Artificial Lure reporting in from Lake Champlain on a crisp Monday morning, November 24th, 2025. The lake’s settled deep into late fall—temps are hovering near freezing at sunrise, with the mercury set to climb just into the low 40s by midday. Winds are steady out of the north-northeast, 8 to 12 miles per hour, making for a little chop but nothing the local fleet can’t handle.

Sunrise hit at 6:58 AM today, with sunset due around 4:24 PM. That gives us a short window, so best to focus efforts during peak bite: locals say the hot periods are an hour on either side of dawn and dusk. No tide movement to report this far inland, but wind-driven currents have baitfish piling into leeward bays and points.

Recent catches have been most impressive: plenty of solid smallmouth bass with numbers popping in the three to four-pound range, especially during the cloudy weather we’ve seen the last few days. According to Major League Fishing, the recent big tournament out of Plattsburgh saw over 64 pounds of Champlain smallies across three days, with anglers hammering them on finesse presentations and deep structure. Lake trout are also biting well below 30 feet, with a few trophy fish hitting the scales over 10 pounds. Northern pike action is picking up as water temps fall into the upper 30s—target weed edges for the best shot.

If you’re rigged up for bass, now’s the time to throw drop-shot rigs with goby or shad colored plastics, or go with classic tubes in green pumpkin or smoke. Edges of mid-lake humps hold big schools. Small swimbaits in natural colors are solid, and a suspending jerkbait like Yo-Zuri 3DB or Duel Hardcore Minnow works wonders for those hesitant, cold-water fish—twitch and pause near docks and rocky points for the best results. For smallmouth, keep your baits subtle and slow your retrieve.

Lake trout hunters: vertical jigging spoons and heavy white bucktails tipped with cut bait put numbers in the boat—focus on deep ledges near the ferry channel or the Split Rock area. For northern pike, large spinnerbaits rolled slow along the dying cabbage beds are producing strikes. In the back bays, a big golden shiner under a float rarely gets ignored.

Looking for a couple local hotspots? The area off Valcour Island is prime for smallmouth right now, with baitfish holding close to rock piles. The mouth of the Saranac River is producing mixed bags—bass, pike, and a few surprise walleye, especially when the wind is up. Don’t overlook Shelburne Bay for late-season crappie if you’re after panfish, and the bridge piers at Crown Point still have fish lurking in the shadows.

For bait, minnows are at the top of the list for multi-species success, followed by nightcrawlers for walleye and perch. Shiners and smelt are key offerings for everything from lake trout to jumbo bass; local shops in Plattsburgh and Charlotte are well stocked.

Weather for the week looks stable, with more clouds and scattered light rain possible toward Wednesday. Layer up, keep your hands dry, and rig extra slow—cold water means the bite’s subtle but steady if you put in the time.

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Artificial Lure here with your Friday morning Lake Champlain fishing report, and folks, we’re in the thick of late November—arguably a rewarding but tricky time for anglers across Vermont and New York. If you love a real challenge and some brisk North Country air, today’s conditions will suit you just fine.

First, the weather: It’s a **crisp, classic fall morning on Champlain**, with temps around the mid-30s at sunrise and barely nudging above 43 degrees by early afternoon, so dress in layers and keep those hands warm. We’ve got a light northwest wind at 7 to 10 mph, occasionally ramping up to 12. That’ll push some chop on open water but it’s great for stirring up the edges near structure—prime real estate for late-season smallmouth and lingering largemouth bass.

Sunrise hit at 6:54 AM and sunset drops in at 4:23 PM, meaning your best bite window is right after daybreak and in that midafternoon pre-sundown stretch. According to the latest regional weather updates, don’t expect any significant precipitation today. Cloud cover will roll in by late morning, which—if you know Champlain—means fish could stay up shallow a little longer, feeding aggressively before winter really locks in.

Now, Lake Champlain doesn’t have true tides, being a freshwater system, but wind-driven currents are very real, especially up north around the Inland Sea and down toward the Missisquoi and South Bays. Northern coves and protected bays are top bets on a windy day like today, so think about working Malletts Bay, the inland corners of Shelburne, or Plattsburgh City Docks for a windbreak and a concentrated school of fish.

Recent catches have been strong, with plenty of fat **smallmouth bass**—many in the 3 to 4 pound class—and the odd stud largemouth pushing 5 pounds popping up in deeper grass and off rocky points. Coldwater **lake trout** remain active in 40-70 feet off Thompson’s Point and the broad flats near Split Rock. Some salmon are still getting hooked trolling small spoons off the Shelburne shoreline, with a few rainbow trout mixed in.

Best lures? Think subtle and natural. Locals are having the most luck on **3/8-ounce finesse football jigs** in green pumpkin or black/blue, especially when dragged slow off rocky drop-offs. If you’re targeting smallmouth in 10-30 feet, don’t ignore a **marabou jig** or a **drop-shot rig** tipped with a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm or similar soft plastic—brown or watermelon are the ticket. When bass are sluggish, a slow-rolled swimbait or a tube jig can coax reaction bites. For trout and salmon, a hammered brass or silver flutter spoon trolled at 1.5 mph has been doing damage, especially early.

As for live bait, it’s tough to beat a medium shiner or fathead minnow under a slip bobber for big smallmouth or a lively nightcrawler fished deep for trout. But most folks this week are reporting their best bass on artificials, given how focused predators are on baitfish right now.

Hot spots for today? Focus on:
- **The rocky points just east of Valcour Island**—big smallmouth have been hammering tubes and drop-shots there since the last cold front.
- **The southern end of Malletts Bay**—solid mixed bag action on both bass and the occasional walleye at dawn and dusk.
- If you’re after lake trout or late salmon, work the **deep flats off Juniper Island**, trolling tight to the bottom.

A final local tip: fish slow, use subtle presentations, and work vertical when the bite gets tough. Jigging electronics can help pinpoint those tight schools, and don’t be afraid to pick apart the same productive area for hours. These late November giants can be stubborn—but one big fish will make your chilly morning worthwhile.

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It's Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for Thursday, November 20, 2025, coming to you straight from the Champlain Valley, where the mornings are crisp, and the lake is showing off its late-fall personality.

Today, anglers are waking to cloudy skies, temps hovering in the low 40s, and light winds out of the northwest. Weather outlets are hinting at a little warming trend mid-day, maybe nudging toward 50, but you’ll need to layer up, especially if you’re heading out early or plan to stick it into the evening. Sunrise hit at 6:50 a.m., and sunset will close the day at 4:24 p.m. There’s no tide on Champlain, but watch for wind-driven currents, especially near the causeways and bridge narrows, where bait schools will get pushed around – that’s a pattern worth following this week.

The main game right now is still the smallmouth bass bite. After a stormy Toyota Series event just last week, anglers found fat, hungry fish moving off the beds and feeding up on alewives and perch[Major League Fishing]. Pro Tucker Smith hauled in a winning bag just over 40 pounds with a string of smallies – and the key was targeting deeper transitions off flats, particularly edges where the alewives were pushing in. Some of those fish were cruising as deep as 50 feet and coming up onto the edges by mid-morning. The postspawn bite is firing.

Multi-species catches have been solid. Lakers are showing good color, and it’s not unusual to hook a decent Vermont Master Angler-class smallie when targeting trout this time of year, as seen on recent local Instagram highlights. Walleye action is moderate but steady for those trolling stickbaits on the drop-offs at dusk and after dark.

Top baits have been textbook autumn Champlain: a 5-inch shad-style worm on a Picasso ball head gets the nod as the best minnow imitator, with both the Ned rig and Ned Senko on a finesse head pulling double duty when the bite gets tough. Drop-shotting with goby or green pumpkin Roboworms is a close second, especially in that 20-30 foot range. For reaction strikes near the surface, keep a Strike King Sexy Dawg handy if you see bait pushing up. Local shops report that white and silver remain the ticket for color, matching those alewives.

If you’re after numbers and not just size, focus on the Inland Sea, particularly the southern shoals and the edges of Savage Island. The sand and rock transitions here are loaded with prey and those big smallmouths aren’t far behind. Another hotspot: Cumberland Bay outside Plattsburgh – deeper grass beds there are holding both largemouths and some sneaky big bronzebacks. If the wind is light and you’ve got the gear for it, trolling for lake trout north of Valcour Island has been a solid option.

The low lake level from this autumn’s drought is making launch ramps a little tricky – Burlington and Converse Bay remain the most reliable. Navigation is safe, but pay attention to your electronics along the shallow shoals and mud flats.

In summary: This week on Champlain, lean into your finesse game for smallmouths, keep an eye on those alewife schools, and don’t be afraid to try multiple depths – fish are scattered but actively feeding. The bite window is still best mid-morning and again late afternoon as the sun drops. Bundle up, bring some hot cider, and get after it!

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Morning’s crisp out here on Lake Champlain, with the sun peeking over the Adirondacks just after 7:00 AM and setting tonight around 4:30 PM. The weather’s holding steady—mostly sunny, light winds from the west, and temps hovering in the low 40s. Water temps are dropping, and the lake’s starting to settle after last week’s storms. Tides are running low this morning, with water levels just under 1.5 meters, so the shallow bays are a bit trickier to navigate, but the main lake’s fishing strong.

Folks are reporting good action on smallmouth bass, with some real keepers coming in from the shallows near Crown Point and the flats off Westport. There’s been a steady bite on brown trout and lake trout too, especially in deeper water near Split Rock and the Main Lake Drop Off. Anglers are pulling in some nice walleye around the narrows near Plattsburgh, and a few lucky souls have hooked into northern pike trolling the weedy bays. Most reports say the fish are feeding aggressively, especially in the early morning and late afternoon.

For lures, stick with jerkbaits and crankbaits in perch and shad patterns—they’re drawing strikes from bass and pike. For trout, try spoons like the Williams Wabler or a Swedish Pimple in silver or gold. If you’re live bait fishing, minnows and nightcrawlers are working well for walleye and trout. And don’t forget a few soft plastics rigged weedless for those pesky weed beds.

Hot spots right now are the flats off Westport, the Crown Point shoals, and the deeper holes near Split Rock. The Main Lake Drop Off is producing some trophy lake trout, and the narrows near Plattsburgh are a walleye magnet. If you’re shore fishing, try the Ottauquechee Yacht Club area or the Burlington Bike Path access points.

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Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain, Vermont and New York fishing report for Tuesday, November 18th, 2025. We’re deep into that late fall transition, so grab your layers, sharpen your hooks, and let’s get right to it.

Weather-wise, we woke up to a frosty start with air temps hovering in the upper 30s, climbing only into the mid-40s by afternoon. Northwest winds will be gusting 10-15 mph—so main lake runs are choppy, and you’ll want to stick to sheltered bays and leeward shores. Clouds hold in most of the day, with just a few peeks of sun.

Sunrise today was at 6:46 a.m.; sunset’s coming early—be off that water by 4:27 p.m. As usual this time of year, Lake Champlain isn’t tidal, so you don’t have to worry about any tidal swings, but water levels are just a hair below average for November, so watch those flats as you launch and load.

Fish are transitioning, but the bite is still reliable if you adapt. Smallmouth bass action remains strongest on the Vermont side, with depths around 15 to 25 feet holding solid pods of fish. Most folks are working the rocky points south of the Apple Tree Bay area and around Juniper Island, slow-dragging finesse jigs and drop shots. Green pumpkin and brown continue to be the key colors, imitating craws and gobies. Several nice bags have been reported, including one catch with four bronzebacks over 4 pounds, according to a reliable Instagram update from Collin Fiske just yesterday.

Largemouth are a bit more scattered, with best results coming from the shallower back bays and around remaining weed clumps. Skip a jig or a Texas-rigged creature bait under docks—Lawson Hibdon’s recent advice is spot-on for Lake Champlain this week: a 3/8-ounce jig with a beaver trailer, colors in brown or green pumpkin, and don’t shy away from 15-20 pound fluorocarbon to muscle those bigger bass from under cover.

Lake trout are still cruising the deeper shelves. Reports from this past weekend show anglers near Split Rock and the Four Brothers Islands getting into them trolling spoons and vertical jigging white tubes in 60-90 feet. One camper even pulled off a lake trout catch-and-cook right on the lakeshore.

For northern pike, Westport Bay on the New York side is a standout. Pike are whacking large spinnerbaits and white swimbaits, especially on the windblown shoreline.

Crappie and perch are schooling up, particularly in the Malletts Bay and Carry Bay areas. Smalls jigs tipped with a minnow or a piece of nightcrawler are pulling slabs, especially late morning as shallow waters warm.

Best lures right now:
- Finesse jigs (green pumpkin/brown, 1/4 to 3/8 oz)
- Drop shot with 3” shad or goby imitation plastics
- Medium jerkbaits in natural patterns, especially when the wind lies down
- White tubes for vertical jigging lake trout
- Large spinnerbaits for pike
- Small hair jigs tipped with bait for panfish

Hot spots to try:
- Apple Tree Bay and Juniper Island rock piles for smallmouth
- The weed edges in Malletts Bay for largemouth
- Westport Bay’s shoreline for pike
- Four Brothers Islands drop-offs for lake trout

Final tip: slow down your presentation. That water is cold and the bite can be subtle. Stay safe, keep an eye on the clock, and enjoy one of the most beautiful times to be out on Champlain.

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Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for Monday, November 17th, 2025, bringing you the latest from both the Vermont and New York sides as late fall clings to the region.

We woke up to frosty banks and a sharp bite in the air, with temps in the low 30s—bundled up or stay home, folks. Today’s weather forecast from the National Weather Service calls for mostly cloudy skies, a skim of wind out of the northwest at around 10 knots, and highs just tipping the mid-30s. The surface water temp’s dropped to the low 40s up north and just about nudges 42 down by the Inland Sea. Sunrise painted the hills at 6:50 a.m., and sunset will roll in early—watch out, it hits at 4:23 p.m.

Tidal influence is negligible on Lake Champlain; water levels remain mostly wind-driven, so expect the current dictated more by weather than the moon. With that stiff northwest breeze, focus your attention on windblown points, especially those protected coves as the day goes on.

Late fall transition has the bite changing gears. According to the Lake Champlain Fishing Report Today podcast, Sunday saw a decent uptick in fish activity as the cold set in. Recent catches included a strong showing of smallmouth—anglers landed several in the three to four-pound range north of the bridge, especially off the Colchester Causeway and around Valcour Island. Largemouth reports slowed, but those sticking to the shallower, muddy bays pulled a few solid fish on soft plastics. Northern pike catches have also picked up in the setback marshes.

Baitfish remain the story, with big schools of smelt and perch showing up stacked deep off the points and channel swings. According to Major League Fishing, match the hatch: the most productive presentations have been downsized. Drop-shot rigs with Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worms (in natural colors), Ned Rigs with Z-Man Finesse TRDs, and small swimbaits have outperformed bulkier profiles. For smallmouth, work those rocky transitions with the Flat Worm or a tube jig fished slow.

Jigging a 1/4 to 3/8-ounce football jig, especially with a MaxScent Lil’ General or a creature bait trailer, is producing near deeper rock piles. If you’re targeting pike, larger spoons or suspending jerkbaits fished off weed edges are your ticket, especially near the mouth of the Missisquoi.

Live bait always shines in November—live shiners or fathead minnows on a simple slip bobber rig entice the finicky ones, especially on calmer days.

Hot spots? Start your morning at the north end—carry your coffee to King Bay and the Gut. The rocky drop-offs there are loaded with bait, and smallies are wolf-packing. By afternoon, hit the Inland Sea near Keeler Bay or try South Hero Bridge pilings, where both bass and the occasional late-season salmon have been caught. Down south, the Ticonderoga stretch is seeing fewer boats and a steadier walleye bite on blade baits after dusk.

Remember, late fall means short windows of heavy activity—prime time is late morning thaw through early afternoon. Bundle up, keep your line wet, and don’t forget to check ice build-up on your guides!

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# Lake Champlain Fishing Report - Sunday, November 16th, 2025

Well folks, Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for Sunday morning. We're looking at a brisk fall day on the big lake, and let me tell you, the conditions are shaping up nicely for some serious bass action.

**Weather and Conditions**

We woke up to chilly temperatures this morning, so bundle up before heading out. Sunrise was around 6:47 this morning, and we're looking at sunset around 4:31 PM, so you've got a solid window to work with. The water temps are dropping as we transition deeper into late fall, which means the bass are getting concentrated and active.

**Fish Activity**

Late fall transition is prime time on Lake Champlain right now. We're in that sweet spot where both smallmouth and largemouth bass are feeding aggressively as they prepare for winter. Bass Pro Tour pros have been crushing it during this exact seasonal window, and our local anglers are reporting solid catches. The fishing day rating is looking "Better Plus" with major feeding times from roughly 11 AM to 1 PM, so time your outing accordingly.

**What's Working**

Spybaits are absolutely shining right now, especially on these calm fall mornings. These finesse reaction baits work beautifully when conditions are too calm for traditional jerkbaits. Throw them on spinning gear with 5 to 6-pound fluorocarbon, and work them with a slow, steady retrieve. Let them sink naturally and count down to find your depth. You can also throw crawdad-colored lures—the color science goes way beyond just red and olive, so experiment with different shades to dial in what the fish want.

**Hot Spots**

Focus on the deeper structure and transition zones along the Green Mountains to the east and Adirondacks to the west. The cliffs and mountain backdrop create excellent drop-offs and current breaks. Charlotte and Shelburne areas have been producing quality smallmouth, and don't overlook the rocky points where Lake Champlain's famous foliage backdrop meets deeper water.

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Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for Saturday, November 15th, 2025. At 8:20 this morning, you're waking up to a chilly start—temperatures hovering right around 38 degrees, with light cloud cover pushing in from the northwest. Winds are moderate out of the north, around 8 to 10 mph, and we're staying cool all day; highs will only scrape the low 40s. Bundle up, especially for those first casts after sunrise at 6:49 AM. Sunset sneaks in early at 4:29 PM, so plan to maximize your time on the water.

Now, being mid-November, that fall transition bite is in full swing, but don’t let the cooler water fool you—the action’s still strong if you know how to target ‘em. According to this week’s late fall reports, smallmouth bass have been pushing into deeper rock piles and drop-offs in 18 to 35 feet, especially as that water temp slides down into the mid-40s. Largemouths are stacking tight to remaining weedlines and back bays, often glued to the bottom or lurking under scattered docks when the sun occasionally pokes through.

Latest tournament data from Major League Fishing shows the week’s best hauls included both bass species—over 1,000 smallmouth and nearly as many largemouth, with pros like Jacob Wheeler hammering 27 smallies for a total weight over 88 pounds. Most consistent action on smallmouth has been with drop-shot rigs—try a Googan Baits Rattlin’ Ned or MaxScent Flat Worm in smelt or green pumpkin goby, paired with a ⅜-ounce drop-shot weight. Focus on the humps off Malletts Bay and the rocky ledges near Juniper Island.

For largemouth, the Ticonderoga stretch continues to produce. Guys are flipping ½-ounce green pumpkin jigs with a Berkley Pit Boss trailer, or working a black Booyah Pad Crasher frog along isolated mats and timber pockets. When you find that clearer water along edges, a Texas-rigged Senko or craw is hard to beat—especially that iridescent blue Klone Crawsome.

On the live bait front, shiners are drawing in bonus walleye and the occasional big yellow perch just south of the Sandbar Bridge and near Missisquoi Bay. Cast towards deeper holes and let it sit on bottom; the larger predators are stocking up for winter.

The moon’s on a waning gibbous phase, so you might catch a bit more action during midday. For panfishers, try chartreuse or white hair jigs tipped with a waxworm around Colchester Reef or the mouths of Otter Creek and the Lamoille.

A word on spots: Hot tickets right now are the offshore structure off Malletts Bay—rock piles in 20-35 feet are loaded with bass—and the weedbeds just north of Ticonderoga, where largemouths are still holding tight. If you’ve got the boat, cruise out early, keep your electronics running, and follow the bait balls—stripers and even occasional lake trout can be prowling deeper depressions this time of season.

Remember, as the season winds down and waters chill, fish metabolism slows, so keep your presentations slow—drag those rigs, pause your cranks, and be patient. Dress for the wind, keep those hands dry, and, if you’re in the yak or small craft, wear that PFD—water's cold enough for hypothermia in under five minutes.

That’s it for today’s Lake Champlain fishing report. Thanks for tuning in—be sure to subscribe for more daily reports and expert tips. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for Friday, November 14th, 2025. Sunrise is at 6:49 AM and sunset at 4:29 PM, giving you just under 10 fresh hours on the water if you time it right. The forecast calls for extended snow and rain, with brisk winds rolling out of the southwest. Daytime highs are topping out in the low 40s, so layer up with cold, dry gear and don’t forget your rain jacket—those November fronts mean business, and you’ll want to be prepared.

Lake Champlain water temps are dropping toward the low 50s inshore, and the seasonal thermocline has settled around 12–15 feet. That’s put the smallmouth and largemouth bass in classic fall transition mode. They’re keying on shallow shoals, grassy points, and rocky humps where baitfish are schooling—and that means the action is concentrated but explosive. Following advice from Major League Fishing and Mike Iaconelli, you’ll want to “match the hatch” for local forage: shiners, smelt, and perch patterns are red hot right now.

Recent tournament results have shown a strong bite for smallmouth bass, with local anglers consistently landing bags in the 19–21 pound range. The Phoenix Bass Fishing League recognized multiple “Century Club” catches just yesterday, including several 5-pound class bronzebacks pulled from both the Vermont and New York sides. Night bite and light bite hours are producing best; pressure’s light, but when the wind calms and boat traffic dies, fish feed tight to structure.

Top lures include:
- Shallow Shad Raps in natural shiner/smelt, and perch colors
- Soft plastic jerkbaits (white, chartreuse, and green pumpkin)
- Alabama Rigs loaded with small swimbaits
- Tube jigs and Ned rigs for finesse bass presentations
- Popper and topwater plugs, especially during brief midday warmups

For bait, dead drifting live shiners and small perch near ledges and rock piles is producing a mixed bag of bass, walleye, and the occasional northern pike. Crayfish patterns are clutch right now, with Orvis reporting their “Jan’s Trout Crayfish” and “Magog Smelt” flies drawing heavy hits from both smallmouth and cold-water trout. Hang your presentations deep, use flourocarbon leaders for stealth, and slow your retrieve to match the sluggish, fall feeding mode.

Big pike are still on the chew—the shallows in Missisquoi Bay and the flats near Port Henry have given up several mid-30-inch fish in the last week. Panfish, of course, are always open; perch and bluegill schools are stacked up off Sand Bar and near the bridge pilings at Crown Point. Try a small jigging spoon or classic worm under a slip bobber.

Hot spots you won’t want to miss:
- The rocky humps off Valcour Island—smallmouth central, especially early and late.
- Missisquoi Bay marsh edges and weed beds for pike and largemouth.
- The Ticonderoga-area shoals with drop-offs into 20-plus feet—you’ll find walleye at dusk and bass when the sun breaks through.

Keep an eye out for biting flies and those sneaky November cold snaps. Stick to the windward shorelines if the weather gets nasty—they’ll hold fish and offer some shelter.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Champlain fishing report for November 13, 2025. Folks, if you’re up early on this brisk Thursday, you’re met with classic late-fall conditions—expect chilly air, surface temps in the upper 40s to low 50s, and a stiff northwest wind kicking up the water. The National Weather Service out of Burlington has us clear this morning, highs only get up near 45 this afternoon, and if you’re planning the long haul, sunrise came right about 6:44 a.m. and sunset rolls in at 4:27 p.m.

As for tides, Lake Champlain being a freshwater body doesn’t have traditional ocean tides, but water levels can fluctuate from wind and dam management—today’s a little lower on account of last night’s blow.

Bass action has been prime lately, with the Toyota Series wrapping up just a few days ago in Plattsburgh. Smallmouth are still the stars of the show, especially postspawn fish chasing bait on the flats. Local pros have been doing real well with finesse tactics—stick with a 5-inch minnow-style bait or a Ned rigged Senko on quarter-ounce heads. Tucker Smith and others found their gold mines on those breaks just outside Malletts Bay and up near Alburgh Passage, so those are two spots worth your effort this week. If you’re up for a little adventure, head north late in the afternoon and work the grassy edges with topwater lures—the bite’s still explosive when you hit those warm patches and find hungry smallies chasing alewife schools.

Just to mix things up, keep an X Zone Rally Shad or Deps Sakamata Shad handy, especially if you’re seeing fish suspended off the bottom. Several anglers mentioned the Strike King Sexy Dawg for topwater; give that a go on calmer stretches, especially as the sun starts dropping and bait comes up in the water column. For your spinning gear, a medium-light rod in the 6'10" to 7' range matched with a 3000-size reel and light braid gives you all the feel and casting distance you want.

Largemouth guys are still flipping the last green weeds—think inside bends around Missisquoi Bay and Sandbar. Stay patient, and if the day warms up, a Texas-rigged creature bait can pull a few hawgs from heavy cover.

As for panfish, local guides have been picking up solid numbers of white perch off the points using small jigs tipped with bits of worm or soft plastics; try anywhere there’s a rocky transition. The Reel Vermont Guide Service swears by slow presentations right now, as the bite goes subtle with colder water.

On the broader ecological front, invasive round goby are not confirmed in Champlain proper yet, but there are heavy monitoring efforts in the canal, so keep an eye on your bait bucket and clean your gear to prevent spread.

Recently, catches have been solid. Top boats in last weekend’s pro circuit weighed in bags nearing 22 pounds, with four-pound smallmouth not uncommon around the drops near Cumberland Bay. Reports from local tackle shops and social media echo lots of smaller bass caught, plus a late push of yellow perch and even the occasional northern pike tightening up near weed edges. And for trout folks, that stocking truck is still making rounds in the rivers that drain into the lake per the New York DEC, so shore anglers have a shot at fresh fish on spinners or bright dough baits.

To wrap it up, best lures today: minnow baits, Ned rigs, and topwaters for bass, small hair jigs for panfish. As always, keep an eye on the wind—Malletts Bay and Alburgh Passage are hot, but don’t write off the Sandbar or even the south end near Ticonderoga if you’re hunting big largemouth.

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