Hartman: “This is why I stopped here!”

Jamie Hartman is following what’s become the formula for success today on Lake Champlain: catch a solid limit of smallmouth bass, then seek some kicker largemouth upgrades. Hartman did it with a 5-pounder at 1:23 p.m.

“This is why I stopped here,” Hartman shouted after boating the 5-pounder. It gives him 19-4 and moves him into second place, according to BASSTrakk. “I’m still shaking so bad I can’t tie a knot,” added Hartman, several minutes after the big bass had gone into his livewell.

But he did get another lure tied on, and 30 minutes later Hartman put another near-5-pound largemouth in the boat. BASSTrakk has Hartman in the lead now with 21-2. So it’s “That’s why I stopped here,” times two.