April 12, 2014 -- March 31, 2015

50 weeks of fishing -- 15 species -- $25,000 cash prizes

 

Fish on any legal, public body of water within the U.S. boundaries of the Lake Champlain Basin. 

JAMES EHLERS -- "For how long we will stare into the reflection of a beautiful Lake Champlain before we realize it is but an image?"

Perhaps it will be reading this piece that joins you with me and others to effectively mobilize public and private resources to once and for all move beyond our fixation with the image we have of ourselves.  Read more

SWANTON, VT -- For 50 years, the Swanton Dam has been of almost no practical use. That is one of the few points of agreement between a group of environmentalists and locals who have been sparring for more than a decade about the future of the eight-foot-tall span across the Missisquoi River.

Organizations including Lake Champlain International and the state's Fish & Wildlife Department want to remove the dam. They say it would go a long way toward restoring troubled fisheries in Lake Champlain by allowing sturgeon, walleye and other imperiled fish to reach fertile spawning grounds seven miles to the north of the dam for the first time in two centuries.  Read more  .......   Watch Video

 

Colchester, VT -- Lake Champlain International Executive Director, James Ehlers speaks about the LCI mission and current status of the Lake Champlain waters.

 

Channel 17 Airtimes:

Wednesday Aug., 27, 2014 at 5:25 p.m.

Thursday Aug. 28, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.

Monday September 1, 2014 at 4:30 p.m.

Monday September 8, 2014 at 4:30 p.m.

Monday September 15, 2014 at 4:30 p.m.

ADDISON CO., VERMONT -- The tradition of casting dry flies to trout rising out of a cold, idyllic stream, popularized in films such as "A River Runs Through It," is giving way in local fly fishing to new techniques and species that have a significant impact on the way guides run their businesses. Read more

 

 TICONDEROGA, NY -- I have three Bassmaster Opens left in my attempt to be the first Australian to quality for the Bassmaster Elite Series.

As I made my way to the famous Lake Champlain I was super excited, and I also contemplated this biggest 6 week tournament road trip of my life.  What I didn't know was I heading towards a war zone.  Read more

VTDIGGER.ORG -- Addison Independent articles about lake pollution and agriculture deluge readers of late and it would not be surprising if they were confused.  Emerson Lynn's Community Forum (July 28, 2014) correctly states that over half of lake pollution is attributable to agricultural runoff, but he writes "Don't Just Blame the Farmers;" the "real culprit" is political; i.e., pollution is not my doing, it's somebody else's.  He proposes, as does the story on the front page "Farmers Say New Regulations Not Needed," that existing regulations, if enforced, if funded and if given many, many years to take effect, would stanch the problem.  Read more

 

The state's top environmental enforcement official said more needs to be done to protect Lake Champlain's drinking water supplies from toxic algae blooms.

David Mears, commissioner of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, now says the algae toxins could enter drinking water supplies for consumers around Lake Champlain and the state is working to improve its testing protocols. Read more

 

FAYSTON, VT -- A new, larger and improved culvert now allows Lockwood Brook to pass beneath Manlin Road in Fayston.  The old culvert - a combo of corrugated metal pipe and concrete - was too small for the Lockwood Brook system and during Tropical Storm Irene (and other storms) damming by debris and overtopping floodwaters caused major damage to private property and town road infrastructure.  Read more

 

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Smugglers' Notch Resort has once again shown their support for a swimmable, drinkable, fishable Lake Champlain. Smuggs offers year-round fun for the whole family!

Villanti has again signed on as a Signature Member. Huge thanks to them for helping us ensure clean water, healthy fish, and happy people! 

 

Thank you to these great companies for resigning as Sustaining Business Members! Our Business Members recognize the importance of clean, healthy waters to our communities.

The Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Cooperative will be applying lampricides to portions of six tributaries and three delta areas of Lake Champlain during the months of September and October. 

While trout and salmon populations of the lake are the primary beneficiaries of these efforts, lake sturgeon, walleye and other species also benefit from sea lamprey control.  Learn more

 

The eel was once a staple part of the St. Lawrence ecosystem, but experts are now worried the animal could be in danger of seeing its numbers plummet beyond the staggering statistics suggested to date.

 

MONTPELIER, VT - The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation has decided that angling on Berlin Pond will continue although boat motors will not be allowed.  Any other decision would have set a nasty precedent for recreational use of public waters.  Read more

 

NEW YORK -- The current (2013-14) freshwater fishing regulations will extend thru March 31, 2015, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens recently announced.  New freshwater fishing regulations will take effect April 1, 2015 and a new regulation guide will be available from all license sale vendors at the time.  Read more 

 

September 27-28, 2014 -- This is the weekend to get kids out waterfowl hunting.  More info

 

October 4, 2014 -- Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area, Route 17W, Addison, VT. Take your kids and celebrate the Thirteenth Annual Dead Creek Wildlife Day with VT Fish & Wildlife.  Activities will include bird banding, white-tailed deer discussions, plant identification and more. Learn more

 

MACHIAS, ME - Lost in the rhetorical fog of the ongoing economic, political and cultural controversies surrounding the netting of glass eels along Maine's rugged shoreline is the grim fate that awaits the elvers being harvested.

Two prominent naturalists recently interviewed by the Bangor Daily News said they share a fascination with Anguilla rostrata - the scientific name for the American eel.  Both also have toured Asian fish farming operations where tons of the tiny, transparent eels will be shipped from Maine to be raised to market size before being processed for sushi and other culinary concoctions.

 

FRABILL -- Fumble fingers and thumbs.  If you've ever ice fished you know all about 'em. The problem with phalanges is feeling.  A deep freeze and their tight and tingling selves add levels of difficulty to even the simplest of tasks.

 

Not only is it easy to access your gear from the Frabill Tackle Bag, but they are small and compact, making them a great choice for any angler on the go.  Read more

Feast your eyes on this picture of a terrible Zebra Mussel! How terrifying, the way its strikes fear into your heart! You may not think this, but this puny looking bivalve is a lot more dangerous than one might think. Read more

 

September 15 -- Applications are available for controlled hunting permits to be used at two Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department wildlife management areas.