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Vermont => Ice Fishing Vermont => Topic started by: packersskyline on Feb 02, 2018, 08:51 AM

Title: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: packersskyline on Feb 02, 2018, 08:51 AM
How is the bite? Anyone catching pike?
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: WVBoy on Feb 02, 2018, 10:30 AM
The pike bite has been tough everywhere this year, not going to lie. There hasnt been alot of people out targeting Pike this year either from what Ive been seeing on Champlain. Most of the people are just trying to find perch numbers which has been difficult this year. Ive been out a half dozen times so far for Pike in various spots and have been lucky to get one or two. I know guys who have had huge tip-up spreads and never even got a flag all day. Hopefully we see some stabilization in weather and the bite turns on. Good luck out there!
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: thefishingweatherman on Feb 02, 2018, 10:58 AM
The pike bite has been tough everywhere this year, not going to lie. There hasnt been alot of people out targeting Pike this year either from what Ive been seeing on Champlain. Most of the people are just trying to find perch numbers which has been difficult this year. Ive been out a half dozen times so far for Pike in various spots and have been lucky to get one or two. I know guys who have had huge tip-up spreads and never even got a flag all day. Hopefully we see some stabilization in weather and the bite turns on. Good luck out there!

We got into a big school of good sized yellows yesterday down at 80 feet. Were very aggressive and spitting up baby smelt.
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: Light liner on Feb 02, 2018, 12:47 PM
80' down that's fun. Only a few spots that deep in that bay.
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: thefishingweatherman on Feb 02, 2018, 12:56 PM
80' down that's fun. Only a few spots that deep in that bay.

Forgot to mention this was in the main lake up near North Hero, not St. Albs.
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: WVBoy on Feb 02, 2018, 11:13 PM
Forgot to mention this was in the main lake up near North Hero, not St. Albs.

I think the fishing has been better off the eastern side of Champlain this year so far.
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: packersskyline on Feb 06, 2018, 09:16 AM
Anyone ever fish off of killcare? what way you recommend I go out to catch some pike? I did well on Sunday in Swanton for pike, but I want to try closer to home.

Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: PerchReaper on Feb 08, 2018, 04:24 PM
Anybody have an updated Ice Report for the bay? Looking to head out Saturday for the first time.
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: Light liner on Feb 08, 2018, 07:25 PM
White perch!!!
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: bootstrap on Feb 08, 2018, 09:12 PM
White perch!!!

how many buckets?
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: Light liner on Feb 09, 2018, 04:49 AM
how many buckets?

They're slowly coming in, big schools not there yet.
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: Neksportsman850 on Feb 09, 2018, 05:32 AM
Anyone know where I can get a map of the lake? I want to fish the bay but don't want to fish the crowds.
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: LittleFishin on Feb 09, 2018, 05:45 AM
Google "navionics wen app"
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: LittleFishin on Feb 09, 2018, 05:45 AM
Google "navionics wen app"
Web**
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: Crayfish2 on Feb 09, 2018, 08:19 AM
Navionics is better, but this works, too :

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/14781.shtml
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: ice fiend on Feb 09, 2018, 04:06 PM
When the whites come in I’ll be out there
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: Light liner on Feb 10, 2018, 07:31 AM
It's getting close
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: VTMatt on Feb 10, 2018, 06:39 PM
Saw a dozen people off the point on Fri. I'm sure theyre trickling in.
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: Light liner on Feb 10, 2018, 10:15 PM
How is the snow on  the ice or is it blown off?
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: VTMatt on Feb 11, 2018, 05:04 AM
How is the snow on  the ice or is it blown off?

Everywhere else ive been it's 6-9" on top. There were trucks out there though.
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: HardWater518 on Feb 13, 2018, 12:23 PM
What does everyone use for bait/jigs for the whites? My son and I fished them a few years ago for the first and only time. I don't recall what we used for a jig.
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: thefishingweatherman on Feb 13, 2018, 12:30 PM
What does everyone use for bait/jigs for the whites? My son and I fished them a few years ago for the first and only time. I don't recall what we used for a jig.

Various bibbet jigs work well at times, esp tipped with a small piece of crawler. Pink hali jigs tipped with crawler or spikes have been working the best for me the past couple years.
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: vtcountrychamp on Feb 13, 2018, 02:49 PM
What does everyone use for bait/jigs for the whites? My son and I fished them a few years ago for the first and only time. I don't recall what we used for a jig.

Last year I caught 3 1/2 pails on trout worms, and a blood swedish pimple. All from one hole in 4 hours. The next day, a half a pail. The tend to not stick around long unless you're their day 1.
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: Light liner on Feb 13, 2018, 03:12 PM
Anything works pretty much
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: Neksportsman850 on Feb 13, 2018, 08:13 PM
Saw a dozen people off the point on Fri. I'm sure theyre trickling in.

What do you mean exactly? What point?
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: VTMatt on Feb 14, 2018, 07:36 AM

What do you mean exactly? What point?

Hathaway point. There wasnt many on Sunday later in the day though. Havent seen many people hit the 60 FOW range to find the deep schools yet....hard to find but can pay off big time, especially when the jumbo yellows are around.
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: mudchuck on Feb 14, 2018, 09:56 AM
Hathaway point. There wasnt many on Sunday later in the day though. Havent seen many people hit the 60 FOW range to find the deep schools yet....hard to find but can pay off big time, especially when the jumbo yellows are around.

Still is early for them to stack up.
I've recorded in my journal every year since 2010 that they stack up around mid-February, and I was out there last Saturday over 22FOW and only got into a dozen little 7-9" ones with 3 being over 10"
It really is still early for them, but they're there and coming on.
Van Everest has had schools of jumbo whites flashing thru chasing a lot of bait in 40-60FOW, but they're not organized/stacked up in one spot and that makes for a tremendous amount of hole hopping out far from shore to stay on them.
If they're at VE, then they should be coming along up the shoreline to Georgia Rec Park and outer St. Albans Bay/Kill Kare/Hathaway Point to the boat launch...be patient folks, I bet they're gonna be found all over this area come this weekend!
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: bootstrap on Feb 14, 2018, 10:45 AM
how many buckets should we bring?
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: Crayfish2 on Feb 14, 2018, 11:08 AM
Just bring an empty Jet Sled ... you're going to need lots of room!
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: mudchuck on Feb 14, 2018, 11:17 AM
how many buckets should we bring?

Well considering the average 5 gallon bucket holds around 30# of fish, and once the whites really stack up it's not uncommon to see guys bring in 100-300# of whites to the fish mongers, guess you could do the math on how many buckets wold be needed depending on how much you want to catch before you have to say enough...LOL

Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: VTMatt on Feb 14, 2018, 11:55 AM
Still is early for them to stack up.
I've recorded in my journal every year since 2010 that they stack up around mid-February, and I was out there last Saturday over 22FOW and only got into a dozen little 7-9" ones with 3 being over 10"
It really is still early for them, but they're there and coming on.
Van Everest has had schools of jumbo whites flashing thru chasing a lot of bait in 40-60FOW, but they're not organized/stacked up in one spot and that makes for a tremendous amount of hole hopping out far from shore to stay on them.
If they're at VE, then they should be coming along up the shoreline to Georgia Rec Park and outer St. Albans Bay/Kill Kare/Hathaway Point to the boat launch...be patient folks, I bet they're gonna be found all over this area come this weekend!

First time I hauled sleds full was mid Jan, way out in 60 FOW in the middle of nowhere....

They are gorging on alewives right now, at least the whites and yellows that I've caught so far in the area have been puking up alewives. You are right that around this time of the year they start stacking in heavy and taking over the point and other areas.  It's been declining since the first boom as they usually do, so im curious what this year looks like.
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: pin-seeker on Feb 14, 2018, 02:38 PM
will this bring pike in as well?   or push them out of shallows?
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: ice fiend on Feb 14, 2018, 04:15 PM
I’ve noticed the Decline as well I just want to get on em for a few days lol they’re a hoot my dad can’t fathom why I like to chase em lol
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: packersskyline on Feb 15, 2018, 09:35 AM
Anyone ever get walleye at Saint Albans bay?
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: NHHARDWATER on Feb 15, 2018, 11:44 AM
Waiting Patiently for the whites to come in.
Matt, Joe, looking forward to seeing you fellas out there this year! :icefish:
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: perch bait on Feb 15, 2018, 11:48 AM
There should be plenty of ice come early march when the whites start moving in. Hopefully my Dad and I can get another 100 pound day in before the end of the ice season! Let's be sure to keep each other posted so that there are plenty of perch to go around.  ;D
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: NHHARDWATER on Feb 15, 2018, 12:14 PM
There should be plenty of ice come early march when the whites start moving in. Hopefully my Dad and I can get another 100 pound day in before the end of the ice season! Let's be sure to keep each other posted so that there are plenty of perch to go around.  ;D

Yessah!
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: thefishingweatherman on Feb 15, 2018, 12:44 PM
If the ice lasts till the first week of April, that's when it will be on fire, if past years are any gauge.
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: lowaccord66 on Feb 15, 2018, 02:57 PM
will this bring pike in as well?   or push them out of shallows?

Female pike will move shallow soon.  They'll look for structure to rub on to break up the mass off eggs they are carrying before spawning.  I was up north of St Albans last Sat and Sunday and caught a dozen pike all in 5-7 fow.
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: stick eyes on Feb 15, 2018, 06:05 PM
I drove out from georgia beach perch fishing..lots of people fishing close between the green boyue and the point..whites must be in the area..
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: ice fiend on Feb 16, 2018, 01:03 AM
Ive heard of no whites being caught or seen any photos if they are being caught people are being very quiet about it
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: Lord_of_the_Perch on Feb 16, 2018, 06:54 AM
Ive heard of no whites being caught or seen any photos if they are being caught people are being very quiet about it

Tuesday night Bayside bought 500 pounds worth. There were some hogs in those totes!
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: spb802 on Feb 16, 2018, 08:33 AM
Well why tell everyone, so I put in all the hard work to find them. Then you can just go fish my spot that took a day of work to find... yes there are whites in St. Albans Bay, usually are most of the winter but exactly were and what they are biting on you have to actually put in the work and figure it out. I was throwing them out my shanty window had guys move in on me and not catch a fish, pays to do the work and not just be lazy expect others to find the fish and then tell you how to fish for them... don't ranting tight lines
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: thefishingweatherman on Feb 16, 2018, 08:47 AM
White perch are invasive - we need to try and get them out of the lake. Combine that with the fact that more fishing activity seems to bring more fish in, and I don't see why anyone would keep it quiet. I don't mind people fishing around me, if they ask. I only get pissed when they walk up like they own the place, and try fishing out of my holes. When you're getting them by the hundreds of pounds, doesn't make a lot of sense to be territorial. How many fish does one person need? Of course, I'm not in it for the money...
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: packersskyline on Feb 16, 2018, 10:40 AM
Well tomorrow morning I am going to try the bay out. Plus I wanna try out my new 43cc Eskimo Auger! Honestly as long as I'm catching something I am happy.
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: ice fiend on Feb 16, 2018, 11:28 AM
I don’t mind fishing with people it’s when I’m catching fish look up and somebody’s now 5 feet away drilling holes and spooking the fish that I’ll speak up and say something
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: Light liner on Feb 16, 2018, 11:40 AM
White perch if I'm catching any and all can come all around me.
Reason #1 keeps them in the area longer
#2 There's plenty for everyone
#3 They're white perch
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: stick eyes on Feb 16, 2018, 01:00 PM
I think ice fiend is being coy about the whites at the point...or is not a local
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: ice fiend on Feb 16, 2018, 01:51 PM
I haven’t fished it yet as I live a hour away
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: lowaccord66 on Feb 16, 2018, 02:09 PM
White perch if I'm catching any and all can come all around me.
Reason #1 keeps them in the area longer
#2 There's plenty for everyone
#3 They're white perch

This.  Let me know, happy to drive up to kill some invasives. 
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: bootstrap on Feb 16, 2018, 02:34 PM
white perch lives matter!
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: Akbl4 on Feb 16, 2018, 05:56 PM
Fished the point last Sunday 1 white and a few yellows
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: Neksportsman850 on Feb 16, 2018, 05:58 PM
I'll be out there in the morning. First time but I'm bringing buckets!! Hope the fishing is good!! Are people driving trucks out? Or do I need a fourwheeler?
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: ice fiend on Feb 16, 2018, 06:02 PM
A friend of my dads fished it today ice is 6-8 inches I wouldn’t risk driving
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: VTMatt on Feb 16, 2018, 06:20 PM
A friend of my dads fished it today ice is 6-8 inches I wouldn’t risk driving

There were two trucks out off the point today....ice was soft on top. Wouldnt risk it either.
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: mudchuck on Feb 16, 2018, 08:18 PM
Hearing we’ve lost 4-6” of ice all over keelers, St. Albans
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: ice fiend on Feb 16, 2018, 09:27 PM
Give it tonight and tomorrow it’ll all lock up
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: vtcountrychamp on Feb 17, 2018, 07:10 AM
The white perch have been in the bay since Tuesday. The guys there have been keeping it really low. Steve said it slowed down on Thursday, but yesterday he bought 500lbs out of there. We are going out to see if this is true, but when bayside says they're in there, they're in there.
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: packersskyline on Feb 17, 2018, 08:05 AM
Tons of people out now trying to catch the whites. Hope the fishing is decent for everyone today!
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: Neksportsman850 on Feb 17, 2018, 08:54 AM
Catching a few out here but it's been slow. Everyone has spread out now.
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: packersskyline on Feb 17, 2018, 09:55 AM
For a bit it looked like everyone was right next to each other.
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: VTMatt on Feb 17, 2018, 05:26 PM
We went into the horde of people this afternoon after I found a few after work yesterday,  so I figured the masses were on the fish. Totally wrong. Everyone that I could see weren't catching fish. I went through one of my Ion batteries popping holes all over between people and marked no fish. Got bored after a few hours and we headed out. Good thing the backup plan paid off or else it would have been a crappy day. Feel bad for the guys who drove a ways to get out there onto fish though..

They're around, but werent around the crowds today, that's for sure.
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: mudchuck on Feb 17, 2018, 05:51 PM
18 holes with nothing in them until the very last one and it only produced a dozen whites and some dink yellows
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: Hideebeez on Feb 18, 2018, 12:07 PM
I'm not totally subscribed to the wipe them from the lake mentality.  I hope anglers realize that they cant make a dent in the population with a jig stick. Now if we start trawling the inland sea that's a different story
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: ice fiend on Feb 18, 2018, 01:01 PM
I had my best day yesterday out there I popped 5 holes and started pounding em so popped up the shack and ended up with 130pounds I had 3 fish that total weighed just over 5 pounds
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: perch bait on Feb 18, 2018, 01:45 PM
I had my best day yesterday out there I popped 5 holes and started pounding em so popped up the shack and ended up with 130pounds I had 3 fish that total weighed just over 5 pounds
Good for you Ice Fiend! Sounds like Crayfish2 and I are going to have to get out there soon before the shoreline ice disappears! Stupid warm weather! Everyone always complains about a long winter, but it's not really winter if the highs are in the 40s, 50s and even 60s now is it!!!  >:( :'(  I guess we'll just have to enjoy the ice while we have it and hope for colder weather!
Title: Re: Saint Albans Bay
Post by: ice fiend on Feb 18, 2018, 02:40 PM
Agreed and thanks today is a lot slower fish are moving fast and spook easy catch one the whole school scatters