Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for June 1st, 2025.
Sunrise this morning came at 5:13 AM, with sunset coming up at 8:29 PM. The skies started partly cloudy, with calm water early, light southwest winds picking up as the day moves on, and highs hitting the mid-70s—classic early June Champlain weather. No tides on a freshwater lake, but wind-driven currents will mean fish could be tight to shoreline structure on the windblown side.
The bass bite is top-notch right now. Both largemouth and smallmouth are either finishing up spawning or already laid off the beds, moving into classic summer patterns. Reports from Omnia Fishing and Vermont Fish & Wildlife highlight that largemouth bass are crushing grass jigs around flooded brush and shallow submerged weeds. Smallmouths are stacking up along rocky points and boulder fields, favoring blade baits and hard jerkbaits in 8 to 12 feet of water, especially where there's a mix of gravel and rock. According to On The Water, Champlain is producing solid numbers, with many bass in the 2 to 4 pound range, and the occasional 5+ pounder making anglers grin.
For those chasing pike, weed edges in the southern bays like Benson and Dresden are seeing fish hammering spinnerbaits and swimbaits. Northern stretches near the Inland Sea and Missisquoi Bay also turning up toothy action. Panfish schools—perch, bluegill, and crappie—are thick in the shallows, hitting small jigs and worms around docks and submerged brush.
Lake trout and landlocked Atlantic salmon are active now, too. Trolling in 20-40 feet off Thompson’s Point and Split Rock is producing—try spoons behind downriggers or lead core. Reports from Fine Line Fishing Adventures confirm lakers are biting well, especially during overcast periods or low light.
The hottest lures this week: for bass, green pumpkin or bluegill-patterned jigs, hard jerkbaits like the Megabass Oneten, Rapala X-Rap, and 4-5” swimbaits. Pike are hitting white or firetiger spinnerbaits and big chatterbaits. Daytime lakers want flashy spoons, while salmon continue to smack small stickbaits on the troll.
If you’re looking for the spot, don’t pass up the Inland Sea for a mixed bag, and the mouth of Otter Creek for early morning bass and big pike. The rocky flats near Valcour Island are holding quality smallmouth.
Before you head out, note that spring bass fishing is catch-and-release only on Champlain, and live bait is prohibited for bass until the regular season fully opens. Artificial lures only until then.
That about does it from Lake Champlain for today. Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure’s daily report. Be sure to subscribe and never miss an update. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.