Champlain is a genuine four-season fishery. Ice fishing carries the winter, landlocked salmon open the spring, and the smallmouth fishing from June through October is as good as anywhere in the Northeast.
Related: Lake Champlain Fishing Guide · Lake Champlain Weekly Fishing Reports
| Month | Top Species | Peak Technique | Conditions & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Yellow Perch, Pike, Lake Trout | Ice fishing, tip-ups | Ice fishing season underway in the bays |
| February | Perch, Pike, Lake Trout | Ice fishing, jigging | Mid-winter ice fishing at its peak |
| March | Lake Trout, Pike, Perch | Late ice, jigging | Ice going out; the last safe-ice window |
| April | Landlocked Salmon, Lake Trout | Trolling, streamers | Open water returns; salmon trolling begins |
| May | Smallmouth Bass, Salmon, Pike | Tubes, trolling | Bass season opens; salmon fishing continues |
| June | Smallmouth, Largemouth, Pike | Topwater, jigs | Peak bass fishing; the spawn is complete |
| July | Smallmouth, Largemouth, Lake Trout | Drop-shot, deep jigs | Summer patterns; lake trout move deep |
| August | Smallmouth, Pike, Lake Trout | Drop-shot, weed edges | Warmest water; fish the deeper rock |
| September | Smallmouth, Pike, Salmon | Jerkbaits, trolling | Fall transition; excellent bass fishing |
| October | Smallmouth, Salmon, Lake Trout | Jerkbaits, trolling | PEAK fall smallmouth fishing |
| November | Lake Trout, Salmon, Pike | Trolling, jigging | Cold-water trolling at its best |
| December | Perch, Pike | First ice, tip-ups | First safe ice forms in the protected bays |
Best Months to Visit Lake Champlain
Smallmouth: June and again October. Ice fishing: January–February. Landlocked salmon: April–May and October. Pike: productive year-round.