The temptation to pursue smallmouth bass on Lake Champlain is obvious. Even though the Champion's Choice presented by Toyota Tundra has caught the bronze-brown fish post-spawn, when they're not as aggressive, most of the Bassmaster Elite Series anglers in this field could catch them by the dozen, if so inclined.
Denny Brauer captured his lone Bassmaster Elite Series victory on Lake Champlain last year with a come-from-behind victory. If he is to repeat, he may not have terribly far to climb, after finishing Day One in sixth place with 17 pounds, 14 ounces.
Lake Champlain's healthy population of largemouths and smallmouths shined on back-of-the-boaters as well as professionals on the first day the BASS Elite Series. Twenty-eight co-anglers weighed in sacks of more than 10 pounds, headed up by Central Square, N.Y., resident Craig Daino, who had 16 pounds, 9 ounces.
The Bassmaster Elite Series pros had a fine day on the water at Lake Champlain in the Champion's Choice presented by Toyota Tundra. They also had a swell afternoon at the microphone
The word from the Bassmaster Elite Series pros all week was that winning <photo1>the Champion's Choice presented by Toyota Tundra would require "a mix" of both largemouth and smallmouth bass.
Ish Monroe and John Crews were up until 11 p.m. the night before he began fishing the Champion's Choice presented by Toyota Tundra because as persons born after Jan. 1, 1974, they are required by Vermont law to take a boater safety course before motoring around Lake Champlain.
When David Hayes caught his 11-pound, 15-ounce brown bass from Dale Hollow Lake in 1955, he knew it was bigger than any smallmouth he had ever seen before.
Controversy swirls around this fish that stood as the world record for more than 40 years and now splits the record keeping authorities squarely down the middle.
"You can have an idea on Sunday morning but you never know which couple of guys are going to make a leap and change the show."
Immediately following the Elite Empire Chase at Lake Erie, qualifying pros will drive back across the state to Oneida Lake for the second Major of the season, the Bassmaster Memorial.