Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge wildlife trail
Missisquoi NWR Wildlife trail #Vermont pic.twitter.com/Zf3jqNICyS
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Tag Archives: ice-fish
Ice Shanties Must Be Removed Before Ice Weakens
Ice Shanties Must Be Removed by March 29th
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department reminds ice-anglers to remove their fishing shanties from lakes and ponds before March 29.
Vermont state law requires that all fishing shanties be removed before the ice becomes unsafe or the ice loses its ability to support the shanty out of the water, or by the last Sunday of March, whichever comes first (this year, the last Sunday is the 29th).
All fishing shanties are also required to have the name and address of the owner attached.
Chief Game Warden Jason Batchelder said, “ice conditions can deteriorate quickly with warmer weather, so we urge owners of shanties to get them off the lakes while it is still safe to be on the ice. The law exists to help ensure that shanties don’t become a boating hazard and create debris that will wash up on shore.”
Fines for leaving a fishing shanty on the ice can be up to $1,000, and shanties may not be left at state fishing access areas.
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
Other Lake Champlain Fishing Articles:
Great Ice ! 2015
GREAT ICE 2015 North Hero, Vermont February 6th
Great Ice 2015 on the Largest Skating Oval on Lake Champlain. City Bay, North Hero, Vermont
Free Public Skating, Bonfire, Sled Dog Rides, Kids Ice Fishing Derby, Over ‘n Back Trek to Knight Island, Ice Bike Racing, Pickup Hockey, Extreme Frisbee, Flapjack Breakfast, Drag Racing, Great Ice! Winter Dance, and more…
Great Ice! 2015 Event Schedule
Friday, February 6th
Christmas Tree Bonfire! 5:30p on City Bay in North Hero
Family-Style Italian Dinner 6:30p at the nearby North Hero House Inn. 802 372 4732
Saturday, February 7th
Free Public Skating All weekend on 1-k Oval, Hockey Rink or Speed Skate Drag Strip
Nordic Skating on the 1-kilometer Oval. With free lessons from 8-10a
Champlain Islands Fishing Derby Saturday & Sunday Tickets: 802 372-5600
Kids Ice Fishing Derby 10a-1p on City Bay. Prizes, instruction and free lunch
Dog Sled Rides 1pm to 3pm. At Shore Acres Inn & Restaurant. Ingrid Bower returns with her Siberian Huskies. Rides for Kids ($6.) and Adults ($10.)
Frozen Chosen Regatta 2p-3p Race funky human-powered vehicles
Extreme Frisbee 3-4p on City Bay. Fun, informal game of Frozen Frisbee Football.
Sunday, February 8th
Flapjack Breakfast 7:30-9a. A Hearty Vermont Hot Breakfast served by volunteers
Nordic Skating 9-10:30a. More free instruction available and informal races
Over ‘n Back Trek to Knight Island to Knight Island from City Bay. 9a-12p Walk, skate or ski!
Drag Racing! 10a -11a. Straightaway speed racing on skates for fun and prizes
Chili-Cookoff 12:30p-1:30p. Enter your family heirloom Chili recipe for fun and prizes
Ice Bike Racing on City Bay On City Bay. 2-3p. Race for fun and prizes on the 1-K Oval
Pickup Hockey on City Bay 2p-4p. Informal teams. All ages. Prizes and fun.
Friday, February 13th
Great Ice! 2015 Winter Dance 730p.Community Hall. Family Fun, Dancing,Food and Drinks. Great Music by Larry Brett’s Jukebox Advance Tickets $10, $12.00 at the Door 17 and under free. Ticket Available at most local stores. Help us fill the Community Hall!
Saturday, February 14th
Valentine’s Dinner at The North Hero House Reservations 802 372-4732
All scheduled events are weather dependent.
For updated Information, including daily conditions during the festival,
visit the Updates page, or call Hero’s Welcome General Store at (802) 372-4161.
Lake Champlain Ice Fishing
Lake Champlain Ice Fishing Opportunities
Lake Champlain is a premier ice fishing destination, offering a variety of ice fishing opportunities. Quality fishing for many species is easy to find on this 120-mile long lake, including landlocked salmon, lake trout, northern pike, yellow perch, white perch, walleye, and crappie.
Vermont offers a free Ice Fishing Day to introduce newcomers to the sport of ice fishing; this year the free ice fishing day is January 28th. So get out and try your luck ice fishing on Lake Champlain.
Northern Pike
In the northern part of Lake Champlain, the traditional pike hotspots are Kelley Bay, Missisquoi Bay, Dillenbeck Bay, Carry Bay, Keeler Bay, St. Albans Bay and the shallow flats south of the Sandbar Causeway (between Milton and the Champlain Islands).
In southern Lake Champlain, the area south of the Champlain Bridge from Addison to Benson is also pretty good fishing.
In winter cold temperatures slows their metabolism and they do not feed as often. When they do feed it is typically in low light – sunrise or sunset. Pike will often seek out weed beds and structures for food. They tend to stick to the bottom of the lake and do not school. As winter continues pike will seek deeper water since it is typically warmer and more comfortable.
Trout and Salmon
Trout & Salmon
Later in winter when more ice has formed, landlocked salmon can be caught in the Inland Sea north of the Sandbar Causeway.
On Lake Champlain there is no closed season for trout and salmon.
Lake Trout
If cold weather creates good ice over the lake’s deeper waters, lake trout can be found off the western shore of Grand Isle, as well in Outer Mallets Bay, Shelburne Bay, Converse Bay, and from Button Bay south to the Champlain Bridge between Addison, VT and Crown Point, NY.
Walleyes
Lake Champlain Ice Fishing: Walleyes
Although walleyes can be found anywhere in Lake Champlain, the most consistent winter action can be found in the southern end of the lake between Ticonderoga, NY and Benson, VT.
Up in the northern end of the lake, Missisquoi Bay between Swanton and Alburgh, VT can produce some good walleye action.
As with northern pike, colder temperatures slow the walleye’s metabolism so they don’t feed as often, and when they do, it’s usually in low light conditions. They also seek out weed beds and structures and tend to stick close to the bottom.
Panfish
Yellow perch and other panfish can be caught in sheltered bays and shallow water areas all along Lake Champlain.
Since panfish, such as bluegill, yellow perch or crappie, are relatively small fish they tend to stay in shallow weedy areas or in areas near structures for protection and food. In winter months, they stay close to the bottom or just a bit above where the water is usually warmer. In the winter panfish tend to school together. Larger panfish will make small schools, and smaller panfish will make larger schools.
Other Lake Champlain Ice Fishing Articles:
- Milton, Vermont Angler Catches Muskie Through Ice
- Reminder to Remove Ice Shanties from Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department
- Essential Ice Fishing Safety Gear
- Ice Fishing: Tightlining
- Ice Fishing: Tip Ups
Ice Fishing Safety Tips from Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
It’s winter, and that means it’s time for ice fishing.
The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department offers these ice fishing safety tips for those of us who’ll be going ice fishing this winter.
“Once we have sustained cold weather to form good ice, ice fishing can be safe and a lot of fun, but when we go onto the ice, we need to use good judgment and observe several safety precautions.” ~ Major Dennis Reinhardt, Deputy Chief Warden, Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife.
Leave your car or truck on shore. Every year several motor vehicles go through the ice on Vermont lakes, and some people have drowned as a result.
- Leave information about your plans with someone — where you intend to fish and when you expect to return.
- Wear a personal flotation device and don’t fish alone.
- Ice varies in thickness and condition. Always carry an ice spud or chisel to check ice as you proceed.
- Be extremely cautious crossing ice near river mouths, points of land, bridges, islands, and over reefs and springs. Current almost always causes ice to be thinner over these areas.
- Avoid going onto the ice if it has melted away from the shore. This indicates melting is underway, and ice can shift position as wind direction changes.
Waves from open water can quickly break up large areas of ice. If you can see open water in the lake and the wind picks up, get off!
- Bring your fully-charged cell phone with you.
- Carry a set of hand spikes to help you work your way out onto the surface of the ice if you go through. Holding one in each hand, you can alternately punch them into the ice and pull yourself up and out. You can make these at home, using large nails, or you can purchase them at stores that sell fishing supplies.
- Carry a safety line that can be thrown to someone who has gone through the ice.
- Heated fishing shanties must have good ventilation to prevent deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. Open a window or the door part way to allow in fresh air.
- For guidelines on ice thickness and safety visit Ice Safety.
More Articles About Lake Champlain Ice Safety:
- New York DEC Advises About Poor Ice Conditions
- Lake Champlain Ice Safety
- Essential Ice Fishing Safety Gear
- Anglers: Put Safety First When Ice Fishing
- Vermont Fish & Wildlife Urges Extra Caution on the Ice