Day 1 on Champlain

With the Adirondack mountains in the background anglers head to their day one fishing locations in hopes of a big bag.
With the Adirondack mountains in the background anglers head to their day one fishing locations in hopes of a big bag.
Plattsburgh angler Brett Carnright was fishing deep with a spinning rod.
Plattsburgh angler Brett Carnright was fishing deep with a spinning rod.
He set the hook and lifted a small fish into the air and over his bow.
He set the hook and lifted a small fish into the air and over his bow.
Brett’s co angler also sets the hook and boats a similar sized fish.
Brett’s co angler also sets the hook and boats a similar sized fish.
Carnright stayed focused on his graph to find the right bite.
Carnright stayed focused on his graph to find the right bite.
He gets another bite, this fish was fired up, but unfortunately too small.
He gets another bite, this fish was fired up, but unfortunately too small.
This Lake Champlain smallmouth fought hard to stay in the water.
This Lake Champlain smallmouth fought hard to stay in the water.
Joe Sancho does a quick fly-by.
Joe Sancho does a quick fly-by.
Through the rolling waves Brett stays locked in on his graph.
Through the rolling waves Brett stays locked in on his graph.
His co angler sets the hook.
His co angler sets the hook.
Another small fish.
Another small fish.
As one fish was being unhooked, another was biting down below.
As one fish was being unhooked, another was biting down below.
Carnright flips the fish into the boat.
Carnright flips the fish into the boat.
There’s another one!
There’s another one!
All the same size at this spot.
All the same size at this spot.
Before making a move, Brett took a minute to check on his fish… looks like he had some early success today.
Before making a move, Brett took a minute to check on his fish… looks like he had some early success today.
What a pair!
What a pair!
Several miles away we located Gerald Sensabaugh.
Several miles away we located Gerald Sensabaugh.
He and several other anglers were positioned on an old bridge. This tactic can sometimes be very worthwhile on Champlain.
He and several other anglers were positioned on an old bridge. This tactic can sometimes be very worthwhile on Champlain.
As the wind started to howl we ventured even farther from shore, locating Jonathon VanDam.
As the wind started to howl we ventured even farther from shore, locating Jonathon VanDam.
As the massive rollers lifted his boat up and dropped it back down he yelled over that he had three fish in the boat.
As the massive rollers lifted his boat up and dropped it back down he yelled over that he had three fish in the boat.
With his trolling motor clear out of the water VanDam flips his bait towards the submerged structure.
With his trolling motor clear out of the water VanDam flips his bait towards the submerged structure.
Crash, his boat comes dropping back down in the trough of the wave.
Crash, his boat comes dropping back down in the trough of the wave.
As the wind blew him back off his target he used the big motor to push ahead and stay in the right area.
As the wind blew him back off his target he used the big motor to push ahead and stay in the right area.
With eyes on his graph he began to pick apart the rocks below.
With eyes on his graph he began to pick apart the rocks below.
Jacob Wheeler was also getting blown around when we found him. He mentioned he had a limit for about 15 pounds.
Jacob Wheeler was also getting blown around when we found him. He mentioned he had a limit for about 15 pounds.
Darrin Schwenkbeck burns by as the spray blows into the air in the wind.
Darrin Schwenkbeck burns by as the spray blows into the air in the wind.
On our way back to shore we found Trait Crist/Zaldain tucked just out of the wind and working an area thoroughly.
On our way back to shore we found Trait Crist/Zaldain tucked just out of the wind and working an area thoroughly.
Glancing down at her graph constantly…
Glancing down at her graph constantly…
“I have three fish in the box, just need two more!”
“I have three fish in the box, just need two more!”
Did we mention it was windy?
Did we mention it was windy?
There's a good one!
There’s a good one!
The fish goes crazy, leaping at least 3 feet into the air.
The fish goes crazy, leaping at least 3 feet into the air.
The fish comes crashing down into the water close to the boat.
The fish comes crashing down into the water close to the boat.
“Come here girl…”
“Come here girl…”
Nice size football!
Nice size football!
Trait was pushing on, fighting the wind and waves as we headed back to the ramp.
Trait was pushing on, fighting the wind and waves as we headed back to the ramp.