PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The last of the regular divisions of the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats to begin, the Northern Division offers great fisheries and great weather. It’s also a great opportunity for anglers chasing a Wild Card Division qualification for the Toyota Series Championship, and the fishing is usually spectacular, from the front or the back of the boat.
This year, the Northern Division starts at legendary Lake Champlain at the end of June, and, given current conditions, there should be lots of options.
Sign up today!
High water and a cool spring might make the shallow bite pop
Last summer, the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals event on Champlain was won by Jacob Walker, and he targeted the first postspawn smallmouth on alewives. As the summer wore on, that pattern, which has dominated on Champlain the last few years, broke down.
In July, Kyle Cortiana won the Toyota Series event with smallmouth he caught on current, Drew Gill ‘Scoped offshore for second, and the pros in third, fourth and seventh all targeted largemouth. The rest of the summer, largemouth were key in almost every local event, winning many (most) and almost always being part of good bags. Though running south to Ticonderoga didn’t play as much as it historically has, the summer of ’24 represented a return to the mixed bag roots of Champlain that have drawn so many anglers to the lake over the years.
This year, the spring in the north has been wet and cold, which should have lots of smallmouth bass still on beds in late June. Currently, the lake is almost 2 feet higher than it was this time last year as well, which could also be great for the largemouth bite. Combined, the straight-ahead dominance of the offshore ‘Scope game could be less than it has been in the past, which isn’t bad for anyone.
What to expect
Bryan LaBelle is one of the best Lake Champlain anglers alive, and according to him, bedding smallmouth are likely to be the play.
“I think with the cold season, the smallmouth are going to be the way to go,” he said. “That’s what I’m seeing right now. I think the green fish will probably be in that funk, and they’ll be thinned out. Definitely a lot of smallmouth are going to spawn out too, but I think there will be enough big ones around that guys will find them and win that way.”
For a winning weight, LaBelle figures on about 61 pounds. Champlain veteran Brett Carnright figures on something in the same ballpark – 60-12 to win and 13 smallmouth and two largemouth.
If Carnright and LaBelle are correct, we’re in for an event along the lines of some of the late 20-teen barnburners we saw on Champlain, which were highlight-reel Toyota Series events. Regardless, you’re fishing on one of the premier lakes in the country at a prime time – this is a can’t-miss tournament.