Lakers and cowbanks

[Profish169]

Hey I was wondering if people get lakers off the cowbanks in the winter. Or where would be best place to jig lakers in the inland sea in the winter where theres safe ice.

[troutcrazy]

Someone who knows better than I do will probably chime in, but I don't think there are many lakers in the inland sea.

[VTMatt]

Lakers seldom frequent the IS in the Winter, and even less in the Summer. Has to do with O2 levels if I remember correctly.

[TRT]

I've seen one laker get caught at the cow banks over couple dozen times I've fished there.
Main lake north of Champlain bridge all the way up to Platty is laker country when she
freezes.

[Crayfish2]

My son, Perchbait, caught the ONLY Inland Sea laker I've ever laid eyes on.  Summer salmon trolling a couple of years ago ... thought for sure we'd hooked into a walleye, and was shocked to see it was a laker.  The IS is not a place I would even consider if I was specifically targeting lakers.

[Light liner]

There's more Lakers being caught in the IS than most people realize.
I wouldn't target them but they're there.

[VTMatt]

There's more Lakers being caught in the IS than most people realize.
I wouldn't target them but they're there.

Compared to the broad lake, the numbers are miniscule. I've talked to biologists about it a few times. I've only ever caught 3 IS lakers....on accident, lol. I remember driving to a bunch of places where I thought lakers might be. Out of about 10 spots, I marked one fish in the course of a day. Zero interest, probably not a laker.

[lowaccord66]

I fished the NY laker water this summer and the numbers were awesome.  Never landed one from the IS.  Matt that sounds like a tough day.

[VTMatt]

I fished the NY laker water this summer and the numbers were awesome.  Never landed one from the IS.  Matt that sounds like a tough day.

Yep, broad lake compared to IS is like night and day.

[lowaccord66]

Yep, broad lake compared to IS is like night and day.

What surprised me was the whitefish in the broad lake...

[mudchuck]

We fished Cowbanks yesterday, tipups for salmon, jigged inside pop up for perch, 80FOW right near the deep rock pile where summer trolling usually produces strikes, but it was the dead seas instead, totally skunked.
Windy & cold!

[flagfishon]

I haven't done well at the Cowbanks either this year.  The same from several others that I've talked to.  A couple years back, I did great there.

[troutcrazy]

I was crushing the salmon there for the first couple weeks of ice, but nothing since. 

[Light liner]

Yes same here, did real well early this season.
Fished it Thursday not so good.

[lowaccord66]

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/09/29/wild-lake-trout-make-surprise-return-lake-champlain/GiAIbRZhzmFmutzmnaEywI/story.html

Worth reading.

[desmobob]

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/09/29/wild-lake-trout-make-surprise-return-lake-champlain/GiAIbRZhzmFmutzmnaEywI/story.html

Worth reading.

Cool story!  Thanks for sharing that link.

Tight lines,
Bob