Championship Friday on Champlain

“We been through every kind of rain there is. Little bitty stingin’ rain … and big ol’ fat rain. Rain that flew in sideways. And sometimes rain even seemed to come straight up from underneath.” – Forrest Gump. Yup, that was pretty much the story on Lake Champlain for Day 3… rain, rain, rain. We first found Alton Jones Jr. set up on the same location he has been fishing over the past two days. His co angler was adding a smallmouth to his livewell.
“We been through every kind of rain there is. Little bitty stingin’ rain … and big ol’ fat rain. Rain that flew in sideways. And sometimes rain even seemed to come straight up from underneath.” – Forrest Gump. Yup, that was pretty much the story on Lake Champlain for Day 3… rain, rain, rain. We first found Alton Jones Jr. set up on the same location he has been fishing over the past two days. His co angler was adding a smallmouth to his livewell.
As the waves rolled underneath him Alton stayed focused on his graph as he dropped his bait to the bottom.
As the waves rolled underneath him Alton stayed focused on his graph as he dropped his bait to the bottom.
After several minutes with no bites he put the spinning rod down and grabbed a casting rod.
After several minutes with no bites he put the spinning rod down and grabbed a casting rod.
He jerks the bait a few times and sets the hook. This looks like a good fish.
He jerks the bait a few times and sets the hook. This looks like a good fish.
Alton steers the fish around his trolling motor and away from the prop.
Alton steers the fish around his trolling motor and away from the prop.
Careful now…
Careful now…
…he follows the fish down the side of the boat to the driver seat. The rain now spraying from every angle.
…he follows the fish down the side of the boat to the driver seat. The rain now spraying from every angle.
The fish makes a charge forward and Jones follows. The fish explodes out of the water.
The fish makes a charge forward and Jones follows. The fish explodes out of the water.
Alton gets the fish under control and brings it back to the driver seat where he can grab it.
Alton gets the fish under control and brings it back to the driver seat where he can grab it.
That one will help!
That one will help!
Tucked under his hood Alton hoists the fish and a thumbs up.
Tucked under his hood Alton hoists the fish and a thumbs up.
As the wind picked up Alton made several more vertical drops and caught some small fish.
As the wind picked up Alton made several more vertical drops and caught some small fish.
Several miles away we located tournament leader Bryan Schmitt. He was fishing a small cut in an old wall with lots of rocks. One side was slightly out of the howling wind.
Several miles away we located tournament leader Bryan Schmitt. He was fishing a small cut in an old wall with lots of rocks. One side was slightly out of the howling wind.
His co angler sets the hook on a big one.
His co angler sets the hook on a big one.
The fish goes airborne, but unfortunately has shaken the bait.
The fish goes airborne, but unfortunately has shaken the bait.
The bait flies through the air and the fish escapes.
The bait flies through the air and the fish escapes.
Bryan was fishing slowly and breaking down each part of the wall.
Bryan was fishing slowly and breaking down each part of the wall.
He had about 15 pounds in the boat.
He had about 15 pounds in the boat.
Bryan works his way down the wall.
Bryan works his way down the wall.
He tries a few different rods.
He tries a few different rods.
Schmitt spins the boat and starts fishing back the other way.
Schmitt spins the boat and starts fishing back the other way.
He works both the shallow and deep water.
He works both the shallow and deep water.
Way down the shore we spot David Gaston.
Way down the shore we spot David Gaston.
The rain blowing across the water, Bryan stays focused on his area.
The rain blowing across the water, Bryan stays focused on his area.
He puts down his rods and starts to re-tie some baits.
He puts down his rods and starts to re-tie some baits.
Making a few changes.
Making a few changes.
With another gust of wind it begins to rain even harder.
With another gust of wind it begins to rain even harder.
As he exits the calm water he keeps an eye on his graph.
As he exits the calm water he keeps an eye on his graph.
David Gaston makes his way down the rocks.
David Gaston makes his way down the rocks.
Starting the day in 10th place he was hoping to catch five giants to move up in the standings.
Starting the day in 10th place he was hoping to catch five giants to move up in the standings.
He slowly moved along the rocks, waiting for the right bite.
He slowly moved along the rocks, waiting for the right bite.