Lake Champlain, Vermont/New York Fishing Report Today

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Lake Champlain fishing report.

We’re locked in a mid‑winter pattern now, and both Vermont Fish & Wildlife and the New York DEC are still hammering home the message: safe ice first. Local shop chatter from the Islands down through Addison says ice is decent in protected bays, but still sketchy on the big main‑lake stretches and anywhere near current or pressure ridges. Keep that spud bar working and don’t trust old holes or sled tracks.

Weather-wise, the Burlington forecast has us in classic January chill: teens to low 20s for daytime highs, single digits at night, light north–northwest breeze, and high pressure overhead. Mostly clear skies, so you’ll get good visibility and that crisp, squeaky ice. Sunrise is right around 7:30 a.m. with sunset near 4:30 p.m., which puts your best bite at first gray light and the last hour before dark. No true tides on Champlain, just slow level swings and wind‑driven seiche, and today’s calm pattern means very little under‑ice current except near river mouths.

According to local bait shops in Keeler Bay and around the Sand Bar, yellow perch and bluegill have been steady in 10–25 feet, with honest jumbos to 13–14 inches mixed in and buckets of eaters. Folks are also picking at walleye along the first main‑lake breaks, plus scattered pike roaming the weed flats in the bays. A few anglers working deeper basins where there’s safe ice are icing the odd lake trout, but it’s not fast and furious yet.

Best producers right now: for perch and panfish, small tungsten jigs in chartreuse, glow, or natural browns tipped with spikes, mousies, or a single maggot. A little Slender Spoon or Buck‑Shot spoon with a minnow head, just quivered in place, is outfishing big rips. For walleye, tip‑ups or deadsticks with medium shiners or small suckers set a foot off bottom, plus a glow spoon with a minnow head during low light. Pike guys are doing well on classic tip‑ups rigged with big shiners or dead bait, set just under the ice over remaining weeds.

If you’re chasing numbers, Keeler Bay and the Sand Bar area on the Vermont side are fishing like the neighborhood grocery store: steady perch and gills, plus bonus pike when you set a couple flags closer to the weed line. On the New York shore, Port Henry and Bulwagga Bay are turning out piles of perch, with a chance at lakers and the occasional walleye on the drops when the ice firms up enough to roam a bit.

Travel light, punch a lot of holes, and don’t be shy about sliding 20–30 yards at a time to stay on marks. Subtle presentations are winning over aggressive jigging, and those dawn and dusk windows are where most of the better fish are coming from.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Lake Champlain fishing report.

We’re deep in winter pattern now, and both Vermont Fish & Wildlife and the New York DEC remind folks that safe ice is your first job – thickness is highly variable this year, especially where creeks dump in and along pressure ridges. The big lake doesn’t have uniform ice, so most serious ice anglers are still favoring protected bays and shallows on both shores.

Weather’s running typical January cold: teens into low 20s with a light north–northwest breeze, high pressure in control. That means mostly clear skies, softer winds, and decent visibility out on the ice. Local forecasts put sunrise right around 7:30 a.m. with sunset near 4:30 p.m., so your prime bite windows are that first hour of gray light and the last hour before dark.

No true tide action on Champlain to worry about, just wind‑driven seiches and slight level changes from runoff. With the current calm pattern, you can pretty much fish your spots without battling a lot of under‑ice current except near river mouths.

Recent reports from local bait shops around Addison and the Islands area say yellow perch and bluegill have been steady in 10–25 feet, with some jumbo perch mixed in. Windrider’s Lake Champlain ice‑fishing tips point out that this lake produces excellent 10–14 inch “jumbos” plus solid winter walleye, especially late January into February, and that trend is starting to show now. Folks are icing decent numbers of perch, a mess of panfish, plus the odd eater walleye and pike.

Best producers:

- For perch and panfish, small tungsten jigs tipped with spikes or mousies, or a small spoon like a Slender Spoon or Buck‑Shot with a single maggot. Subtle quiver is outfishing big snaps.

- For walleye, set‑lines with medium shiners or small suckers just off bottom on the first main‑lake breaks. A glow spoon with a minnow head during low light is taking most of the jig fish.

- For pike, classic tip‑ups with big shiners or dead bait just under the ice over weed flats.

Trout talk has been quieter on the main lake, but anglers following the same tactics recommended by Windrider for mountain‑lake lakers – dead‑sticked bait and white tubes on bottom – are starting to see the occasional lake trout cruising deeper basins where there’s safe ice.

Two local hot spots to circle:

- **Keeler Bay / Sand Bar area** on the Vermont side: protected ice, good perch and bluegill action, plus a shot at pike. Work 10–18 feet off weed edges.

- **Port Henry / Bulwagga Bay** on the New York shore: when the ice locks in, this corner can kick out numbers of perch with bonus lakers and the occasional walleye along the drops.

Travel light, punch plenty of holes, and don’t be afraid to move 20–30 yards at a time until you stay on marks. Remember to check ice every step with a spud, keep those picks around your neck, and fish with a buddy if you can.

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Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for all things angling on Lake Champlain. It's January 7th, 2026, 8:20 AM, and we're kickin' off the day with crisp winter air hoverin' around 25°F, light winds from the northwest at 5-10 mph, and partly cloudy skies—perfect for bundlin' up and hittin' the ice or open water edges. Sunrise was at 7:28 AM, sunset tonight at 4:42 PM, givin' us a short window but prime low-light bites. No real tides here on the big lake, but those narrows and inlets are seein' subtle current shifts from wind and river inflow—watch for 'em near the mouths.

Fish are active despite the cold; smallmouth bass are the stars right now, with recent Toyota Series reports from Major League Fishing showin' limits over 20 pounds, like Stephen Estes' 21-15 bag of chunky smallies. Locals at the docks been pullin' northern pike, walleye, and lake trout through the ice, plus perch stacks in shallower bays—dozens reported last week alone. Perch and smelt are hot for panfish crowds, and don't sleep on those holdover brown trout near tributaries.

For lures, go with **jiggin' spoons** like 1/4-oz Kastmasters in silver or glow for vertical ice work—smallies and pike inhale 'em. Drop-shot rigs with 3-inch soft plastics (smoke or green) shine for suspended bass. Best bait? Live **smelt** or shiners on tip-ups for pike and walleye; dead minnows or worms for perch. Tube jigs in white or purple are killin' it too.

Hot spots today: **Split Rock area** on the NY side for smallies and pike—deep edges at 25-35 feet. Over on Vermont, **Malletts Bay** near Burlington for perch and walleye through 12-18 inches of ice. Stay safe, Champlain's got sneaky currents and cold shocks per World Atlas warnings—life jackets and ice checks mandatory.

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Hey folks, Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for this frigid winter morning of January 5th, 2026. Sunrise hit around 7:40 AM and sunset's at 4:50 PM, givin' us short days but prime open-water action under that 15% waxin' crescent moon. Solunar tables from Town Line, NY, peg major bite times from 3:50-5:50 AM and 4:21-6:21 PM—get out early if you can beat the chill.

Weather's crisp and clear, highs hoverin' near freezin' with light winds off the Adirondacks—perfect for bundlin' up and hittin' the water without ice hassles yet. No real tides on Champlain, but flows are steady per Vermont stream reports, keepin' fish movin' in the main lake and bays.

Fish are crushin' lures right now! Recent reports show smallmouth bass, lake trout, and panfish goin' wild in open water—folks pullin' limits of feisty smallies up to 4 pounds, lakers in the 5-8 range, and slabs of perch stackin' the cooler. Bassmaster pros echoed this last season with Champlain smallies hammerin' deep structure.

Best lures? Go vertical with jiggin' spoons or tube jigs in white or glow for lakers and smallies—drop 'em 40-60 feet over humps. Panfish love tiny tungsten jigs with soft plastics. Live bait? Minnows or worms on tip-ups if you're ice-edge fishin', but stick to artificials for that winter vibe.

Hot spots: Hit St. Albans Bay for sheltered smallie and perch action—protected waters hold the schools tight. Or try Shelburne Bay near the public launch; those Adirondack views come with bonus lakers huggin' points.

Bundle up, check your gear, and tight lines!

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Hey folks, Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for this crisp January 4th morning. It's early winter on the big lake straddlin' Vermont and New York, and we're talkin' prime ice fishin' season—ice is buildin' solid in most bays, but always check thickness, as the New York DEC reminds us.

Weather's frigid today: highs hoverin' round 20°F with light northwest winds at 5-10 mph, partly cloudy skies. Sunrise was at 7:25 AM, sunset 4:35 PM—short days, so bundle up. No real tides on Champlain, but Mettawee River tributary's runnin' low at 351 cfs near Middle Granville per Snoflo, meanin' stable lake levels.

Fish activity's hot under the ice! Yesterday's IceFisher report highlighted lake trout hammerin' jigs, and my buddy's Spreaker podcast from Jan 3 nailed it—smallmouth bass, lakers, and panfish crushin' lures in early ice. Limits of 2-4 lb smallies and trophy lakers up to 8 lbs came off Malletts Bay and St. Albans Point last week, plus perch schools thick as thieves.

Best lures? Go finesse: 1/4-oz jig heads with Z-Man Finesse TRD or Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm, inspired by those St. Lawrence pros driftin' similar patterns. For ice, tip with minnow heads or wax worms. Live bait? Small shiners or fathead minnows on quick-strike rigs shine for smallies and pike.

Hot spots: Hit the deep shelves off Button Bay for lakers—20-30 ft water—and Missisquoi Bay shallows for perch and crappie. Drill safe, multiple holes, and use a flasher.

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Hey folks, Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for this crisp January 3rd mornin', 8:20 AM sharp. Winter's grip is tight on the big lake straddlin' Vermont and New York—sunrise hit at 7:25 AM, sunset's comin' 'round 4:40 PM, givin' us short days but prime ice time. Weather's callin' for highs near 25°F, lows dippin' to 10°F, light snow flurries, and winds at 5-10 mph from the northwest—bundle up, it's the Wolf Moon season with packs howlin' in the cold, per old Algonquin lore from Space.com.

Ice is formin' steady, two to four inches at spots like Cross Creek per the latest 11 Mile Marina report from New Year's Day—safe enough for careful anglers, but check thickness often, says NYS DEC. No real tides here, but that full Wolf Moon means subtle water shifts influencin' fish below.

Fish activity's pickin' up under the ice: smallmouth bass, lake trout, and salmon are active in shallower bays, with lakers pushin' into 20-40 feet. Recent catches report steady action on yellow perch and walleye—folks pullin' limits of 10-15 perch per hole, some walleye to 5 pounds. Smallies hittin' jigs, and preps for salmon runs gearin' up for '27.

Best lures? Tip-up rigs with small gold or silver spoons like the Johnson Sprite, or vertical jiggin' with 1/8-oz glow tube jigs in chartreuse or white—fish are keyin' on 'em in low light. Live bait shines: medium shiners on a quick-strike rig for lakers and perch, or fathead minnows for walleye. Go light tackle, 4-6 lb test.

Hot spots: Cross Creek for early ice perch, and the broad shallow flats off Malletts Bay for smallies and lakers—drill careful, go with a buddy.

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# Lake Champlain Fishing Report - January 2026

Hey there, it's Artificial Lure coming to you with your Lake Champlain update. We're in the thick of winter fishing season on the lake, and conditions are prime for some serious action.

Water temps are holding steady in that cold zone where the fish are bunching up tight. Lake Champlain's frozen edges are perfect right now if you're looking to get out on the ice. The Toyota Series event here recently saw some absolutely incredible weights—best we've seen in years—which tells you the fish are feeding hard and stacked in certain zones.

**What's Biting:**

Yellow perch are your bread and butter this time of year. They're schooling tight and aggressive, especially over deeper structure. You'll also find solid populations of walleye cruising the night bite—those reflective eyes mean they're feeding when the sun goes down. Northern pike are prowling the weed edges and structural drop-offs if you want to tangle with something that'll test your drag. Bluegill and pumpkinseed panfish are around too if you want easier action with kids or want to dial in technique.

**Lures and Baits:**

For bass, we're seeing five baits that are absolutely changing the January game—you'll want to check what's working on the current bite. The fishing shops around here, especially those stocked with the right lures, are key. If you hit up Hero's Welcome in North Hero on Route 2, they've got a surprisingly solid selection of fishing gear and lake essentials that locals trust.

**Hot Spots:**

Lake Champlain itself is massive, but focus your efforts around Burlington Bay—it's right off Vermont's largest city and a proven producer. The Lake Champlain Islands connected by Route 2 offer scenic access and multiple entry points. Grand Isle State Park on the islands is another solid option for shore access.

Winter ice fishing here yields rewards if conditions hold and you respect safety protocols—test that ice thickness before you venture out.

Thanks for tuning in to this report. Make sure you subscribe for updates as conditions change through the season.

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# Lake Champlain Fishing Report - New Year's Eve Edition

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure coming to you with your Lake Champlain fishing report on this New Year's Eve morning.

Let's start with conditions. We're looking at very dry weather across Vermont right now with streamflow levels sitting at just 25 percent of normal. The Connecticut River is running about 67 percent below normal for this time of year, so water levels are definitely on the low side. That means fish are going to be concentrated in deeper holes and channels—something to keep in mind when you're out there today.

Now here's some exciting news from Lake Champlain: Vermont biologists are reporting a surge in lake sturgeon population. That's fantastic for any of you targeting something truly special. The lake continues to be a bass fisherman's paradise, and reports from this fall showed excellent success with big stripers and bass pushing 30 pounds plus.

For your tackle, anglers have had tremendous success with the Outcast Lures Surfster rigged with a magnet system. This metal-lipped swimmer absolutely dominated stripers in New Jersey this spring with its kicking action and steady running depth—and it'll work beautifully here in similar conditions. The Jersey Killer and Bunker patterns are your go-to colors. Pair this with heavy casting equipment around 7 to 8 feet.

If you're into jigging, the Jigging World Onyx Inshore rod in medium to medium-heavy is a proven producer on Lake Champlain. Local anglers swear by these paired with 20 to 30-pound braid.

Regarding limits, panfish regulations remain unchanged on Lake Champlain and the Connecticut River, though the sale of crappie is now prohibited.

For hot spots, focus on Boulder fields and reef structure where fish concentrate. The deeper channels will hold your best action given current low water conditions.

Remember to check current panfish regulations before heading out, and tight lines to everyone fishing today.

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Hey folks, Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for this crisp winter mornin' at 8:20. Winter's grip is tight on Champlain, stretchin' from Vermont to New York shores, with chilly conditions keepin' the bite steady but demandin' patience.

Sunrise hit around 7:30 AM, sunset 'bout 4:30 PM—short days mean fishin' the golden hours. Weather's cold, highs in the low 20s, light winds from the northwest per National Weather Service Burlington forecasts, waves under 1 foot on the main lake. No real tidal pull this far inland, but lake levels are low—Vermont flows at just 25% normal per SNOFLO reports, so watch those shallows. Ice is formin' in bays, but open water holds for boaters.

Fish activity's strong for winter warriors. Recent reports from Lake Champlain Fishing Report Today on Spreaker note smallmouth bass, lakers, and salmon bitin' hard as of mid-December—folks pullin' limits of 2-4 pound smallies on jiggin' spoons, lake trout to 8 pounds deep in 60-100 feet, and salmon flashin' 3-5 pounders on spoons. Numbers are solid, 10-20 fish days if you're dialed in. Best lures: white or glow tube jigs, Swedish pimples, or Williams Wabler spoons—slow jig or drift 'em. Live bait? Fathead minnows or herring on a drop-shot rig shine.

Hit these hot spots: Missisquoi Bay for suspended smallies near drop-offs, or the Plattsburgh area channels for lakers—MLF's eyein' Champlain for their July '26 Invitational, so it's primed. Bundle up, check ice edges from shore if boatin' sketchy.

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Hey folks, Artificial Lure here, your go-to guy for anglin' on Lake Champlain, stretchin' from Vermont to New York. It's a crisp winter mornin' on December 28th, 2025, 'round 8:20 AM—perfect for hardwater huntin' if the ice holds. Weather's callin' for partly cloudy skies, highs in the low 30s, light northwest winds at 5-10 mph keepin' things calm. Sunrise hit at 7:35 AM, sunset's 4:25 PM, givin' ya a solid 9 hours of light. Lake levels steady per Vermont flow reports, no big swings, and tidal influences minimal this time o' year—water's holdin' even around the islands.

Fish are bitin' steady in the cold; recent chatter from local podcasts like Lake Champlain Fishing Report Today says smallmouth bass, lake trout, and salmon are active under the ice. Anglers pulled limits of panfish too—crappie, bluegill hangin' in 15-25 feet off structure. New Vermont regs for '26 tighten panfish limits outside Champlain, but here you're good for a mess o' 'em. Catches last week: strings of 2-4 lb lakers from Mallets Bay, smallies to 3 lbs near drop-offs.

For lures, go with tip-ups rigged with dead smelt or shiners—gold or silver spoons like Silver Horde dodgers dancin' sweet in the current. Jigs? 1/4-oz glow tube jigs or Norm's Professional Edge from local bait shops for perch and crappie. Live minnows on small hooks rule for bait; keep 'em lively in the aerator.

Hot spots today: Inner Mallets Bay for lakers—ice looked prime last checks—and Shelburne Bay points for smallmouth, watch for pressure ridges. Bundle up, drill safe, and check ice thickness—12+ inches min.

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