Dock Talk at Lake Champlain

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Myself and photographer Andy Crawford set out to pick and pry apart from the pros how practice went at the Bassmaster Elite Series at Lake Champlain. <br> <br><i>All captions: Craig Lamb</i>
Myself and photographer Andy Crawford set out to pick and pry apart from the pros how practice went at the Bassmaster Elite Series at Lake Champlain.
All captions: Craig Lamb
We can’t guarantee what they said is all the shiny truth. Nobody likes to give away secrets.
We can’t guarantee what they said is all the shiny truth. Nobody likes to give away secrets.
That’s why we call it Dock Talk. What we can guarantee is that fans can get a first look about what’s in store this week.
That’s why we call it Dock Talk. What we can guarantee is that fans can get a first look about what’s in store this week.
<b>Harvey Horne</b><br><br>“Practice was better than I expected. It’s been a typical grass bite. There are lots of shallow fish. I went back and did my homework on this one, spent a lot of time researching.”
Harvey Horne“Practice was better than I expected. It’s been a typical grass bite. There are lots of shallow fish. I went back and did my homework on this one, spent a lot of time researching.”
“This is a tournament that I’ve always been excited to fish, about as much as the St. Lawrence River. I saw some big fish this week, both smallmouth and largemouth. They are up shallow, which is what I like.”
“This is a tournament that I’ve always been excited to fish, about as much as the St. Lawrence River. I saw some big fish this week, both smallmouth and largemouth. They are up shallow, which is what I like.”
Smallmouth or largemouth? Ticonderoga or north? “Unless I catch a really giant smallmouth I probably won’t even weigh in any.”
Smallmouth or largemouth? Ticonderoga or north? “Unless I catch a really giant smallmouth I probably won’t even weigh in any.”
Horne teased us with this picture on his cell phone. Only thing was, he wouldn’t allow Andy to take a photograph of the photograph. Stay tuned.
Horne teased us with this picture on his cell phone. Only thing was, he wouldn’t allow Andy to take a photograph of the photograph. Stay tuned.
<b>Dale Hightower</b><br><br> “My first day of practice was slow. The second and third day were much, much better. I’ve got a little something figured out. It got better every day.”
Dale Hightower
“My first day of practice was slow. The second and third day were much, much better. I’ve got a little something figured out. It got better every day.”
On a scale of 1 to 10 what does ‘much, much better mean? “Between the first day and today, probably about an 8 on a scale of 1 to 10.”
On a scale of 1 to 10 what does ‘much, much better mean? “Between the first day and today, probably about an 8 on a scale of 1 to 10.”
“I went a whole different route. I went the opposite direction from where I was initially. I found out a lot more about it. I went south and it wasn’t happening for me at Ticonderoga.”
“I went a whole different route. I went the opposite direction from where I was initially. I found out a lot more about it. I went south and it wasn’t happening for me at Ticonderoga.”
“What I found at Ticonderoga I can do a lot better up here.”
“What I found at Ticonderoga I can do a lot better up here.”
Ticonderoga or staying up north. That is the question. The traditional answer has been you make the 70-mile, one-way run to the south end of the lake for largemouth. If smallmouth is in your game plan, you fish the fertile waters that stretch between Plattsburgh and throughout the northern portion of the lake. In recent years, the largemouth population has flourished in smallmouth territory. But we didn’t really say that. It’s all dock talk.
Ticonderoga or staying up north. That is the question. The traditional answer has been you make the 70-mile, one-way run to the south end of the lake for largemouth. If smallmouth is in your game plan, you fish the fertile waters that stretch between Plattsburgh and throughout the northern portion of the lake. In recent years, the largemouth population has flourished in smallmouth territory. But we didn’t really say that. It’s all dock talk.
<b>Caleb Sumrall</b><br><br> “Practice was iffy. My first time on this lake was intimidating. It’s got a lot of size to it. There is lots more that I wanted to look at before we get underway.”
Caleb Sumrall
“Practice was iffy. My first time on this lake was intimidating. It’s got a lot of size to it. There is lots more that I wanted to look at before we get underway.”
“It is what it is. I have a plan together and I’m going to roll with it.”
“It is what it is. I have a plan together and I’m going to roll with it.”
North or south? “I’m going to stay north. I’m a little shell shocked from running those long distances last week. I just want to maximize my time. I can do that by fishing, instead of running around.
North or south? “I’m going to stay north. I’m a little shell shocked from running those long distances last week. I just want to maximize my time. I can do that by fishing, instead of running around.
What’s up with the barefoot look? “It rained today. These are my rainboots.”
What’s up with the barefoot look? “It rained today. These are my rainboots.”
<b>Brandon Lester</b><br><br> Why two thumbs up? “This is my favorite lake in the entire country. I just love it here. It’s not fishing as good as I have seen it.”
Brandon Lester
Why two thumbs up? “This is my favorite lake in the entire country. I just love it here. It’s not fishing as good as I have seen it.”
“The whole key is do you go for smallmouth or largemouth? In my opinion, it’s easier to get a good limit of smallmouth. For a great bag, a winning weight, you will need a couple of good kicker largemouth. That’s going to be the key.”
“The whole key is do you go for smallmouth or largemouth? In my opinion, it’s easier to get a good limit of smallmouth. For a great bag, a winning weight, you will need a couple of good kicker largemouth. That’s going to be the key.”
“I looked a lot of new water. The last time when we came here for an Open, I didn’t know that you could catch them out to 50 feet. I looked at a lot more in that depth range, trying to find that needle in a haystack.
“I looked a lot of new water. The last time when we came here for an Open, I didn’t know that you could catch them out to 50 feet. I looked at a lot more in that depth range, trying to find that needle in a haystack.
Lester wouldn’t allow Andy to photograph this secret bait. Hint: It will very likely be the first lure he uses in the morning.
Lester wouldn’t allow Andy to photograph this secret bait. Hint: It will very likely be the first lure he uses in the morning.
<b>Jason Williamson</b><br><br> “Lake Champlain is fishing decent. I think we are a little early, kind of in between is the best way to describe it right now. I’m used to coming here later in the year.”
Jason Williamson
“Lake Champlain is fishing decent. I think we are a little early, kind of in between is the best way to describe it right now. I’m used to coming here later in the year.”
“However, it’s been really hot up here the last few weeks. The water temperature is near where it is when we do come later in the year. I learned a little bit, and I’m pretty optimistic. I think my practice overall was better than last week at the St. Lawrence River.”
“However, it’s been really hot up here the last few weeks. The water temperature is near where it is when we do come later in the year. I learned a little bit, and I’m pretty optimistic. I think my practice overall was better than last week at the St. Lawrence River.”
“I’m keeping an open mind. I have a good idea of which direction the fish are headed. A guy that can catch a decent limit of smallmouth, and then get in the grass and get a good largemouth or two will be in contention to win. And I hope that is me.”
“I’m keeping an open mind. I have a good idea of which direction the fish are headed. A guy that can catch a decent limit of smallmouth, and then get in the grass and get a good largemouth or two will be in contention to win. And I hope that is me.”
<b>Keith Combs</b><br><br> “Practice was good today. The other two days were really slow. Today I caught a good bag with a few more fish in it. Earlier in the week I never was around any good concentrations of fish. I feel like I can do okay. I’m not going to win the tournament, but I’ll do fair.”
Keith Combs
“Practice was good today. The other two days were really slow. Today I caught a good bag with a few more fish in it. Earlier in the week I never was around any good concentrations of fish. I feel like I can do okay. I’m not going to win the tournament, but I’ll do fair.”
<b>Ray Hanselman Jr. </b><br><br> “Practice was okay. I’d never been here before. I wanted to stick with my strengths, go for largemouth. I caught them but none over three pounds. I shifted gears and went with the smallmouth deal and started catching better fish.”
Ray Hanselman Jr.
“Practice was okay. I’d never been here before. I wanted to stick with my strengths, go for largemouth. I caught them but none over three pounds. I shifted gears and went with the smallmouth deal and started catching better fish.”
“The only negative about that is the areas will get a lot of attention, a lot of pressure. Getting bites isn’t a problem.”
“The only negative about that is the areas will get a lot of attention, a lot of pressure. Getting bites isn’t a problem.”
“It’s just a challenge getting that 17-plus pounds a day that you need to be in the hunt. There are plenty of them out there, so it’s doable.”
“It’s just a challenge getting that 17-plus pounds a day that you need to be in the hunt. There are plenty of them out there, so it’s doable.”