As the cooler temperatures of late fall arrive and the Atlantic salmon spawning run winds down on Lake Champlain’s tributaries, some salmon anglers have thoughts of retiring their gear for winter. Most large trolling vessels are shrink-wrapped and in storage, in anticipation of the approaching chill. Many outdoorsmen are ignoring the water, entirely focused on the woods. What some fishermen are unaware of is that some of the best salmon fishing occurs on the broad lake from late October, until the mid-winter ice forms. With a modest boat and motor, the proper tackle, and an enthusiastic mindset for brisk fishing, a hard-core Lake Champlain salmon angler can take full advantage of the year round open season. It’s an opportunity to experience bountiful fishing well into winter. With the exception of an occasional bald eagle or two, the salmon angler will encounter little competition on the water.
On the broad lake during late fall and early winter Atlantic salmon are often foraging aggressively on baitfish in the upper portion of the water column. A young adult class, from 15 to 18 inches, is most prevalent, but larger stock occasionally joins the mix. Pound for pound, these Atlantic salmon are every bit as energetic as their Pacific rivals. When hooked, they frequently make powerful, lightening-fast runs and exciting acrobatic leaps of amazing height, invigorating a cold angler’s heart. The occasional bonus brown trout, steelhead or lake trout may be caught, complementing the big water experience.
This weekend, BBY’s Guy Mitrano and Nick Cifuentes completed Episode 2 of the new Burlington Boatyard Lakeside Podcast series.
This episode covers the recent news regarding BBY working together as the first official sponsor of the UVM Wakeboard Club, and club president Nicole Ullian phoned in for an interview with the guys.
Also, a section that each podcast will feature, is the latest news going on in and around the Vermont and Lake Champlain community. This week, Guy informed everyone of the Turtle Beach Clean Up, recent Lamprey Treatment happenings, and the release of the Lake Champlain Fish Management Plan that discusses future plans to manage fish populations in Champlain.
Finally, listeners will be filled in on some of the Salmon fishing reports and ‘end of season’ trips out on Willsboro and Converse Bay by local anglers from the Lake Champlain Fishing Forum, started by Scott Johnson of Swanton.
We hope you all enjoy this info packed production and please feel free to contact BBY with questions, comments, suggestions or if you or your business wish to be a part of this valuable communication tool within the community!
Dave Genz, also referred to as “The Godfather of Modern Ice Fishing”, will be conducting a series of seminars in the Vermont and Lake George areas this January. With numerous accomplishments under his belt, such as being the inventor of the Fish Trap, a portable ice fishing shelter which was mentioned in the Wall Street Journal, Genz has been a major factor in bringing the sport of hard-water angling into the 21st century.
Dave will cover subjects such as mobility, clothing, electronics and the specific applications associated with ice fishing. Also, coming with years of hands-on research and know-how, Genz will outline his unique strategies that will teach fellow hard-water anglers how to consistently find and catch fish at all times.
In addition to professional knowledge and interesting discussion, attendees of these seminars will also enjoy the opportunity to walk away with many exclusive promotional items provided by sponsors and Dave Genz himself. These items range from door prizes, tackle and gift certificates to three Shawn “The Fish Whisperer” Hayes fishing charters. And the largest prize up for grabs, an all expense paid fishing trip with Dave Genz valued at over $1500.
This series of seminars will be very informative and educational, as the methods Genz speaks to have been applied and proven across the United States year after year. Aside from being a team USA silver medalist of the 1992 World Ice Fishing Championships, Dave’s articles are annually featured in such magazines as ‘In Fisherman’, and he has also written several books on hard-water fishing. When it comes to ice fishing, many in the industry refer to Dave as one of the most respected and recognizable authorities on ice-fishing worldwide.
The Dave Genz Seminars will be held in the month of January 2009 at the following locations and times:
Friday, January 9th
Rutland, VT – Holiday Inn
Time: 6-8 pm
Phone:802-775-1911
Monday, January 12th
Lake George, NY – Holiday Inn
Time 6-8 pm
Phone:518-668-5781
Thursday, January 15th
Bulington, VT – Holiday Inn
Time 6-8 pm
Phone:802-863-6363
For more on Dave Genz and his accomplishments, please visit his site @ http://www.davegenz.com
Burlington Boatyard, in keeping with our theme of incorporating many media channels into our business model, has just completed our very first podcast and it is currently up and running.
This initial release is a sit-down with Guy Mitrano and Nick Cifuentes, CEO and CTO of Burlington Boatyard, and serves two purposes, the first being as an introduction to what podcasts are, and how they will be used in our business approach. Secondly, the two discuss the history, goals and mission of BBY, what we’ve been up to for the past few months, the guests and topics we will cover, and overall, just a chance to connect more personally with our users.
This production will be in many podcast directories shortly…but for starters, try this link – as we are now uploading it to the many hundreds of podcast directories, and will soon be available on iTunes as well!
Recently, Jimmy Farah, CCO of Burlington Boatyard, interviewed Nicole Ullian, founder & president of the UVM Wakeboard Club.Nicole talks about the efforts and plans of the group in becoming the first official wakeboard club at the university.Also, after the interview, checkout some of the highlights of the UVM crew riding at Malletts Bay.Enjoy the video!
Recently, Burlington Boatyard has come in contact with a group of energetic and dedicated students at the University of Vermont, who are organizing a wakeboarding club which will allow for the promotion of the sport, as well as Lake Champlain being a great resource right “down the hill”.
We have asked club President, Nicole Ullian, to reach out to all members of the Lake community – marinas, local businesses, individual boaters, and so on – to inform us all of their progress, needs and goals as they go through the process of recognition.
I invite you to read more on who they are, what they plan to do as a club, and more over, how they plan to be a positive group within the community to promote and contribute to the area.
-Guy
Hello World! We are a group of students attending the University of Vermont working to establish the UVM Wakeboarding Club. We’re in the process of recognition at the university and are seeking your help and support, which will enable us to launch in the spring of 2009.
The club currently has over 100 interested members, some of which are expert riders and others who have never ridden before! Our goal is to get those students who are interested in wakeboarding out on the water and riding as much as possible. This will enable us all to learn, progress, and most importantly, both UVM students of today and those of the future will be able to enjoy beautiful Lake Champlain and all it has to offer.
As a follow-up to our article ”Winterizing Your Boat On Your Own: A Checklist“, avid sailor and fellow Burlington Boatyard member, Eliot Beck has compiled a quick guide focused solely on winterizing your sailboat…
Make sure to get any water & other liquids that may freeze out of the boat, and find ways to let air circulate. If covered, make sure there are vents (even if shrink-wrapping, you can provide venting).
Gas tanks should be filled to prevent as much air in the tank as possible. Alternatively, you could make sure the tanks are thoroughly drained & left totally dry. Keep in mind however, more often than not the method you chose depends on the fuel system.
As a follow up to the article titled, “Storing Your Boat For the Winter: Almost That Time of Year Again…”, I wanted to put together a few suggestions for those out there who plan to store their boat themselves this winter. While it is relatively easy to do this, especially as you repeat it year in and year out, I figured I would throw out some useful tips that will be able to get your boat all set for its “vacation” as well as reduce the chance that you will run into problems upon returning it to water next season:
Unless you are a mechanic or you have much experience working with boat engines, you may want to research taking it to a service shop or sending an email on our “Ask the Tech” service so that you will be confident your motor will be fully prepped and serviced for the upcoming months.
The Ethanol Debate!! Yes, it is a hot topic in the boating world now-a-days because in the past, it was almost always acceptable to store your gas tank full and with the appropriate amount of stabilizer in it, and that would ensure a safe storage and start-up for the next season. Well, since our friend Ethanol has jumped into the mix, many have found that its ability to attract moisture will cause start-up issues the next time you try to get the engine running. What has been found to be best is to completely drain your tank, and then bring them to be cleaned appropriately before you put your boat back in the water next.
Last Saturday was the final day of the Wal-Mart FLW Series pro bass tournament on Lake Champlain, and myself and Nick couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity to meet some great anglers, event staff and experience the atmosphere that surrounds such a big time event in the angling community.
We headed out of Burlington on Friday night, via the Ferry at Grand Isle, and crashed in Plattsburgh. When we arrived at the America’s Best Value Inn (hey, there was no availability at the Ritz!) we parked next to the BP Tahoe trailing a wrapped Ranger boat, followed by many more pickups – all pulling nice rigs. That set the tone for what the final day of the tournament would bring.
There are many factors that come into play when it’s time to store your boat for the winter or when you are taking a season off (yeah right!). How convenient is the spot? How much will it cost? When will you be able to get to it next season? I’m sure you all thought about this before buying the boat, but it is a reoccurring situation that every boater has to think through as each season comes and goes.
For those with larger boats or who just want to drop it off, wave and say, “See ya next season!”, a reliable option is always the marina route. Winter storage and service packages allow you to let your boat head on in for some much deserved R&R, as their techs will check out anything and everything you ask. While this option does require you to fork over some dough, you can be confident that the proper care and maintenance will prep your boat for another great season come spring.
Moving on from the big guys with their 32′ Cabin Cruisers, you may be the owner of a smaller vessel, like a fishing boat or nice size bow rider, and want to take on the storage process yourself. And to you I say go for it! This is by far the least expensive way to keep your boat cared for and stored effectively if the size is manageable and you have the space. Also, in New England you never know what you are going to get weather-wise, so should there be a few warm days popping up in November or winter ends early, you will be able to access your boat right away by grabbing it out of the side yard or pulling it out of the garage and getting on your way.
If choosing the self-storage route, and you haven’t had prior experience with winterizing your engine, you can search the Burlington Boatyard Marina & Service sections to contact a local shop that could help guide you in the process. Also, check out our free “Ask The Tech” service, where your questions will be answered by Jeff DePaul of Jeff’s Boat Repair in Williston.
While there’s still some time left before calling it quits, properly storing your vessel is a vital part of its maintenance and I hope whichever method you chose makes for a convenient and relaxing off season for you and your boat.
Feel free to comment on this piece below, or use our forum to ask your own questions or help out others that may need some insight on other boating issues.
As the cooler temperatures of late fall arrive and the Atlantic salmon spawning run winds down on Lake Champlain’s tributaries, some salmon anglers have thoughts of retiring their gear for winter. Most large trolling vessels are shrink-wrapped and in storage, in anticipation of the approaching chill. Many outdoorsmen are ignoring the water, entirely focused on the woods. What some fishermen are unaware of is that some of the best salmon fishing occurs on the broad lake from late October, until the mid-winter ice forms. With a modest boat and motor, the proper tackle, and an enthusiastic mindset for brisk fishing, a hard-core Lake Champlain salmon angler can take full advantage of the year round open season. It’s an opportunity to experience bountiful fishing well into winter. With the exception of an occasional bald eagle or two, the salmon angler will encounter little competition on the water.
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