This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Champlain fishing report.
We’re locked in full winter mode now, with Champlain running cold, water temps in the low to mid‑30s and a mix of early shoreline ice, skimmed bays, and plenty of open main‑lake water. NWS Burlington is calling for seasonably cold air, light north winds early, and a chance of light snow showers this afternoon. Sunrise is right around 7:30 a.m., with sunset near 4:30 p.m., so you’ve got a tight daylight window to work with.
No true tide on Champlain, but water levels are winter‑low and fairly stable. That’s keeping the better bite pinned to subtle structure changes: inside turns, rock spines, and edges of remaining deep weed stubble.
According to recent local reports and guide chatter, lake trout on the main basin have been the star of the show, with solid numbers coming from 60–100 feet on vertical presentations. Jigging spoons and 3–4 inch white tubes are producing, especially on the New York side off Port Kent and out toward the Split Rock area. A slow, tight hop just off bottom is out‑fishing big rips.
Smallmouth are still very catchable for the folks braving the cold in boats. Anglers working 30–45 feet off Burlington, Juniper Island, and north toward Appletree have been boating good numbers of 2–3 pound fish on classic Champlain finesse: drop‑shot rigs with goby‑ or smelt‑pattern plastics, and Ned rigs dragged painfully slow. Major League Fishing coverage from past Champlain events highlights baits like Berkley MaxScent Flat Worms, small minnow imitations, and compact football jigs as top producers here, and that still holds true in winter.
Panfish action has been picking up in the protected bays that have started to lock up. Recent word out of places like the back of Malletts Bay and the shallower pockets around the Islands is that yellow perch and bluegill are stacked but size is mixed. Small tungsten jigs tipped with spikes or a sliver of nightcrawler under a dead‑still rod have been the ticket. Use extreme caution on any early ice; thickness is variable and wind‑pushed.
For bait and lures right now:
- For lake trout: white tubes, silver or glow jigging spoons, and 3–4 inch soft jerkbaits on a 3/8–1/2 oz head.
- For smallmouth: drop‑shot bait in perch, goby, or smelt colors, Ned rigs in green pumpkin, and a small hair jig when they get finicky.
- For panfish: 3–4 mm tungsten in chartreuse or glow, with spikes, maggots, or a tiny plastic tail.
Couple of hot spots to circle today:
- The Burlington hump line from Juniper north toward Appletree Point for deep bronzebacks.
- The NY side ledges between Port Kent and Split Rock for lake trout, watching your graph for bait clouds.
Work your baits slow, dress warm, and keep an eye on the wind—Champlain can turn ugly fast in winter, even when it looks calm at daybreak.
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