PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Northeast Division will visit Lake Champlain Aug. 2. This is the division’s third event of the season, and the fishing is setting up to be excellent.
This year, BFL anglers benefit from an expanded slate of Regionals, which minimizes travel costs and provides more opportunities to qualify for the $120,000 BFL All-American while fishing familiar, closer-to-home waters. Click here to find out more.
We’re still short some co-angler sign-ups to balance out the field at Champlain. If you or anyone you know is interested in fishing the event and would like more information, call MLF customer service at 270-252-1000.
What to expect
Plattsburgh local and past Toyota Series champion on Champlain Brett Carnright says his home waters are setting up nicely for this BFL. The big smallmouth should be biting – with the ever-present quality largemouth population a possible player in this event, too.
“I think it’s going to fish pretty well because the lake has turned on in the last two weeks,” he said. “A lot of the big smallmouth are out deep now. They’re out chasing alewives and perch in that 30 to 50 feet zone, and the fishing has been excellent.”
The smallmouth will likely be the star of the show in this tournament, but largemouth could still be a factor, despite less grass than usual.
“The condition of the grass is not as ideal, and I think that’s because we had a harder spring that kept the grass back a little,” he said. “It’s just not where it needs to be for the best largemouth bite, which makes me think it will be dominated by smallmouth, but you may see some big largemouth weighed in.”
Carnright also shared that some popular zones, like the Inland Sea, will likely gather the bulk of the field.
“The main lake will play a little bit, and this is the time of year when the New York arm of the lake can start to produce, but I’m still thinking the Inland Sea is going to be the deal if I had to guess,” he said.
Baits to bring
A jighead and minnow have become a must for Lake Champlain, and Carnright’s go-to is a 5.25-inch Beast Coast Seduce Minnow on a 6.2-gram Gamakatsu Horizon Head jighead. He added that a drop-shot rig with a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm could also produce smallmouth, and for those looking to target the largemouth, his choice is a 3/4-ounce Beast Coast Tungsten Lil’ Magnum grass flipping jig.
What will it take?
Last year, the August BFL on Lake Champlain was won with 22 pounds, 3 ounces by Thomas Lavictoire Jr., and Carnright believes the 22-pound mark will likely win again this year. He also predicts the field to be tightly bunched, and 19 to 20 pounds will be needed to crack the Top 10
Fishing 4 FREE!
Every Phoenix Bass Fishing League angler fishing the fourth event in each division will receive an Abu Garcia gift pack valued at $230 for boaters and $180 for co-anglers – a value that exceeds the entry fee. It’s like Fishing 4 FREE! Plus, participants will receive a code for 25% off an order at AbuGarcia.com. Sign up today at MajorLeagueFishing.com or call 270-252-1000 to take advantage of this incredible offer. Anglers will receive their gift box at the event.