Lake Champlain fishing report for the week of September 10, 2026. The first cool nights of September have started to drop the water temperature on Champlain, and the smallmouth have responded by moving onto the rock points and shoals to feed ahead of fall. The pike are on the outside weed edges in the bays, and the lake trout are still on the deep structure in the main lake, with the salmon starting to stage off the river mouths.
What’s Hitting
What’s hot this week is smallmouth bass. Fish from 2 to 5 pounds are on the rock points, the shoals, and the drop-offs from the Inland Sea down through the main lake near Burlington and the Champlain Islands, feeding on crayfish and perch in 10 to 25 feet. Northern pike are on the outside weed edges in Missisquoi Bay, St. Albans Bay, and the South Lake, with some fish over 36 inches. Lake trout are on the deep structure in 80 to 120 feet in the main lake, and landlocked salmon are starting to stage off the Winooski and the Lamoille river mouths. Largemouth are on the remaining weeds in the bays. Walleye are on the deeper edges of the Missisquoi and the South Lake at night.
Yellow perch are schooling on the deeper flats and are easy to catch for anglers looking for a meal.
Where to Find Them
For smallmouth, the rock points and shoals around the Champlain Islands, the reefs off Burlington, and the drop-offs in the Inland Sea in 10 to 25 feet. Pike are on the weed edges in Missisquoi Bay and St. Albans Bay and along the South Lake channel. Lake trout are on the deep humps and the main lake basin off Burlington and Port Kent. Salmon are staging off the Winooski and Lamoille mouths and along the Vermont shore. Walleye are in the Missisquoi River mouth and the South Lake at dusk.
Tides & Conditions
The new moon this weekend has no tidal effect here, but the dark nights and the cooling water have moved the smallmouth shallower to feed. Winds have been northwest at 10 to 15 with some rough days on the broad lake, and the surface temps have dropped into the upper 60s. Water clarity is good in the main lake and fair in the bays.
Tackle & Tactics
For smallmouth, a drop-shot rig with a small plastic, a tube jig, or a Ned rig on the rock points and shoals, and a jerkbait when the fish are chasing bait. Pike want a big spinnerbait, a jerkbait, or a large swimbait on the weed edges, with a wire or heavy fluorocarbon leader. Lake trout are taking spoons and flasher-fly combinations on downriggers in 80 to 120 feet, or vertical jigs on the deep structure. Salmon want a streamer fly or a small spoon trolled near the surface off the river mouths. Walleye are taking crankbaits and jigs at dusk.
Local Intel This Week
Public ramps: the Burlington Perkins Pier ramp and the Shelburne Bay ramp serve the main lake on the Vermont side, the Plattsburgh City Marina ramp covers the New York side, and the St. Albans Bay ramp and the Missisquoi Bay ramps at Swanton serve the north end. The Grand Isle state ramp is central for the islands. Fish are concentrating on the rock points and shoals in 10 to 25 feet and on the weed edges in the bays. Check current Vermont Fish and Wildlife and New York DEC regulations before keeping fish — the two states have a reciprocal agreement on most of the lake, but limits and seasons for bass, pike, lake trout, and salmon should be confirmed.
This Week’s Tip
The smallmouth this week are on the rock points, but they are on the deeper side of the point where the rock meets the drop-off, not on top. Position the boat over the deep water and cast up onto the point, then work your drop-shot or tube slowly down the slope. The fish are sitting at the bottom of the break, waiting for the crayfish to come to them.
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