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Lake Champlain Fishing Report: Bass, Trout, and Salmon Bite Strong in Spring Conditions
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.
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.
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By Quiet. PleaseArtificial 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.
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.