Sondra Rankin's Blogspot
Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh, NY
Sondra Rankin

Hello, Fishing Fans!

What an honor for me to be able to fish in one of the most AWESOME fisheries in the world, Lake Champlain, again! It's always such a pleasure for me to be able return to this beautiful fishery in upstate New York and Vermont.

The smallmouth fishing here is unbelievable. Catching two, three and four pound smallies consistently in a day is just something that until you experience it for yourself, you can't describe. I love fishing the light tackle and light line. I love fishing for a bite that at times literally can almost jerk the fishing rod from your grasp. I love the way that as the bass nears the boat he ultimately freaks and shoots down like a missile. However, my partners both days were targeting largemouth. Bummer.

So my day one draw takes me out into the Inland Sea, which I knew was going to be our best bet, considering the few practice days I had on the water.

Weather was horrific. The wind was blowing horribly and rain was belting down upon us for the first three hours. Lightening was striking within hair raising distance from us. (I don't like that.) We pulled into a creek and the wind wasn't as bad. We caught several fish on an early morning bite with buzzbaits and flipping a Berkley Power Hawg into the edge of the weed line. As the rain dissipated, we ventured out of the creek channel into the grass flat beyond. My partner was still chunking his buzzbait and I was tossing a Hot Shot Lures 1/2 ounce Chartreuse/White spinner. Whack, Largemouth nailed it...a miss. (Nearsighted) Second bite, in the boat. Third bite, in the boat. Lake Champlain was on, at the time, for the largemouth! My partner wasn't getting the bites on the buzzbait and was beginning to get frustrated. In my opinion because he couldn't match my spinnerbait..... The bass just weren't biting any other blade! So he did what every good pro partner does and he.... left his fish.

Little did we know that the wind was just ripping up the Inland Sea and we still needed to get across! I'll put it like this. She was blowing six footers and it wasn't even ten o'clock yet!!! We made it to the other side where he had a couple other spots to hit. Both those spots deemed unproductive and the wind was just killing us! I believe I only ended up with a couple keepers. My partner had three or four.

My second day was disastrous. After fishing for a couple hours, again in the Inland Sea, I had already put a very good smallmouth in the livewell. Pardon, as I'm going to back up a bit.

Vermont and New York have a reciprocating fishing license. However, in the Inland Sea, you can only be legal with a Vermont license. I had found this information out during the pre-tournament meeting the evening before take-off. I was lodging at a cabin which did not have a phone line and did not have internet access at all. Being late when we were dismissed from the meeting I had no time to ferry across to Vermont and buy a license. So as I've done before, I used my mobile to dial my mother so she then could purchase my license online. She would then give me the confirmation numbers later. Which, she returned my call and I wrote down all the information and packed it in my tackle bag. Moving forward...

This brings me back to the Inland Sea. My partner and I pull up on a spot where another boat was there throwing fish in the boat like mad! I was very excited as we made our way down the stretch making only a handful of casts. I notice however, a boat directly heading toward us. Of course, it's the Vermont fish and game. We both grab for our licenses, or shall I say, his license and my piece of paper with a few numbers on it. As the officer reviews my "piece of paper with a few numbers on it", he informs me that it's of no use. That his Sergeant had "called him five minutes prior" to inform him that no more "non-printed, non-signed, piece of paper" would be considered "valid". I was then fined $141.00 for not having my license. I proceeded to call Chris Jones, my tournament director and tell him of the event. After his instruction, I had to call my mother, have her fax the "non-valid" license to FLW to confirm, and wait. The VT fish and game then staked out our boat for two hours making sure I didn't cast again. It was painful. My partner and our neighbor in the boat fishing beside us were cullin', settin', chunckin', and windin'! Yes. It was very painful. FLW obviously received my license via fax and approved me to continue fishing. Of course, after the law left!

VT fish and game finally sped off to catch another "non-license valid-stupidity-insane-issue" probably, most likely offender. As after-the-fact, I did hear VT pinned about seven different pro anglers that day for not having an "officially signed" VT License. I was not disqualified via FLW standard because as the rule states something to the affect...you must only have a license. It does not state you must have it in your possession. Even though I did..Just not good enough for VT standards.

The third day, the wind had gotten so bad, the tournament was canceled. The waves on the main lake were pushing 10ft plus. I remember coming in the second day of the event barely able to move. It was quite tough making it back into weigh-in even then! There were two anglers being hauled off by stretchers that day. I believe it was a wise choice to cancel. Not to mention I was pretty soured for my ridiculous fine!

I would love to hear your opinions.... Do you think we should've been fined for not having our license signed? I understand, laws are laws, but I think they were totally taking advantage of we anglers because they knew a large majority would buy online instead of boating over. I talked to SEVERAL anglers who said they'd fished the Inland Sea without a "signed" license. I don't know. It bothered me. We spend 1000's of dollars which heightens their economy and they treat us such as that.

Let's just say, I "took her to the house!"

Beautiful Lake Champlain. It must not be that bad, however, because the following week I returned to Plattsburgh, NY to film a TV show, Go Fish With Dan Kenney. Yes, we fished the Inland Sea. Yes, I had a "valid signed license". New York, I love you! Thanks, VT! I appreciate ya'!

That's fishin' right? After an experience as this and I still want to get back after 'em???....Yes, it must be love! :)

Keep on fishin' fans!!

Sondra Rankin

Paducah, KY