Friday and Upper Saranac still had ice on half of it. I guess the winds and warm temperature yesterday did a real number on the lake and it is completely open now: http://www.uppersaranac.com/webcam.html
Some of the smaller lakes still are mostly iced over though. I might try some perch fishing tomorrow if I can get out before the rain.

[bassinbob]

Nice smallie. Can't wait for my trip up to Erie and some of those brown fish.

[nofearengineer]

As always, Bender....I am in awe of your Smallmouth fishing skills. A real beauty.

[carolina-rig-01]

That is a beautiful smallie Bender. Sorry you speared a wave but it looks like you still had an ok day.

[keithdog]

What a beautiful smallie! What a way to start the year.