Second Trip to Lake Champlain during COVID

We paid another visit to Lake Champlain and went a little earlier this year, which was probably a mistake because it was a lot windier and there were a few days where we didn't even go out.

Last day on Lake Champlain

 

Headed back down to Valcourt Island with some nice weather and caught some equally nice fish. Caught this 3 pounder in the morning.

Finally Lake Trout

 

When we got back to the cabin the day before we the owner asked us how we did and we told him we got skunked again. He called his son-in-law to have him ask his father, who is an avid fisherman, for suggestions that we might try. He got back to us and told us to fish south of Plattsburg Bay and along Valcourt Island. We did just that and dad finally ended his lake trout drought of two years!

Skunked at Cumberland Head

We trolled with downriggers around Cumberland Head and got skunked again

 

Blown off the lake

 

We headed over to the Vermont side to fish the Gut because I had read this is a good place for Walleye. We still got skunked, though.

A new lake and no clue where to fish

 

Waking up this morning and looking out the window there were clouds off the to east.

As we were getting ready to leave it started to rain

2020 Lake Champlain

 

COVID happened! It was touch and go at first on whether or not we were going to be able to get into Canada this year to go fishing but by the time our date for Deer Horn Lodge came up it wasn't happening so we decided to try Lake Champlain this year.

Au Revoir Deer Horn Lodge!

Sunrise at Deer Horn Lodge

The Moose is on the loose, last day on the Cabonga

Last day of the trip and since we had done so poorly this time around we didn't go far as our hearts weren't into it.  However, we did a learn a few things.  Northern Quebec had a really cold winter this past year and there was a lot of snow and the Cabonga water temperatures was a lot colder than what we have seen in the past around this same time.  We should have been fishing shallower water for Walleyes and we need to get flashers for Lake Trout.  

Seagull Snack!

Let's have another go at the Big Water

 

I caught this nice 4 lb Walleye just inside the slot just south of Stern's Pass

Finally catching some good Marble Eyes!

Keeper!

Skunked again on the Big Water, again!

 

Headed back down to the big water.

Another slow day

 

Went through Wa Wa Pass and fished the larger Waseka Channel

Got Skunked on the Big Water

 

Went after lakers and got skunked

At least the beer was good!

First Walleye of 2019

The boat is in the water!

Driving up to Deer Horn Lodge

Hence begins the annual Father and Son fishing trip at Deer Horn Lodge. It's a 600 mile drive to the camp from my house in Newtown, CT

Just to get to the border with Canada it's a 4 to 5 hour drive. We usually stop in Plattsburgh, NY to get gas for the boat.

Relive Fishing the Norwalk Islands

Relive 'Fishing the Norwalk Islands'

Jim doesn't have a lot of instrumentation set up in his new(er) boat so I turned the Strava App on my watch on figured I would look at it later to see where we went.  Relive picked it up, too. We got skunked and I lost two of my favorite lures. However, when we got back to the dock we were talking to another fisherman who told where and how to fish for stripers. Going to try that on Sunday. 

Last day on the Cabonga and I had to let this monster go.

Caught this 6 lb Walleye trolling a worm rig on the bottom in 14' of water. It was his/her lucky day due to slot size. 

Bite came on this afternoon

Fished all morning and my dad caught one Walleye. My dad caught the first Pike of the trip but it was just a little "Hammer Handle."

Then he caught two keeper Walleye, back to back. 

Finally, I got on the board with this nice pike. Later, I caught two more keeper Walleyes. 

Big Laker on the big water of the Cabonga

Initially, caught a smaller but good eating sized lake trout before lunch. 

After lunch, in 100 feet of water with my lure at 80 feet, I caught an 8 lb Lake Trout. 

All the lakers, this trip we caught by one lure. A red eye spoon dressed as a perch with a red flash!