Challenging Lake Champlain

Head out on Day 1 of the final Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open season where 153 boats are competing on the famed waters of Lake Champlain.
Head out on Day 1 of the final Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open season where 153 boats are competing on the famed waters of Lake Champlain.
The first angler we found was former college angler Austin Felix.
The first angler we found was former college angler Austin Felix.
Felix came into this event in 8th in the points race and was just a handful of points from the Top 5, which will receive Elite Series invites  for the 2017 season.
Felix came into this event in 8th in the points race and was just a handful of points from the Top 5, which will receive Elite Series invites for the 2017 season.
He had a great finish at this very lake a few months ago in another pro event so he was on the short list to do well.
He had a great finish at this very lake a few months ago in another pro event so he was on the short list to do well.
Felix was chunking a moving bait early in the morning period of Day 1.
Felix was chunking a moving bait early in the morning period of Day 1.
He hooked up and was swinging aboard the fish. If it was a bass it was going to be a good one.
He hooked up and was swinging aboard the fish. If it was a bass it was going to be a good one.
But it wasn't a bass and instead was a northern pike.
But it wasn’t a bass and instead was a northern pike.
He continued his non-bass escapades with a perch.
He continued his non-bass escapades with a perch.
We found Greg DiPalma who was in a good points position to possibly get an Elite Series invite.
We found Greg DiPalma who was in a good points position to possibly get an Elite Series invite.
He was on the move looking for his first fish of the day.
He was on the move looking for his first fish of the day.
He was heaving a crankbait around, but he couldn't find any takers.
He was heaving a crankbait around, but he couldn’t find any takers.
He took off and headed to a new area. DiPalma had a rough day and came in with 11 pounds and change, but is looking for a better Day 2.
He took off and headed to a new area. DiPalma had a rough day and came in with 11 pounds and change, but is looking for a better Day 2.
We pulled up on a Champlain bridge and I immediately felt like I was on Lake Guntersville with the amount of boat traffic around the bridge.
We pulled up on a Champlain bridge and I immediately felt like I was on Lake Guntersville with the amount of boat traffic around the bridge.
Former Elite Series pro Joe Sancho was one of the anglers near the bridge.
Former Elite Series pro Joe Sancho was one of the anglers near the bridge.
He had an alright start to his day and finished it off strong with 18+ pounds at weigh-in.
He had an alright start to his day and finished it off strong with 18+ pounds at weigh-in.
One of the anglers near the bridge caught a small largemouth.
One of the anglers near the bridge caught a small largemouth.
Just down from the bridge was a current break and Derek Yasinski was packing up his stuff to leave the area.
Just down from the bridge was a current break and Derek Yasinski was packing up his stuff to leave the area.
Yasinski was 2nd place after Day 1 of the Oneida Lake Northern Open a few months ago. He had a solid day on Champlain, but spent the last half of the day trying to upgrade his decent bag.
Yasinski was 2nd place after Day 1 of the Oneida Lake Northern Open a few months ago. He had a solid day on Champlain, but spent the last half of the day trying to upgrade his decent bag.
While Yasinski was leaving, Kyle Albers was retying.
While Yasinski was leaving, Kyle Albers was retying.
And while Albers was retying, William Shipes was trying to boat flip a largemouth with his spinning rod. He used the leg kick to get it done.
And while Albers was retying, William Shipes was trying to boat flip a largemouth with his spinning rod. He used the leg kick to get it done.
In comes the keeper.
In comes the keeper.
This gave Shipes a small limit.
This gave Shipes a small limit.
Albers hooks up moments later, but it turned out to be a small bass that he threw back.
Albers hooks up moments later, but it turned out to be a small bass that he threw back.
Gerald Sensabaugh made his way into the area.
Gerald Sensabaugh made his way into the area.
Catching big fish was certainly the goal for these anglers.
Catching big fish was certainly the goal for these anglers.
Shipes boated another keeper during the sequence.
Shipes boated another keeper during the sequence.
Just on the other side was Carl Jocumsen.
Just on the other side was Carl Jocumsen.
Shipes hooked up again and I whipped my head around to check it out.
Shipes hooked up again and I whipped my head around to check it out.
But the fish eventually came off. Later he told tournament director Chris Bowes on stage that he lost so many largemouth on a dropshot so he resorted to other techniques to get them in the boat.
But the fish eventually came off. Later he told tournament director Chris Bowes on stage that he lost so many largemouth on a dropshot so he resorted to other techniques to get them in the boat.
Albers whips a cast out.
Albers whips a cast out.
The moon was still high in the sky and very visible during the midday portion of fishing.
The moon was still high in the sky and very visible during the midday portion of fishing.
Near Carl Jocumsen was Alabama angler David Gaston.
Near Carl Jocumsen was Alabama angler David Gaston.
He had a great start to his day and said he had 18 pounds in the boat.
He had a great start to his day and said he had 18 pounds in the boat.
Jocumsen was making his way underneath the bridge as he floated with the current.
Jocumsen was making his way underneath the bridge as he floated with the current.
Gaston was looking for an upgrade in this particular area. He left his primary spot after landing that much weight. He ended the day in 8th.
Gaston was looking for an upgrade in this particular area. He left his primary spot after landing that much weight. He ended the day in 8th.
Australian angler Carl Jocumsen was picking apart every rock with a spinning rod.
Australian angler Carl Jocumsen was picking apart every rock with a spinning rod.
After trying that he resorted to a bigger bait to try and cull up from 15 to 16 pounds.
After trying that he resorted to a bigger bait to try and cull up from 15 to 16 pounds.
It didn't take long for him to do so as he hooked up with a big one!
It didn’t take long for him to do so as he hooked up with a big one!
He battled it away from the rocks and to the outside of the boat.
He battled it away from the rocks and to the outside of the boat.
Then he dropped to his knees to land the fish.
Then he dropped to his knees to land the fish.
That will certainly help!
That will certainly help!
He was all pumped up after that catch.
He was all pumped up after that catch.
You can see the love for the sport and the excitement he gets from fishing with his reaction here.
You can see the love for the sport and the excitement he gets from fishing with his reaction here.
He shows it off to his GoPro.
He shows it off to his GoPro.
And then to me.
And then to me.
He goes to cull and realizes there is a problem...he already has too many fish.
He goes to cull and realizes there is a problem…he already has too many fish.
So he put his smallest fish on the cull beam and released the small one. Then he called Chris Bowes and turned himself in for the culling infraction, which was a 2-pound penalty.
So he put his smallest fish on the cull beam and released the small one. Then he called Chris Bowes and turned himself in for the culling infraction, which was a 2-pound penalty.
All while Jonathon VanDam idled by.
All while Jonathon VanDam idled by.
After the frustrating infraction, Jocumsen hopped back on the trolling motor and looked to improve his bag as best as he could. He ended the day in 23rd with 17-6 after the 2-pound penalty.
After the frustrating infraction, Jocumsen hopped back on the trolling motor and looked to improve his bag as best as he could. He ended the day in 23rd with 17-6 after the 2-pound penalty.
I left Jocumsen and found Jeff Lugar who is a multi-time Classic qualifier.
I left Jocumsen and found Jeff Lugar who is a multi-time Classic qualifier.
He is also in contention for an Elite Series invite this week.
He is also in contention for an Elite Series invite this week.
He checked his graph to see some other areas while he fought the rough waves.
He checked his graph to see some other areas while he fought the rough waves.
I saw Jesse Tacoronte drive by so I decided to check him out and see how his day was going.
I saw Jesse Tacoronte drive by so I decided to check him out and see how his day was going.
With the south wind at his area he tried his best to keep on his spot meanwhile the trolling motor was working its hardest as well.
With the south wind at his area he tried his best to keep on his spot meanwhile the trolling motor was working its hardest as well.
It didn't take long for him to hook up.
It didn’t take long for him to hook up.
It seemed like a good one as well. He kept calm in the big waves and fought the fish the best he could.
It seemed like a good one as well. He kept calm in the big waves and fought the fish the best he could.
He decided to boat flip the smallmouth when it got close enough to the boat. The next few photos is the sequence that transpired.
He decided to boat flip the smallmouth when it got close enough to the boat. The next few photos is the sequence that transpired.
It was another solid smallmouth for Tacoronte. He was grinning ear to ear at the meeting on Tuesday because he thought he had something figured out this week at Champlain.
It was another solid smallmouth for Tacoronte. He was grinning ear to ear at the meeting on Tuesday because he thought he had something figured out this week at Champlain.
That fish was a big cull and he said he thought it gave him over 20 pounds.
That fish was a big cull and he said he thought it gave him over 20 pounds.
After floating down wind while culling, he decided to motor back up to his spot.
After floating down wind while culling, he decided to motor back up to his spot.
His co-angler hooked a small one that obviously didn't keep.
His co-angler hooked a small one that obviously didn’t keep.
Tacoronte makes a couple bait changes in his box.
Tacoronte makes a couple bait changes in his box.
Meanwhile Justin McClelland was jumping some big waves.
Meanwhile Justin McClelland was jumping some big waves.
Tacoronte decided to head back towards the ramp. He ended as the Day 1 leader with 21-3.
Tacoronte decided to head back towards the ramp. He ended as the Day 1 leader with 21-3.