Lake Champlain fishing

[bad64chevelle]

I finally got the pics from my buddy (he just returned from his honeymoon) but these were the best of the best of the pics we got. My first Vermont fishing experience, and we had a blast. They were taken near Grand Isle, Vermont.

We were targeting Pike since I had never caught one, and the first day out we got some good sized panfish, nothing exciting.

My first pike ever.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c358/bad64chevelle/Vermont%20Fishing/MyPike1.jpg

My Second one.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c358/bad64chevelle/Vermont%20Fishing/MyPike2.jpg

We then moved to a spot where we saw some Bass, and we started throwing, but could not hook one. I swapped some bait real fast and hooked with what I thought was gonna be one HUGE bass! I fought it for a few minutes, but when I got it to the boat, I realized it was a BowFin. UGLY, CRAZY fish. I did not get many good shots of this guy, because he was fighting too much, and I wanted to get him back in the water.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c358/bad64chevelle/Vermont%20Fishing/MyBowfin.jpg

Two mins later, my buddy Dan hooked another one.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c358/bad64chevelle/Vermont%20Fishing/DanFights.jpg

He didnt fight as crazy, but this is a good idea of the size and what they look like.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c358/bad64chevelle/Vermont%20Fishing/DansBowfineral.jpg

Like I said we had about 5 or so more Pike, and other fish throughout the week, but these were the best of the ones we took pics of.

[baddest434]

cool you had a good time jon. if the bowfin was a bass that would have been the largest one i'd ever seen!

[rscamaro73]

Chain Pike ??

Them's some fighting fish....them and Muskies :)

What were you using for lures (or real bait?) ?? Seems Bass his smaller lures than these guys do....at least they get MUCH bigger....

What do they taste like ? I never had (nor caught) any.....

[bad64chevelle]

Northern Pike. They fight pretty well!

For the Pike I was throwing Rat'L Traps in both natural color and a chrome finish. I also threw a Red Devil spoon and caught a short Northern. All were on a medium-fast action as soon as it hit the water. Usually I would slow the lure for a split second, then speed it back up and that was when they would hit. I hear they taste very good, my buddy caught a 36" Pike in the spring that weighed in at 9lbs he said it was great.

For the Bowfin, I used the Gary Yamasenko white 5" worms. I have nothing but great luck with those for Large Mouth (down here in Jersey / PA), and when I caught the Bowfin we were breaking them in half and throwing them "Texas Rigged".

[bubba428]

I can't wait to get a set of waders and head up to north point in brigantine with my dads truck and get me some stripers...theres real good king fish round these parts. congrats on the fish, good job man