Shin Fukae shines at Lake Champlain
PLATTSBURGH, NY– Lake Champlain has been good to touring pro Shin Fukae.
The Palestine, Texas pro became a two-time winner at Champlain Saturday by taking first place in the pro division of the Bass Pro Shops Northern Open with a three-day catch of 56 pounds, 13 ounces. He earned the top prize of a Nitro Z9 bass boat/ Mercury 225 Pro XS outboard rig worth $40,000 and $7,595 in cash. Fukae previously won a FLW event at Lake Champlain in 2010.
He caught all of his fish on two baits– a Gamakatsu shad-shaped worm on a drop shot rig and a 4-inch Senko attached to a 3/16-ounce wacky rig jighead. The drop shot rig worked best for smallmouth while the wacky rig coaxed bites from quality largemouth. Fukae noted the drop shot is his key bait whenever he fishes Lake Champlain because he can “catch so many fish on it.”
