Elite

Tactical targets at Champlain

Posted on
Photography by
Craig Lamb
It’s an uncommonly calm day on Lake Champlain, Aug. 15, the second of three practice days for the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain.
I took full advantage of being able to fly the drone at higher altitudes without wind interference. What you are seeing is a view within the vast area known as the Inland Sea, viewing north.
The Inland Sea is a target-rich environment of islands, narrow passages (textbook pinch points), bridges and more.
Here’s the Missisquoi Bridge, considered the northernmost portion of the Inland Sea.
Nearby is a railroad bridge that visually presents current breaks (ambush points) for an area well known to local anglers for its largemouth fishing.
The tournament is expected to be won on smallmouth. However, the Inland Sea also supports a credible population of largemouth. Here’s some of the evidence in this target-rich area.
Notice the multiple layers of vegetation that present several different options, from swimbaits and pitching, to flipping and frogging.
Stand-out targets include these passages between the many islands. All of them create pinch points (current-driven ambush points).
The view back toward Vermont. What’s invisible to a drone — but not to forward facing sonar — are the bottom features that could hold the winning weights.

Related