Well we are still waiting for Mother Nature to open our Ice Fishing Seasin . But if she does't want to cooperate. There are a lot of Salmon & Lake Trout fisherman on Lake Champlain. These guyes start there season now. Because of the cold water, you don't need down riggers as the species at at the surface. They troll A short zig zag pattern, allowing the bait to rise and fall. If things don't improve we may try that . HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!!!!!