Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

Spring is in full swing and the lake’s alive with action. The weather this morning is mild, starting off in the mid-50s, with clear skies and light winds—perfect for a full day on the water. Sunrise came up at 6:15 AM and you’ll have daylight all the way till 7:27 PM, so there’s plenty of time to put some fish in the boat. No tide to worry about on Champlain, but keep an eye on those subtle water level shifts in shallow coves, which can push baitfish around and get predator fish chewing.

The bite lately has been nothing short of fantastic. Bass fishing is red hot, with both smallmouth and largemouth in classic pre-spawn mode. Smallmouth are stacking up on the rocky points and boulder fields, especially mid-lake around Westport and Chimney Point. Folks are reporting quick limits and sometimes 50 or more bass in a day. Your best bet for smallmouth is a slow presentation—think jerkbaits, Ned rigs, and drop shot setups with something like a Berkley MaxScent Flat Worm.

Largemouth are holding a bit shallower, in submerged grass and sheltered bays as the sun warms things up midday. Green pumpkin swim jigs, bladed jigs, and slow-rolled crankbaits have been doing the heavy lifting. If you want a shot at a real lunker, focus on those warmer, shallow pockets close to deeper water.

The cold-water crew is also having a field day. Lake trout are feeding well near deep humps and ledges, especially from Westport up to Cumberland Head. Jigging with dead alewife around 20 feet down is producing steady hits. Landlocked salmon are stacked near the mouths of the major tributaries like the Winooski and Ausable Rivers, with trollers scoring on small spoons.

Northern pike are cruising the weedy shallows, especially in South Bay and Bulwagga Bay—big silver spoons or live bait are your top picks here. Crappie are pushing into the backwaters, hitting jigs tipped with minnows.

If you’re looking for hot spots, start your day at Chimney Point or drift along the boulders off Westport for smallmouth. For pike, South Bay is the place to be. The mouths of the Winooski and Ausable Rivers are holding salmon.

All told, Lake Champlain is fishing as good as it gets for late April. Pack your favorite jerkbait, some green pumpkin plastics, and a few spoons—you’re bound to hook into something special today. Tight lines!

Artificial Lure here, back again with your up-to-the-minute Lake Champlain fishing report for April 21, 2025. Spring has settled in, and the lake is alive with fish and anglers alike. This morning’s sunrise was right around 6 AM and we’ll see sunset at 7:38 PM, giving us a long stretch of daylight perfect for putting time on the water.

We’ve got mild spring weather on tap, with early morning temps in the mid-50s and clear skies. Winds are light, making for comfortable casting and easy boat control. No real tides to worry about here, but do keep an eye out for subtle changes in water level in shallow bays that can push baitfish and fire up the bite.

Let’s dive right into the fishing action. The bass bite has been red hot. Both smallmouth and largemouth bass are very active as water temps stay cool and the pre-spawn feed continues. Smallmouths are stacking up on rocky points and boulder fields in 12 to 20 feet of water, particularly in the mid-lake area near Westport and around Chimney Point. Anglers are reporting fast limits and even all-day action, with some folks boating up to 50 bass a trip. The best producers have been jerkbaits, Ned rigs, and drop shots fished with Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worms. If you’re chasing largemouth, target submerged grass and shallow protected bays, especially by midday as the sun warms things up. Green pumpkin and white swim jigs, bladed jigs, and slow-rolled crankbaits have all put fish in the net[1][2][4].

Trout anglers have plenty to smile about, too. Lake trout are in great shape this year with the wild population now self-sustaining. Most success has come from jigging with dead alewife or spoons near deep humps and ledges in the mid-lake, especially from Westport up to Cumberland Head. Landlocked salmon are hanging close to tributary mouths like the Winooski and Ausable Rivers; trolling spoons is the ticket here[3][4].

Don’t overlook northern pike and panfish right now. Pike are on the prowl in weedy shallows of South Bay and Bulwagga Bay. Big spoons and live bait are getting eaten. Crappie are staging in shallow backwaters and hitting jigs tipped with minnows.

For today, top hotspots are Chimney Point and Bulwagga Bay for bass and pike, and the stretch from Westport to Cumberland Head for lake trout. Don’t forget those tributary mouths for a bonus salmon.

In short, Lake Champlain is fishing strong from top to bottom this spring. Good luck out there, and tight lines[1][2][3][4]!

Artificial Lure reporting in with your Lake Champlain fishing update for Sunday, April 20, 2025.

The Champlain Valley is waking up to ideal spring fishing weather. Skies started off clear, and the temperature is expected to climb into the mid-50s today, with light winds keeping water calm. Sunrise was at 6:15 AM, and sunset will come at 7:27 PM, giving us plenty of time to get a line wet. No worries about tides here, but do keep an eye on rising or falling water in the bays after a little rain, which can push bait closer to shore.

Fish activity is ramping up all across the lake. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass are staging in shallow rocky areas, especially in the southern sections near Chimney Point. The smallmouth bite is downright excellent, particularly around rocky points and boulder fields from 12 to 20 feet of water. Largemouth are cruising the submerged grass and shallow bays as the sun gets higher. Seasoned locals have put 50 to 75 bass in the boat in a day lately. Best baits are slow-rolled spinnerbaits, crayfish-patterned crankbaits, green pumpkin or white swim jigs, and Ned rigs. Drop shot rigs with natural-colored plastics like the MaxScent Flat Worm have been deadly for smallmouth. For largemouth, try soft plastics like Senkos along the weed lines.

Trout and salmon fans are in luck too. Lake trout fishing is very strong right now. Recent catches included plenty of double-digit fish, especially in deeper water—80 to 100 feet—around mid-lake humps and reefs from Westport north to Cumberland Head. Silver or green trolling spoons are your best bet. Landlocked salmon are biting well near tributary mouths like the Winooski and Ausable Rivers. Trolling baitfish imitations on lead-core lines has been working.

Pike and panfish are also active. Northern pike are prowling the weedy shallows in South Bay and Bulwagga Bay, with big spoons and live bait taking fish. Crappie are feeding in shallow backwaters; jigs tipped with minnows are working great.

Hot spots for today include the rocky points at Chimney Point for bass, the submerged ledges near Cumberland Head for lake trout, and the mouth of the Winooski River for salmon. For panfish and pike, target the shallow weed beds in South Bay and Bulwagga Bay.

The bite is on fire across Lake Champlain. Stay safe, respect each other’s space, and enjoy some of the best spring fishing the Champlain Valley has to offer. Tight lines to all out there today.

Artificial Lure checking in with your Saturday, April 19th, 2025, Lake Champlain fishing report. Sunrise hit at 6:00 AM and you can expect sunset at 7:38 PM today, giving us a good long window to chase fish across the lake. We don’t have tides to worry about, but the big news this spring is the solid rebound of the wild lake trout population—stocking’s officially wrapping up this year, so you’re fishing truly wild trout now.

Weather’s been cooperative—expect clear skies, light wind, and temps staying in the 50s through most of the day. Water’s still cool, and that’s keeping nearly everything active. Anglers are reporting a spring fishing frenzy with both bass and trout putting up a strong bite.

For bass, largemouth and smallmouth are staging shallow, especially in rocky areas down south by Chimney Point. Reports have folks hauling 50 to 75 bass per outing, most on slow-rolled spinnerbaits, crayfish-pattern crankbaits, and swim jigs. Smallmouth in particular are hitting well—jerkbaits, Ned rigs, and drop-shot rigs are the ticket.

Lake trout action is prime in the mid-lake zone, from Westport up to Cumberland Head. Look for them on deep humps and ledges—most success is coming from jigging dead alewife in about 20 feet of water. If you’re after salmon, troll spoons near tributary mouths like the Winooski and Ausable Rivers; that’s where they’re stacked up.

Don’t overlook the northern pike and crappie either. Pike are prowling the weedy shallows, especially down in South Bay and Bulwagga Bay—big spoons or live bait will do the trick. Crappie are feeding hard in shallow backwaters, and jigs tipped with minnows are putting slabs in the boat.

Hot spots this weekend are:
Chimney Point and the southern lake shorelines for bass and pike.
Westport to Cumberland Head for lake trout.
The mouths of the Winooski and Ausable for salmon.
Backwaters around Bulwagga Bay for active crappie.
Best baits and lures? For bass, stick with spinnerbaits, crayfish cranks, and Ned rigs. For lakers, jigging dead bait or heavy spoons is best. Salmon are taking trolled spoons, while pike want large spoons or live shiners. For crappie, small jigs with minnows are your go-to.

All signs point to a classic Champlain spring day—plenty of hungry fish, calm waters, and lots of action if you pick your spots and match your presentation. Good luck out there and tight lines.

Good morning, anglers! Today’s fishing report focuses on Lake Champlain, an angler's paradise stretching across Vermont, New York, and into Canada. Here’s what you need to know for April 14, 2025.

The weather today is crisp and clear. Air temperatures will climb to a high of 53°F by mid-afternoon, with light northwest winds at 5-10 mph making it a perfect day to be on the water. Sunrise was at 6:03 AM, and sunset will be at 7:36 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to reel in the catch of the day.

Tidal movements for the lake show a low tide at 8:21 AM, with a high tide peaking at 12:02 PM, and another low tide around 9:10 PM. These changes in water levels can influence fish activity, so keep those times in mind as you plan your fishing strategy.

Recently, anglers have had great success targeting smallmouth bass, lake trout, and northern pike on Lake Champlain. Smallmouth bass are particularly active around rocky points and shoreline structures, and we’ve seen frequent catches exceeding 4 pounds. Lake trout are hanging out deeper, around 80-100 feet, with jigging and trolling proving effective. Northern pike, on the other hand, have been aggressively biting in weedy bays and around submerged structures.

The best lures today for smallmouth and largemouth bass include soft plastics like Ned Rigs and wacky-rigged worms in natural colors. Pike have been responding well to large spinnerbaits and brightly colored swimbaits. If you’re targeting lake trout, use downriggers with spoons or deep-diving crankbaits that mimic smelt, their primary forage.

Hotspots to check out include Shelburne Bay for bass and Bulwagga Bay for perch and crappie. Both locations offer diverse habitats that attract active fish. Anglers targeting lake trout should head to the waters between Westport and Cumberland Head, where the deep structure consistently holds quality fish.

Remember, Lake Champlain is a multi-species lake, so don’t be surprised if you hook into yellow perch, walleye, or even a trophy carp while out on the water. With its healthy ecosystems, the lake continues to offer diverse and rewarding fishing opportunities.

Tight lines, and enjoy this beautiful day on Lake Champlain!

Good morning anglers! Here’s your fishing report for Saturday, April 12, 2025, focusing on Lake Champlain. It’s shaping up to be an excellent day on the water, so grab your gear and let’s dive in.

The sun rose at 6:07 AM today and will set at 7:33 PM, giving you plenty of daylight hours to fish. The weather is mild with temperatures expected to reach the mid-50s Fahrenheit. It’s a partly cloudy day with light winds, making it a comfortable time to be on the open waters or tucked into one of the lake’s bays.

The tidal activity for the Champlain area shows a low tide at 7:34 AM and the first high tide at 10:59 AM, which are great times for fishing as the moving water usually sparks increased fish activity. The second low tide is at 7:59 PM, with a second high tide later at 11:23 PM.

In recent days, anglers have reported notable catches of smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, and lake trout—the big stars of Lake Champlain. Northern pike and bass are most active near shallow weedy bays and rocky shorelines, while lake trout are being caught in deeper waters. Areas from Westport to Cumberland Head are prime spots for lake trout, particularly when jigging or trolling in depths of 80-100 feet. Another hot spot for bass and northern pike is Shelburne Bay, located just south of Burlington, offering fertile weed beds and underwater structures that attract these species.

Yellow perch are also abundant, especially near mud-bottomed areas or rock piles in about 10-15 feet of water. For crappie enthusiasts, the southern part of the lake, including South Bay and Bulwagga Bay, is seeing increased activity as these fish move into shallow areas to feed and prepare for spawning later this spring.

When it comes to lures and bait, stick with what’s been working. Anglers have had success with crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and soft plastics like crawfish imitations for bass. Northern pike are aggressively hitting large spoons and jerkbaits, while lake trout are responding to trolling with flashy spoons or jigs tipped with smelt or other baitfish imitations. For yellow perch and crappie, small jigs tipped with live minnows or waxworms have been a winning ticket.

If you’re planning your outing today, two excellent locations to focus on are Shelburne Bay for warm-water species and the deeper waters near Cumberland Head for lake trout. Both areas have delivered solid action in recent days.

Whether you’re targeting trophy fish or just out for a relaxing day on the lake, Lake Champlain offers a little something for everyone right now. Tight lines, and best of luck out there!

Good morning, anglers! Here’s your Lake Champlain fishing report for Friday, April 11, 2025, brought to you by your local fishing guide, “Artificial Lure.” Conditions are great for a day out on the water, and spring fishing is kicking into high gear.

The weather today is shaping up nicely with partly cloudy skies and mild temperatures, perfect for both trolling and casting. The sunrise was at 6:08 AM, and the sunset will be at 7:35 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to hit the lake. Winds are soft, with only light breezes expected, which is ideal for maintaining stability on the water.

Lake Champlain is currently offering great opportunities for catching a variety of species. Lake trout fishing is particularly strong this season, thanks to the cooler water temperatures. Recent catches have included multiple lake trout weighing over 10 pounds, with the best action happening in deeper waters around 80-100 feet. Trolling spoons in silver or green patterns near structures like humps and reefs has been very effective. Landlocked salmon are also active, with anglers finding success trolling at mid-depths using lead-core lines and baitfish imitations. For smallmouth bass enthusiasts, rocky shorelines and points in shallower waters remain hotspots. Use Ned rigs or drop-shots with plastics in natural colors like watermelon green or goby.

Hotspots right now include Shelburne Bay for smallmouth bass and salmon, as well as the stretch between Westport and Cumberland Head for lake trout. Another productive area is Mallets Bay, where northern pike and largemouth bass have been biting on jerkbaits and chatterbaits.

If you’re targeting panfish, yellow perch and crappie are active in the shallows, especially in areas like South Bay and Bulwagga Bay. Small jigs tipped with live minnows or worms are working wonders. These early-season panfish will often gather around submerged vegetation and muddy-bottomed areas.

Some of the best lures to use this week are silver spoons for trout, chatterbaits in chartreuse for largemouth bass, and drop-shot setups for smallmouth. For bait anglers, live minnows and nightcrawlers are highly effective. Make sure to also pack some crankbaits and soft plastics for versatility.

Lastly, don’t forget to check local regulations, as bass harvest season is currently closed, but catch-and-release is allowed. With the fish biting and spring in the air, today’s a great day to hook up and reel in some memories on Lake Champlain! Tight lines out there!

Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for March 31, 2025. Let's dive right in!

First off, we're looking at a partly cloudy day with temperatures in the mid-40s Fahrenheit. There's a light breeze coming from the southwest at about 5-10 mph. The sun peeked over the horizon at 6:30 AM, and we'll see it dip back down around 7:17 PM.

Now, onto the fishing! The ice is finally off most of the lake, and the fish are starting to get active. Water temps are hovering around 40°F, which means we're seeing some good action, especially for cold-water species.

Tides aren't a huge factor on Champlain, but there is a slight fluctuation. We've got a low tide at 8:58 AM and a high at 12:29 PM. Keep an eye on those river mouths during the tide changes for some extra action.

Lake trout and landlocked salmon have been the stars of the show lately. Anglers are reporting good success trolling with spoons in 40-60 feet of water. The Sutton 71 in copper or silver has been a hot lure. For you salmon chasers, try working the mouths of tributaries with stick baits or small spoons.

Bass fishing is picking up, with both largemouth and smallmouth starting to move into shallower water. Jerkbaits and drop shot rigs have been producing well. Don't be afraid to throw a chatterbait in areas with submerged vegetation.

Pike fishing has been excellent in the shallower bays. Big spoons and swimbaits are your best bet for these toothy critters.

As for hot spots, I'd recommend checking out Malletts Bay for a mix of species, or head up to the Inland Sea area for some good smallmouth action. The Champlain Bridge area has also been producing some nice lake trout.

Remember, folks, the key to success this time of year is to fish slow and deep. Don't be afraid to switch up your presentations if you're not getting any bites.

Lastly, we've been hearing reports of some monster carp being caught. If you're looking for a real challenge, try your luck with some carp fishing. They're putting up quite a fight!

That's all for now, anglers. Stay safe out there, and tight lines!

Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for March 30, 2025.

Sunrise today was at 6:32 AM, and we're looking at a sunset around 7:16 PM. Weather-wise, it's a bit chilly with temperatures in the mid-40s Fahrenheit. We've got partly cloudy skies and a light west wind at about 10 to 15 knots.

Now, onto the fishing! The lake level is sitting pretty steady, and the tides are looking good for today. We've got a low tide at 8:21 AM with a height of 4.53 feet, followed by a high tide at 11:48 AM reaching 7.55 feet. Another low tide comes in at 8:49 PM at 4.49 feet.

Folks, the fishing has been picking up nicely as we head into spring. We're seeing some decent action with lake trout and landlocked salmon in the deeper parts of the main lake. I've heard reports of some nice catches near Valcour Island and off the shores of Burlington.

Bass fishing is starting to heat up too. Anglers are pulling in some quality smallmouth using drop shots and jerkbaits in 15 to 25 feet of water. The Inland Sea area has been particularly productive.

For you pike enthusiasts, the shallow bays are warming up, and we're seeing some early season action. Try throwing some large spoons or swimbaits in areas like Missisquoi Bay or the Larabee's Point area.

Lure-wise, I'd recommend having a mix of jerkbaits, drop shot rigs, and some larger swimbaits for the pike. The Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm on a drop shot has been a killer for smallmouth. For lake trout and salmon, try trolling with spoons like the Sutton 71 in copper or silver.

If you're looking for some hot spots, I'd suggest checking out Malletts Bay for a mix of species, or head up to the Inland Sea area for some good smallmouth action. The Champlain Bridge area has also been producing some nice lake trout.

Remember, folks, the key to success this time of year is to fish slow and deep. Don't be afraid to switch up your presentations if you're not getting any bites.

That's all for now, anglers. Stay safe out there, and tight lines!

Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for March 28, 2025.

The sun's peeking over the horizon at 6:36 AM today, and we'll see it dip back down around 7:13 PM. Weather-wise, we're looking at partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the mid-40s Fahrenheit. There's a light breeze coming from the southwest at about 5-10 mph.

Now, onto the fishing! The ice is finally off most of the lake, and the fish are starting to get active. Water temps are hovering around 40°F, which means we're seeing some good action, especially for cold-water species.

Tides aren't a huge factor on Champlain, but there is a slight fluctuation. We've got a low tide at 7:04 AM and a high at 10:33 AM, with another low at 7:12 PM.

Lake trout and landlocked salmon have been the stars of the show lately. Anglers are reporting good success trolling with spoons in 40-60 feet of water. The Sutton 71 in copper or silver has been a hot lure. For you salmon chasers, try working the mouths of tributaries with stick baits or small spoons.

Bass fishing is starting to pick up, especially for smallmouth. They're hanging out on deep drop-offs and near rocky structure. Jerkbaits and hair jigs have been producing well. A few anglers have been catching some nice largemouth in the shallower bays using chatterbaits or slow-rolling spinnerbaits.

Pike fishing has been excellent in the shallow bays. Big spoons and swimbaits are the ticket here. We've seen some real monsters come in from Missisquoi Bay and the Larabee's Point area.

For you panfish enthusiasts, yellow perch are biting well in 15-20 feet of water. Small jigs tipped with minnows or worms are working great.

As for hot spots, I'd recommend checking out Mallets Bay for a mix of species. The Inland Sea area has been producing some nice lakers and smallmouth. If you're after salmon, try trolling near the mouth of the Boquet River.

Remember, folks, the key to success this time of year is to fish slow and deep. Don't be afraid to switch up your presentations if you're not getting any bites.

That's all for now, anglers. Stay safe out there, and tight lines!