Champ Sighting on 5/31/09

[VTSeaRay]

not sure how much you've heard about Lake Champlain's "Champ" (the US based version of Scotland's Nessie). I've always thought of it as a marketing monster, more than anything else. My girlfriend and I have an on-going "discussion" on it (she believes in it, I don't).

The story goes, that Samuel De Champlain (the European who the lake is named after) saw it, when he came here for the first time (he was only here for a month) 400 years ago this year. I've read his notes, and to me, his description sounds more like a Gar Fish which I've seen a lot of in the lake that reach 2'-4' in length, with an ugly pre-historic snout filled with teeth.

Anyhow, here's the latest video, I'm thinking it's a prank, but who knows. ( the URL , in case the youtube link doesn't work - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT49LQMxthg&feature=channel_page )

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT49LQMxthg&feature=channel_page[/youtube]

 

[rondds]

That is CLEARLY a prehistoric monster.

 

[Hampton]

That is no Gar, maybe a turtle, but not a Gar.

 

[ChuckW]

I think TurtleTone was up there for the day.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Me thinks there might be a reason they didn't zoom-in all the way....

 

[Turtlesboat]

sorry, I was up there floating on my back. Thanks for noticing my protruding thingy.

 

[VTSeaRay]

LOL - :smt043I've seen lots of turtles, and big snappers in the lake, and they don't come out that far. Gar don't normally pick that much of their body out of the water either. It's still <50 degrees water temp up here, so most of the amphibian's are still kind of slow and lethargic. The thing in this video, that catches my eye, is what looks like a coil a ways behind the head. But, I'm a major skeptic on this, and I agree, why didn't they zoom, or walk along the shore to get a closer pic. :grin:

The girlfriend's already taunting me about it!:lol::smt001

One other theory of mine is this past weekend was the last weekend for College Students in town, so I'm leaning towards a college prank.

 

[Lazy Daze]

OK, here's my logic on the zoom thing:

If it was an amateur taking the video, he would of been excited about what he thought was the "real thing" and over-zoomed. Instead, he only "click-clicked" a few times. So, it was not an amateur taking the video of the real thing.

If it was a professional taking the video, he would have zoomed in further. So, it was not a professional. Besides, pros wouldn't make the mistake of "click clicking".

Since it was not a pro, it has to be an amateur.

Since it was not an amateur taking video of "the real thing", it must be an amateur taking video of what he knows to be fake.

How's that!:grin::lol:

 

[Hampton]

Here's our Loch Ness Gator from this afternoon, directly in front of my boat:



Here's the Loch Ness Turkey from this morning, directly in front of my truck:

 

[Stray Cat]

I say it is time for some shoreline trolling with a dead chicken....hey, it's gotta eat.

 

[Hampton]

I say it is time for some shoreline trolling with a dead chicken....hey, it's gotta eat.

The gator ate a huge grouper head last night.

Loch Ness Deer:



Loch Ness Flying Fish:

 

[Hampton]

What ever it is, it is surely Bush's fault regardless.

: )

No doubt.

 

[Hampton]

Loch Ness Snake (today).

 

[Hampton]

Cricket, Cricket.

 

[Hampton]

That's some funny stuff, there.

 

[BobWaz]

I have never seen Champy. I do believe there is something to it. If you have the chance look up the documentary of Americas Lockness Monster done by I believe the Discovery Channel. This was done back in 2003 I believe. They had taken a research vessel the length of the lake and did not see anything. However they did record sonar pings that could not be related to any creature recorded before. They also examined some photos of the creature. They proved the photos were not altered in any way. Also in taking all the wildlife known in the area and computer generating their capable movements, could not get them to match the photo. When we bought our house on the lake here, there was a contactor finishing some work on our deck. When talking to him outside I asked his opinion of Champy. He walked me out to the front of the house and showed me the camera on his seat in the truck. He said he once saw it years ago and has never traveled anywhere in the area without his camera!