Hey folks, Artificial Lure here with your September 14 Lake Champlain fishing report. Let’s get right to it — late summer is hanging on by a thread, the air’s cooling off after a hot stretch, and today brought a classic Champlain forecast: overcast skies with patchy afternoon sun, temps hovering in the mid-70s, and a steady light southwest wind at about 6–10 mph. Sunrise hit at 6:34 AM, sunset rolls in at 7:04 PM. No tidal push to work with—we’re freshwater through and through up here.

Bass action’s been steady despite cooling water; smallmouth are pushing up onto rocky flats in 10–18 feet looking for bait, while largemouth are shacked up in that healthy grass along deeper edges and docks. Morning topwater bite’s been best—poppers and walking baits produced some strong reaction strikes around the Missisquoi Bay reeds and the Cumberland Head shoals.

Word from the launch ramps: several boats reported 15- to 20-fish mornings, mostly bronze-backs but with a few solid green bass mixed in. Heaviest bag I heard about today topped out at just over 20 pounds for five, anchored by a 4.6-pound smallmouth plucked off a rocky point near Grand Isle. A few big ‘uns came off dropshots tipped with 4-inch shad imitators, and green pumpkin tubes still got bit—especially if you skipped ‘em under docks.

Walleye anglers did alright tonight trolling bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses along deeper breaks north of Port Kent. Average size was 17–20 inches, with the odd fish nudging 24 inches. Northerns are still scattered post-spawn but several reports out of Malletts Bay on #7 Shad Raps in perch pattern.

Perch are stacking up shallower by midafternoon, especially near the Colchester Reef and in the back bays. Live bait—small dace or fathead minnows—remains your best bet, but tiny swimbaits or even ice jigs under a float worked for numbers.

If you’re bank fishing, the causeway near South Hero has been lively at dawn, with smallies busting bait balls against the rocks. Toss a spybait or jerkbait for a chance at a real slab. Another can’t-miss hot spot: the Inland Sea around Savage Island—fish the outside weed lines with a chatterbait or your favorite swim jig in bluegill color.

For lures, nothing’s beating natural colors right now. Shades of green pumpkin, smoke, and shad rule, but don’t overlook metallic flash if the sun pops out late day. Soft plastics rigged Texas or drop shot style have been king for numbers. For bait, if you can still get a couple big shiners or nightcrawlers, those will get you bit anywhere.

Last tip—don’t overlook dusk. As the sun drops behind the mountains, bass move shallow again, and topwater can get electric in the last thirty minutes before dark. Tie on a Pop-R or a Whopper Plopper and make some noise.

That’s it from me, your buddy Artificial Lure, bringing you the best local scoop from Lake Champlain. Thanks for tuning in, be sure to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out q

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Artificial Lure here, coming to you with today’s Lake Champlain fishing report, Sunday, September 14th, 2025. It’s trophy season and the fall colors are waking up—anglers, this is what we live for.

First light hit the water officially at 6:25 a.m. with sunrise glowing over the Adirondacks; sunset will cap the day at 7:03 p.m. Weatherwise, we started just below 50 degrees, breezy out of the northwest at 10 mph. By midday, expect highs in the low 70s, bright skies, and that quintessential crisp fall air—perfect conditions for both boaters and shore casters. No tidal swing to report—Lake Champlain’s a freshwater body, so currents are mainly wind-driven.

Fish activity has been hot since the cold snap midweek. Reports from the American Bass Anglers tour in Swanton last weekend confirm that smallmouth are staging shallow and cruising rocky points, with several five-fish bags over 19 pounds. Largemouth are sliding tight to weedlines and submerged wood, especially in quieter southern bays. Perch and panfish are grouping up off deeper ledges—a nod to the season’s turnover. Local guides are reporting some of the best walleye action of late summer on the New York side, with fish moving back onto flats in the mornings.

Top catches in the past 48 hours include smallmouth up to 4.9 pounds, plenty in the 2–3 pound range, and some chunky largemouth taken on topwater early. Best numbers have come from Missisquoi Bay and the rocky drop-offs near Valcour Island. Anglers are also putting slabs of black crappie and jumbo yellow perch in the livewell using small jigs and live minnows.

Right now, your top lures for bronzebacks are:

- **Soft plastic tubes** and goby imitations—3–3.5 inch green pumpkin or smoke sparkle, rigged on a 1/4 oz head.

- **Crankbaits** in perch and craw patterns—especially lipless baits ripped fast over submerged grass.

- For largemouth, try a **black and blue jig** with a craw trailer, twitch it on outer weed lines and docks.

- Topwater poppers at dawn will still trigger blowups in sheltered coves.

If you’re looking to soak bait, **live shiners** and nightcrawlers remain the go-to for mixed bags of bass, perch, and walleye. Jigging spoons are producing on deeper humps—especially from Juniper Island south toward Port Henry.

Couple hot spots to circle today:

- **Missisquoi Bay**: Smallmouth action is peaking in shallow rock patches, plus bonus largemouth in nearby reeds.

- **The Gut and Carry Bay**: Great for multi-species action—toss crappie jigs and get ready for fast panfish bites.

- Looking for solitude? **Thompson’s Point** on the Vermont side is less trafficked and turning up nice catches of lake trout and bonus salmon on spoons.

Fall patterns are locked in—think finesse and reaction baits by day, with brisk topwater potential at sunrise and dusk. Be alert, check that forecast for wind, and remember, safety first—she can blow up quick this time of year.

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Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain Fishing Report for Saturday, September 13, 2025.

We kicked off today crisp and cool, typical for mid-September, with sunrise at 6:31 AM and sunset coming up around 7:07 PM. Weather’s holding true to early fall: clear skies, a decent breeze rolling down the lake, and high temps expected to nudge into the upper 60s later today. Lake level as of last week was about 93.4 feet above full pool, running lower thanks to a dry stretch, which means a bit more exposed shoreline and new structure for prowling bass, but some of those shallow weed beds are left high and dry (Lake Champlain Water Level).

Fish activity has really turned on—fall feed is in swing and smallmouth are chasing bait schools hard all across the mid-lake reefs and deep points. Last week’s Elite Qualifier prefishers reported bags over 20 pounds of smallmouth in a single morning, and Kyle Patrick, one of the pros, says, “I think you’re gonna see a lot of giant smallmouth caught.” Most of the top catches are smallmouth, but those targeting largemouth down near Ticonderoga and the shallow weedy bays have found some chunky green bass, though it’s more hit-or-miss and demands extra time on the motor (The BassCast, September 2025).

Offshore, the main game has been on the classic jighead minnow—look for big schools and, when you see that bait-ball flash, drop a minnow-style soft plastic on a light jighead, pair it with a quality spinning combo and 8-12 lb fluoro for best results. Topwater bites still happen early, especially with the lower water bringing fish tight to isolated structure—a Strike King Sexy Dawg or similar walking bait will fire up the more aggressive bass just after dawn (Anglers Channel).

If it’s smallmouth you want, concentrate in the midsection: look for rock reefs and underwater humps off Valcour Island and the ferry lanes between Port Kent and Plattsburgh. Drop shot rigs with smelt-imitating plastics, and tubes in natural shades, continue to produce steady limits. The big ones have been stacked deep, so electronics help a ton there. For largemouth, head down to “Ti”—the Ticonderoga region—where fields of milfoil and wood cover hold some true kickers. Frogs, Texas rigs, and wacky worms work wonders in those mats, and skipping jigs under the docks is a tried and true Champlain trick.

Lake trout are still popping on swimbaits trolled along the drop-offs north of Burlington, with Bend It Fishing reporting a single lure landing over 100 trout in one session earlier this season—the bite’s slowed but steady with cooler nights pushing fish a bit shallower (YouTube: Bend It Fishing).

Best hot spots right now include:

- **Valcour Island reefs:** Prime for smallmouth, especially on drop shot and jighead minnow

- **Ticonderoga shallow mats and wood:** Shot at a kicker largemouth with frogs and jigs

- **Port Kent to Plattsburgh ferry channel:** Deep smallmouth on tubes and jerkbaits

Remember, rapid changes in wind direction can make f

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Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for Friday, September 12, 2025.

The day kicked off cool and clear, typical for the early fall transition around the lake. Sunrise was right around 6:30 a.m., and we’ll see sunset close to 7:10 p.m. Expect a high in the low 70s, light winds shifting northeast by afternoon—ideal for both boaters and shore anglers, though the lake can get choppy quick if the wind picks up, so keep an ear out for the official National Weather Service Lake Champlain forecast around midday.

Recent nights have been brisk, and that drop in water temps has really fired up the bite. Smallmouth bass are on the feed, pushing hard into their fall patterns. You’ll find them busting bait offshore, schooled up on mid-lake humps, drop-offs, and rocky points. According to Bassmaster and interviews with the Elite Series pros prepping for next week's big tournament, smallmouth have been biting best on jighead minnows, drop shots, jerkbaits, and tubes. Don’t sleep on Ned rigs in brighter colors if the sun pops out; smallies are hunting schools of smelt and alewives, so mimic that.

Largemouth bass are still relating to the last of the healthy grass, especially in bays and backwaters. The Ticonderoga “Ti” area down south is producing some measurably bigger buckets, especially if you go heavy with Texas rigs, punching jigs, frogs, or wacky-rigged stick worms in the shallow mats and wood—classic Ti action, but with water levels reported about three feet below average due to recent drought, target deeper outside grasslines and isolated cover.

Local sources say limits have come easy for most, but to separate yourself from the pack, you’ll need at least 18–20 pounds a day. The big girls are feeding, and a mixed bag of hefty smallmouth and the odd kicker largemouth is the recipe for success right now. Reports from Plattsburgh to Port Henry and over into the mid-lake islands all mention quality bass, with occasional reports of bonus pike and the odd walleye picked with blade baits and live shiners in deeper edges.

Speaking of bait, besides artificials, live shiners and crayfish are solid bets, especially if you’re taking kids out or want to anchor up and wait out the schools. Early mornings and late evenings are still prime, especially during periods of low light.

Other species to watch for—walleye are transitioning deeper, so vertical jigging silver blades or trolling at 25–40 feet has put a few on the stringer for those patient enough. Crappie numbers spike in the backwater channels near Missisquoi and around the Lamoille River mouth; small minnows under floats have worked well.

Today’s hottest spots:

- **Plattsburgh Bay and the Cumberland Head area**: For numbers of smallmouth, run jerkbaits in 15–25 feet. Be sure to check isolated boulders just outside weed edges.

- **Ticonderoga (the “Ti” stretch)**: Punching mats and flipping wood for trophy largemouth, best in 4–8 feet where the grass is thickest but water still has so

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Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for Wednesday, September 10th, 2025. The sun cracked the horizon this morning at 6:23 AM with sunset coming up tonight at 7:10 PM—a full day to wet a line and take in that first hint of fall color burning through the trees on both the Vermont and New York banks. According to the National Weather Service in Burlington, we’re starting off cool and calm, temperatures in the low 60s early, climbing to the upper 70s by midday with light variable winds, making for smooth boating and easy casting. Lake levels are a bit lower than usual thanks to a dry summer, but access remains good at major launches.

The bite’s been steady, and fish are shifting into their late-summer patterns. Local anglers are reporting strong activity for both smallmouth and largemouth bass, along with the odd northern pike and plenty of panfish action. Just last weekend at the North Hero ramp, a boat landed a 22-pound mixed bag of smallmouths, most caught on 3.5-inch swimbaits and finesse worms in natural shad or goby patterns—tactics confirmed popular by YouTubers and pros fishing Lake Champlain tournaments this month.

Shore anglers working dropoffs and rocky points near Burlington and Charlotte are scoring on bass with Ned rigs, white spinnerbaits, and shallow-diving crankbaits like the Megabass SR-X Griffon or similar budget models for deeper edges. Topwater is producing early, especially walking baits in chrome or bone color along weed edges. For the live bait folks, fathead minnows and nightcrawlers are the ticket for yellow perch and bull bluegills off docks.

Walleye action has been a pleasant surprise north end—try trolling worm harnesses near Windmill Point at dawn or after dark for a shot at a soft-biting 20-incher. If lake trout or salmon are your game, focus deep off the Split Rock area on the New York side with downriggers; local DEC crews recently netted some nice fish there during sampling runs.

For hot spots, don’t miss the Missisquoi Bay—still holding solid populations of eager largemouth, especially around the matted grass on the Vermont side. Kingsland Bay, closer to Ferrisburgh, has also been a favorite for both bass and sizable pumpkinseed sunfish, especially on small jigs tipped with Gulp! alive waxies.

No true tides here—though seiche winds can move water a bit, so watch for wind shifts that push bait into new pockets. Cloud cover or a chop later today will only turn fish more active, so don’t be shy about covering water with moving baits as the weather shifts.

That’s the word from the water for September 10th. Thanks for tuning in. Be sure to subscribe for your local edge on Lake Champlain, and remember—sometimes the best lure is just showing up. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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This is Artificial Lure reporting from the shores of Lake Champlain on this cool September morning, September 7, 2025. Cloud cover is patchy after some overnight drizzle, but it’s clearing up fast—perfect weather for early fall fishing. Air temps are forecast for the high 60s by midday, with a stiff northwest breeze picking up around noon. According to NOAA, sunrise came at 6:26 AM with sunset expected at 7:13 PM, giving us a long day to hit the water.

Lake Champlain water levels are down significantly this week, thanks to a regional drought, so you’ll want to keep an eye on structure—it’s more exposed than usual, offering prime ambush spots for predatory fish. That lower water’s nudging baitfish into tighter schools, and the bass and pike are definitely taking advantage, especially around drop-offs and rocky points. Local reports and chatter among anglers at the Maquam Shore boat launch say the bass bite has been hot early morning and evenings, tapering midday.

On the catch front, it’s been a mixed bag but productive. Smallmouth bass are leading the way, with several chunky three- to four-pounders landed near the inland sea and around Valcour Island the past few days. Largemouth are holding in the remaining weed beds and along marinas by Ticonderoga—one local bagged a five-pounder using a green pumpkin worm, Texas-rigged, just past the docks. Northern pike are on the move too, especially in the Missisquoi Bay, with a few in the thirty-inch class grabbing jerkbaits and chartreuse spinnerbaits.

Wild lake trout populations have rebounded—scientists are buzzing about it—so if you’re trolling the deeper channels, don’t be surprised to connect with a laker or two, especially with medium-diving stickbaits in natural colors. Perch schools have shifted a bit deeper with the changing levels, but drop-shot rigs baited with small shiners or Gulp! minnows are still filling buckets up around Point Au Roche and just south of the causeway.

Best lures right now: green pumpkin worms, chartreuse spinnerbaits, jerkbaits in perch or silver patterns, and white swimbaits fished off points. For bait, nothing beats a lively shiner under a slip bobber if you want multi-species action, especially if you have kids or novices aboard.

Hotspots to try today:

- **Maquam Shore, Swanton side** — shallow cover, drop-offs, and recent reports of big bass.

- **Valcour Island’s western shoals** — excellent for smallmouth, and a good shot at a laker if you troll the deeper breaks.

- For pike, the **Missisquoi Bay weedlines** have been reliable, and with the receding water you might even spot the big ones cruising the edge in the morning fog.

As for conditions, watch that northwest wind—it’ll funnel across the open water and kick up a chop. In areas sheltered by points and islands, clarity is fair to good and the fishing’s even better. Remember to adjust presentations for the clearer water; downsizing your line and soft plastics can go a long way.

That’s the scene today on

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Morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your Lake Champlain fishing report for Saturday, September 6, 2025. If you’re just getting your tackle ready on the Vermont or New York shore, here’s what you need to know before you hit the water.

Let’s start with the weather. Sunrise came in at 6:22 AM, and we’re expecting mostly clear skies for most of the day. Temps are mild, hovering in the upper 60s early, rising to the low 80s this afternoon. Winds will be 6–8 mph out of the south-southwest, which will stir up a slight chop—ideal conditions for working some surface baits and moving water presentations.

Worth flagging: Lake Champlain’s water levels are noticeably down due to continued regional drought conditions. Vermont Daily Chronicle reports the lake’s a couple feet lower than normal, exposing more shoreline and shallow rocks—so keep an eye on your prop and use the low water to your advantage by targeting drop-offs and weedlines the fish are relating to right now.

There’s no tidal action on Champlain—the main influence on fish movement is wind and sun angle. Cooler nights are bringing water temps into the mid-to-upper 60s, signaling early-fall patterns are starting to show.

On to the bite: The bass fishing is what brings folks from across the Northeast this time of year, and for good reason. Both largemouth and smallmouth are active. This week during the Day 1 weigh-in at the Toyota Series, several bags over 18 pounds hit the stage, with the majority of anglers reporting smaller bass catches early and quality fish mixed in later in the morning. Smallmouth dominate the deeper edges around the Inland Sea and north of the bridge, with largemouth tucked into the thicker milfoil and cabbage beds in the southern bays.

Hot baits right now include:

- Booyah and War Eagle spinnerbaits (especially double willow blades), which are drawing aggressive smallmouth strikes along blown-in shorelines when there’s a ripple—tips shared during this week’s Toyota Series coverage.

- Drop-shot rigs with 3”–4” minnow plastics, particularly around main-lake points and the steeper gravel humps.

- For largemouth, topwaters at dawn are getting blowups in the shallows—think Pop-Rs and black buzzbaits. Once the sun gets up, switch to jigs and heavy Texas rigs in the inside weedlines.

Other catches: There’s been steady action for northern pike and bowfin up in Missisquoi Bay, mostly on big swimbaits and white chatterbaits. Some anglers also picked up lake trout trolling deeper just off Valcour Island, running spoons 50–70 feet down. Panfish—yellow perch and big bluegill—are stacked in the marinas and around docks on both sides of the lake.

If you’re after action, two hot spots to check out:

- The mouth of Otter Creek near Ferrisburgh: mix of moving water, grass, and rocky flats is holding smallmouth and even a few late-season walleye.

- Carry Bay up north on the Vermont side: rumors say an early push of big smallmouths were taken on Ned rigs near the isolated boulder

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This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Champlain fishing report for Friday, September 5th, 2025.

Sunrise splashed the water at 6:20 AM, with sunset expected around 7:20 tonight. It’s crisp out here—surface temps are sitting in the low 50s near shore, and the air feels fresh with a hint of humidity hanging on from summer. Skies are mostly clear with light northwest breezes forecast for midday. Water levels continue to run low—about a foot below average, with the drought still taking its toll, so expect more exposed rock and weed edges than usual this time of year. According to Vermont Daily Chronicle, these lower lake levels are making for thinner shoreline cover but are bunching bait up in tight spots, which makes for feisty bites.

The tidal influence on Champlain is next to nothing, but these north winds stack surface water a bit against the southern shores. Water clarity is holding steady, slightly stained in the bays but mostly clear main lake.

Early September is what a lot of folks call the "shoulder" season for fishing: bass are transitioning, baitfish are schooling, and the water temperature is on the fall. This week saw local anglers doing well on both largemouth and smallmouth—Champlain’s famous for both, and there’s definitely still action to be had if you know where to look. Several reports, including chatter from the Grand Isle launches and Missisquoi Bay area, mention smallmouth pushing shad up on rock points and humps. Anglers at North Hero and South Bay have been landing mixed bags, catching everything from chunky largemouth in the weeds to smallies patrolling the edges.

Best catches this week included:

• Numerous smallmouth bass in the 2–4 pound range—caught mainly on drop-shot rigs and Ned rigs fished off rocky points and around deeper grass lines.

• Largemouth success came from thick mats near Ticonderoga and the southern bays, with some locals reporting 3–5 pound fish taken on hollow-bodied frogs and Texas-rigged plastics.

• Decent reports of northern pike and a few surprise bowfin from the weedier backwaters, with chatterbaits and white spinnerbaits doing the damage.

• A handful of walleye and a couple of bonus lake trout were picked up trolling deep off Valcour Island and in the Inland Sea. Jigging blade baits in 30–45 feet has been effective, especially around first light.

Top lures lately:

• For bass: Green pumpkin and watermelon plastics, Senko-style worms, and swimbaits have been the local staple. When the wind picks up, 3/8 oz. spinnerbaits and crankbaits in perch or silver patterns have produced.

• For pike: White or chartreuse spinnerbaits, large spoons, and jerkbaits.

• For those targeting trout or walleye: Silver blade baits and small white paddle tails dropped down deep.

If you’re looking for bait, local shiners and nightcrawlers are always solid—especially after sunrise when a slower presentation helps. Top spots I'd recommend this weekend: the drop-offs around Sandbar State Park, the rocky humps off Valcour I

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Lake Champlain served up classic late-summer action today, September 3rd, with anglers reporting a solid bite across both Vermont and New York shores. The day began with sunrise at 6:21 a.m., lighting up the lake under partly cloudy skies and highs reaching around 77°F. Light northwest winds kept the chop manageable, while stable barometric pressure put the fish in a feeding mood. Sunset this evening comes at 7:22 p.m., so there’s still plenty of time to get out there before dusk.

Water clarity held steady after last week’s rains, thanks to moderate flow from the tributaries, though watch for pockets of algae bloom in warmer, shallower bays—especially North and South Bays—following recent reports from the Adirondack Explorer. Water temperatures are hovering in the low 70s, setting up the classic late-summer transition bite. No tides on Champlain, but wind-driven currents can play a big role; today’s gentle wind had most baitfish pushed to the east side by early afternoon.

Smallmouth bass action continues to headline the chatter, especially after last weekend’s collegiate bass event out of Chazy. Jessica Hickey and her team from Paul Smith’s College put up a 20.42 lb bag, anchored by largemouths and punctuated with a couple of four-pound smallmouths. Their strategy? Deep structure fishing with finesse techniques—drop shots and Ned rigs—in 8 to 20 feet of water. The bite remained consistent through the week, with local tackle shops reporting strong sales of Z-Man TRDs and Roboworms. If you’re a power fisherman, move to moving baits early and late—crankbaits and swimbaits in shad or perch colors are producing, especially around rocky points near Valcour Island and the drop-offs off Port Henry.

For largemouth fans, the inside weedlines near Missisquoi Bay, St. Albans, and the southern bays are still holding fish. The best results have come from flipping jigs tipped with craw trailers into thick mats, or slow rolling spinnerbaits along the shady edges as the sun gets high. Don’t ignore the docks—wacky-rigged Senkos have pulled more than a few three-pounders out from under the boats this week.

Northern pike and bowfin are prowling the shallows, particularly where schools of young-of-year perch and bluegills are abundant. A few big pike have been reported on large spoons and spinnerbaits, especially in the weed-choked backwaters around Ticonderoga. If you’re targeting panfish, September bluegills are tougher but still willing, according to Outdoor News—look for them deeper and try small worms or bits of nightcrawler under a slip bobber.

Atlantic salmon are drawing more attention in the Boquet River below the Willsboro dam, where NY DEC and USFWS have started a monitoring project. While peak salmon runs are still a few weeks out, expect to see some early fish moving up if we get another rain.

Hot spots today: Crown Point Bridge area is lighting up for smallmouth and offers great access to deep and shallow structure. The flats off Isle La Motte are

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Good morning from Lake Champlain—Artificial Lure here with your narrative fishing report for Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025. It’s an early September morning and the Adirondack air is crisp, the sun poked up just before 6:21 AM, and you can expect it to dip behind the Green Mountains around 7:23 tonight. It’s classic late-summer weather: patchy morning fog lifting fast, giving way to partly cloudy skies and temps in the upper 60s, climbing to a comfortable 75 by the afternoon. Light northwest winds are set to pick up a bit after lunch, just enough to riffle the surface and trigger a solid bite.

While Lake Champlain is freshwater and not tidal, falling water levels are being observed in shallow bays and coves this time of year, which means fish are pulling to deeper structure as summer wanes. Watch out for increased algae in the shallows—the water’s clear as ever, but some warmer, stagnant pockets could harbor blooms, so steer your pets clear of any scummy edges.

The college bass season just rumbled through, and the northern end of Lake Champlain lit up with big catches. Jessica Hickey from Paul Smith’s College took top honors this past weekend, pulling a bag of 20.42 lbs anchored by two largemouth over four pounds and a pile of chunk smallmouth. Her key? Finesse tactics with a drop shot in 8 to 20 feet, precisely working those offshore humps and rocky structure from Chazy Bay south toward Cumberland Head. According to her coach Brett Wimsatt, they found lively smallmouth schools and deep weed beds, with the bigger largemouth coming out of deeper water than most folks expected this late in the season.

Shore and kayak anglers have been reporting steady action as well. Swimbaits and ned rigs are big producers right now for largemouth—young Annabel Hellum was spotted landing a beauty tossing a paddle-tail swimbait on Champlain’s New York shore. For smallmouth, stick with drop shots, finesse worms, and the classic tube jig, keeping your presentations slow and close to bottom transitions or scattered rock.

The salmon and trout bite is quieter lately, but keep an eye on the Boquet and Ausable Rivers. The New York DEC and US Fish and Wildlife Service are launching a new assessment of Atlantic salmon in the Boquet, aiming to improve future stocking and habitat—so look for those silver missiles as September cools down, especially below the dam in Willsboro.

For panfish fans, September bluegills are on the move but can be a challenge. Try live bait—small worms or soft plastics—near weedlines off North Hero or the flats west of Port Henry. Northern pike are settling onto outer weed edges, and spinnerbaits or large jerkbaits will move the toothy ones.

Hot spots to target today:

- The off-shore rockpiles and weedbeds between Chazy Landing and Point Au Roche for a mixed bag of smallmouth and largemouth.

- The Crown Point Bridge area near Port Henry, where tournament boats have consistently stacked up solid limits, and the scenery can’t be beat this tim

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