We’re coming off the longest Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series break of the year with no tournaments in July and headed north for one of my favorite times of the season.
Of course, some of us spent some time at the ICAST show. I saw a lot of cool things as well as numerous variations of the urchin, the hottest bait in the land.
I’m eager to try them out, but my focus right now is the two upcoming New York tournaments, Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence River.
It’s a great place to be in mid-summer when it’s ridiculously hot in the South, but more importantly, it ranks as one of the greatest fishery transformations this country has ever seen.
Back when I started my pro career some 30 years ago, you could average 12 to 15 pounds and have a shot at winning. That may not get you a check today.
A lot has changed in our sport since then. Technology plays a bigger role, and the most effective baits are dramatically different.
You could show up 30 years ago with a jerkbait, chartreuse spinnerbait, 4-inch tube and a jig and count on catching ‘em.
Those still work, but now a drop-shot rig, tube, urchin and a Rapala Maverik jerkbait give you a better chance.
While the new tactics do make anglers more efficient, I’m proud of the fact the smallmouth fishing has become incredibly better in that part of the country.
The numbers have always been there, but the sizes have doubled — if not tripled — over time.
There’s no doubt the influx of gobies as a key forage has played a big role in the increase, but other factors such as more vegetation and water quality are much better than it was during the early days.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t credit B.A.S.S. founder Ray Scott for implementing a catch-and-release program in tournaments early on and how other anglers have embraced it. The majority of anglers are good stewards of the environment, and there is no better example than how the northern smallmouth population has improved in size and numbers.
It’s so satisfying to see these fisheries be better than years ago. Old-timers like to tell stories about how good fishing used to be, but from Lake St. Clair to Lake Champlain, the smallmouth good ol’ days are now.
