Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Champlain Catchin' Report: Reel in Trophy Largemouth, Smallmouth Action Heats Up
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Champlain Catchin' Report: Reel in Trophy Largemouth, Smallmouth Action Heats Up
Champlain Catchin' Report - May 4, 2025
Morning, folks! Artificial Lure here, bringing you the freshest fish tales from the big lake on this fine Sunday morning.
Weather's looking prime today with temps climbing into the mid-60s by afternoon. Sunrise was at 5:42 AM, and we've got until 8:03 PM before the sun ducks behind the Adirondacks. Water temps have been holding in the mid to upper 40s, perfect for triggering those pre-spawn bass to start getting aggressive.
The big news this week came from the Ti section where local veteran Roy Gangloff hauled in a monster 7-pound 13-ounce largemouth on a chartreuse black back Rat-L-Trap. Roy's been hammering bass on those Rat-L-Traps all spring, and this pattern is still holding strong[1]. If you don't have a few of these in your tackle box, you're missing out!
Smallmouth action is heating up as we speak. Reports from earlier this week show the smallies getting more aggressive as water temps rise. They've been hitting drop shots, hard jerkbaits, and Ned rigs according to multiple reports[5]. One angler noted that the Megabass 110+1 Jr in Mat Shad color was particularly effective with a "jerk-jerk-pause" retrieve, with fish hitting on the pause[5].
For you trout and salmon chasers, the deeper sections of the lake are producing, with DB Smelt spoons proving effective for salmon trolling. Lake trout activity is picking up as well, with a few solid reports coming in over the last month[5].
Hot spots to check today: The rocky points near Willsboro are prime for smallmouth right now, especially if you're working jerkbaits around boulder fields. For largemouth, target flooded brush with grass jigs - this pattern's been solid according to recent reports[5]. And don't sleep on the Ticonderoga section if you're after trophy bass - that's where the big girls have been hanging out.
Bait-wise, besides the aforementioned artificials, minnows and bluegill patterns are matching what the bass are feeding on right now. No need to overthink it - match the forage and you'll be in business.
For you boat-less anglers, shore fishing opportunities are abundant with 500 miles of shoreline to explore. Just remember those smallies are moving shallow preparing to spawn, so rocky shorelines with some depth nearby are your ticket.
That's the word from the water today, folks. Remember - a bad day fishing Lake Champlain still beats a good day doing just about anything else. This is Artificial Lure signing off until next time, tight lines!
Morning, folks! Artificial Lure here, bringing you the freshest fish tales from the big lake on this fine Sunday morning.
Weather's looking prime today with temps climbing into the mid-60s by afternoon. Sunrise was at 5:42 AM, and we've got until 8:03 PM before the sun ducks behind the Adirondacks. Water temps have been holding in the mid to upper 40s, perfect for triggering those pre-spawn bass to start getting aggressive.
The big news this week came from the Ti section where local veteran Roy Gangloff hauled in a monster 7-pound 13-ounce largemouth on a chartreuse black back Rat-L-Trap. Roy's been hammering bass on those Rat-L-Traps all spring, and this pattern is still holding strong[1]. If you don't have a few of these in your tackle box, you're missing out!
Smallmouth action is heating up as we speak. Reports from earlier this week show the smallies getting more aggressive as water temps rise. They've been hitting drop shots, hard jerkbaits, and Ned rigs according to multiple reports[5]. One angler noted that the Megabass 110+1 Jr in Mat Shad color was particularly effective with a "jerk-jerk-pause" retrieve, with fish hitting on the pause[5].
For you trout and salmon chasers, the deeper sections of the lake are producing, with DB Smelt spoons proving effective for salmon trolling. Lake trout activity is picking up as well, with a few solid reports coming in over the last month[5].
Hot spots to check today: The rocky points near Willsboro are prime for smallmouth right now, especially if you're working jerkbaits around boulder fields. For largemouth, target flooded brush with grass jigs - this pattern's been solid according to recent reports[5]. And don't sleep on the Ticonderoga section if you're after trophy bass - that's where the big girls have been hanging out.
Bait-wise, besides the aforementioned artificials, minnows and bluegill patterns are matching what the bass are feeding on right now. No need to overthink it - match the forage and you'll be in business.
For you boat-less anglers, shore fishing opportunities are abundant with 500 miles of shoreline to explore. Just remember those smallies are moving shallow preparing to spawn, so rocky shorelines with some depth nearby are your ticket.
That's the word from the water today, folks. Remember - a bad day fishing Lake Champlain still beats a good day doing just about anything else. This is Artificial Lure signing off until next time, tight lines!
View all episodes
By Quiet. PleaseChamplain Catchin' Report - May 4, 2025
Morning, folks! Artificial Lure here, bringing you the freshest fish tales from the big lake on this fine Sunday morning.
Weather's looking prime today with temps climbing into the mid-60s by afternoon. Sunrise was at 5:42 AM, and we've got until 8:03 PM before the sun ducks behind the Adirondacks. Water temps have been holding in the mid to upper 40s, perfect for triggering those pre-spawn bass to start getting aggressive.
The big news this week came from the Ti section where local veteran Roy Gangloff hauled in a monster 7-pound 13-ounce largemouth on a chartreuse black back Rat-L-Trap. Roy's been hammering bass on those Rat-L-Traps all spring, and this pattern is still holding strong[1]. If you don't have a few of these in your tackle box, you're missing out!
Smallmouth action is heating up as we speak. Reports from earlier this week show the smallies getting more aggressive as water temps rise. They've been hitting drop shots, hard jerkbaits, and Ned rigs according to multiple reports[5]. One angler noted that the Megabass 110+1 Jr in Mat Shad color was particularly effective with a "jerk-jerk-pause" retrieve, with fish hitting on the pause[5].
For you trout and salmon chasers, the deeper sections of the lake are producing, with DB Smelt spoons proving effective for salmon trolling. Lake trout activity is picking up as well, with a few solid reports coming in over the last month[5].
Hot spots to check today: The rocky points near Willsboro are prime for smallmouth right now, especially if you're working jerkbaits around boulder fields. For largemouth, target flooded brush with grass jigs - this pattern's been solid according to recent reports[5]. And don't sleep on the Ticonderoga section if you're after trophy bass - that's where the big girls have been hanging out.
Bait-wise, besides the aforementioned artificials, minnows and bluegill patterns are matching what the bass are feeding on right now. No need to overthink it - match the forage and you'll be in business.
For you boat-less anglers, shore fishing opportunities are abundant with 500 miles of shoreline to explore. Just remember those smallies are moving shallow preparing to spawn, so rocky shorelines with some depth nearby are your ticket.
That's the word from the water today, folks. Remember - a bad day fishing Lake Champlain still beats a good day doing just about anything else. This is Artificial Lure signing off until next time, tight lines!
Morning, folks! Artificial Lure here, bringing you the freshest fish tales from the big lake on this fine Sunday morning.
Weather's looking prime today with temps climbing into the mid-60s by afternoon. Sunrise was at 5:42 AM, and we've got until 8:03 PM before the sun ducks behind the Adirondacks. Water temps have been holding in the mid to upper 40s, perfect for triggering those pre-spawn bass to start getting aggressive.
The big news this week came from the Ti section where local veteran Roy Gangloff hauled in a monster 7-pound 13-ounce largemouth on a chartreuse black back Rat-L-Trap. Roy's been hammering bass on those Rat-L-Traps all spring, and this pattern is still holding strong[1]. If you don't have a few of these in your tackle box, you're missing out!
Smallmouth action is heating up as we speak. Reports from earlier this week show the smallies getting more aggressive as water temps rise. They've been hitting drop shots, hard jerkbaits, and Ned rigs according to multiple reports[5]. One angler noted that the Megabass 110+1 Jr in Mat Shad color was particularly effective with a "jerk-jerk-pause" retrieve, with fish hitting on the pause[5].
For you trout and salmon chasers, the deeper sections of the lake are producing, with DB Smelt spoons proving effective for salmon trolling. Lake trout activity is picking up as well, with a few solid reports coming in over the last month[5].
Hot spots to check today: The rocky points near Willsboro are prime for smallmouth right now, especially if you're working jerkbaits around boulder fields. For largemouth, target flooded brush with grass jigs - this pattern's been solid according to recent reports[5]. And don't sleep on the Ticonderoga section if you're after trophy bass - that's where the big girls have been hanging out.
Bait-wise, besides the aforementioned artificials, minnows and bluegill patterns are matching what the bass are feeding on right now. No need to overthink it - match the forage and you'll be in business.
For you boat-less anglers, shore fishing opportunities are abundant with 500 miles of shoreline to explore. Just remember those smallies are moving shallow preparing to spawn, so rocky shorelines with some depth nearby are your ticket.
That's the word from the water today, folks. Remember - a bad day fishing Lake Champlain still beats a good day doing just about anything else. This is Artificial Lure signing off until next time, tight lines!