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"Heating Up: Bass, Trout, and Perch Bite Strong on Lake Champlain"
Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for Monday, May 5, 2025.
The sun rose this morning at 5:35 AM and will set at 8:02 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to get on the water. The weather is starting out mild in the lower 50s, warming quickly to high 60s by midday, with a light southern breeze—ideal for casting or trolling. No tidal shifts to worry about here, just the steady rise of spring.
Fish activity on Lake Champlain is heating up as water temperatures rise and the spawn approaches for bass and other warmwater species. Last week, Vermont angler Roy Gangloff landed a monster largemouth at Ticonderoga weighing in at 7 pounds 13 ounces. He used a half-ounce chartreuse black back Rat-L-Trap, which has been outperforming most other lures this spring, especially in the southern basin. Largemouth bass are getting more aggressive and can be found moving into shallower coves and weedy bays[1].
Lake trout numbers are still strong thanks to ongoing lamprey control efforts, and anglers are reporting steady action on the drop-offs using spoons and smelt-patterned jigs. Trollers working 20 to 40 feet down are picking up nice lakers on silver and blue flutter spoons and stickbaits, particularly in the mid-lake regions around Port Henry and Split Rock[5]. Smallmouth bass are also staging near rocky shores and points, and reports show good catches on jerkbaits and tube jigs—try natural or perch-colored patterns for best results[1].
The yellow perch bite remains consistent, with fat slabs schooling in shallower bays and around submerged grasses. Live minnows or small spinners are your best bet here. Walleye and northern pike are showing up in the mouths of tributaries, especially early and late, hitting on crankbaits and live bait rigs[4].
For hot spots today, Ticonderoga Bay is a prime bet for big bass—work those Rat-L-Traps slow and steady along the weedlines. Kingsland Bay and the rocky flats near Valcour Island are holding good numbers of smallmouths and perch. For lake trout, put in some time trolling off Port Henry or the deeper holes off Split Rock.
To sum up, best bets are Rat-L-Traps for largemouth, jerkbaits and tubes for smallmouth, and silver spoons for lakers. Live minnows or worms will keep you busy with perch and the occasional walleye. With the weather stable and fish on the move, today is a great day to get out and make some memories on Lake Champlain.
Good luck and tight lines!
The sun rose this morning at 5:35 AM and will set at 8:02 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to get on the water. The weather is starting out mild in the lower 50s, warming quickly to high 60s by midday, with a light southern breeze—ideal for casting or trolling. No tidal shifts to worry about here, just the steady rise of spring.
Fish activity on Lake Champlain is heating up as water temperatures rise and the spawn approaches for bass and other warmwater species. Last week, Vermont angler Roy Gangloff landed a monster largemouth at Ticonderoga weighing in at 7 pounds 13 ounces. He used a half-ounce chartreuse black back Rat-L-Trap, which has been outperforming most other lures this spring, especially in the southern basin. Largemouth bass are getting more aggressive and can be found moving into shallower coves and weedy bays[1].
Lake trout numbers are still strong thanks to ongoing lamprey control efforts, and anglers are reporting steady action on the drop-offs using spoons and smelt-patterned jigs. Trollers working 20 to 40 feet down are picking up nice lakers on silver and blue flutter spoons and stickbaits, particularly in the mid-lake regions around Port Henry and Split Rock[5]. Smallmouth bass are also staging near rocky shores and points, and reports show good catches on jerkbaits and tube jigs—try natural or perch-colored patterns for best results[1].
The yellow perch bite remains consistent, with fat slabs schooling in shallower bays and around submerged grasses. Live minnows or small spinners are your best bet here. Walleye and northern pike are showing up in the mouths of tributaries, especially early and late, hitting on crankbaits and live bait rigs[4].
For hot spots today, Ticonderoga Bay is a prime bet for big bass—work those Rat-L-Traps slow and steady along the weedlines. Kingsland Bay and the rocky flats near Valcour Island are holding good numbers of smallmouths and perch. For lake trout, put in some time trolling off Port Henry or the deeper holes off Split Rock.
To sum up, best bets are Rat-L-Traps for largemouth, jerkbaits and tubes for smallmouth, and silver spoons for lakers. Live minnows or worms will keep you busy with perch and the occasional walleye. With the weather stable and fish on the move, today is a great day to get out and make some memories on Lake Champlain.
Good luck and tight lines!
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By Quiet. PleaseArtificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for Monday, May 5, 2025.
The sun rose this morning at 5:35 AM and will set at 8:02 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to get on the water. The weather is starting out mild in the lower 50s, warming quickly to high 60s by midday, with a light southern breeze—ideal for casting or trolling. No tidal shifts to worry about here, just the steady rise of spring.
Fish activity on Lake Champlain is heating up as water temperatures rise and the spawn approaches for bass and other warmwater species. Last week, Vermont angler Roy Gangloff landed a monster largemouth at Ticonderoga weighing in at 7 pounds 13 ounces. He used a half-ounce chartreuse black back Rat-L-Trap, which has been outperforming most other lures this spring, especially in the southern basin. Largemouth bass are getting more aggressive and can be found moving into shallower coves and weedy bays[1].
Lake trout numbers are still strong thanks to ongoing lamprey control efforts, and anglers are reporting steady action on the drop-offs using spoons and smelt-patterned jigs. Trollers working 20 to 40 feet down are picking up nice lakers on silver and blue flutter spoons and stickbaits, particularly in the mid-lake regions around Port Henry and Split Rock[5]. Smallmouth bass are also staging near rocky shores and points, and reports show good catches on jerkbaits and tube jigs—try natural or perch-colored patterns for best results[1].
The yellow perch bite remains consistent, with fat slabs schooling in shallower bays and around submerged grasses. Live minnows or small spinners are your best bet here. Walleye and northern pike are showing up in the mouths of tributaries, especially early and late, hitting on crankbaits and live bait rigs[4].
For hot spots today, Ticonderoga Bay is a prime bet for big bass—work those Rat-L-Traps slow and steady along the weedlines. Kingsland Bay and the rocky flats near Valcour Island are holding good numbers of smallmouths and perch. For lake trout, put in some time trolling off Port Henry or the deeper holes off Split Rock.
To sum up, best bets are Rat-L-Traps for largemouth, jerkbaits and tubes for smallmouth, and silver spoons for lakers. Live minnows or worms will keep you busy with perch and the occasional walleye. With the weather stable and fish on the move, today is a great day to get out and make some memories on Lake Champlain.
Good luck and tight lines!
The sun rose this morning at 5:35 AM and will set at 8:02 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to get on the water. The weather is starting out mild in the lower 50s, warming quickly to high 60s by midday, with a light southern breeze—ideal for casting or trolling. No tidal shifts to worry about here, just the steady rise of spring.
Fish activity on Lake Champlain is heating up as water temperatures rise and the spawn approaches for bass and other warmwater species. Last week, Vermont angler Roy Gangloff landed a monster largemouth at Ticonderoga weighing in at 7 pounds 13 ounces. He used a half-ounce chartreuse black back Rat-L-Trap, which has been outperforming most other lures this spring, especially in the southern basin. Largemouth bass are getting more aggressive and can be found moving into shallower coves and weedy bays[1].
Lake trout numbers are still strong thanks to ongoing lamprey control efforts, and anglers are reporting steady action on the drop-offs using spoons and smelt-patterned jigs. Trollers working 20 to 40 feet down are picking up nice lakers on silver and blue flutter spoons and stickbaits, particularly in the mid-lake regions around Port Henry and Split Rock[5]. Smallmouth bass are also staging near rocky shores and points, and reports show good catches on jerkbaits and tube jigs—try natural or perch-colored patterns for best results[1].
The yellow perch bite remains consistent, with fat slabs schooling in shallower bays and around submerged grasses. Live minnows or small spinners are your best bet here. Walleye and northern pike are showing up in the mouths of tributaries, especially early and late, hitting on crankbaits and live bait rigs[4].
For hot spots today, Ticonderoga Bay is a prime bet for big bass—work those Rat-L-Traps slow and steady along the weedlines. Kingsland Bay and the rocky flats near Valcour Island are holding good numbers of smallmouths and perch. For lake trout, put in some time trolling off Port Henry or the deeper holes off Split Rock.
To sum up, best bets are Rat-L-Traps for largemouth, jerkbaits and tubes for smallmouth, and silver spoons for lakers. Live minnows or worms will keep you busy with perch and the occasional walleye. With the weather stable and fish on the move, today is a great day to get out and make some memories on Lake Champlain.
Good luck and tight lines!