Lake Champlain fishing report for the week of September 24, 2026. The fall season is here on Lake Champlain, and the fish are feeding. The water is cooling, the days are getting shorter, and the fall colors are starting to show. It’s a beautiful time to be on the water.
What’s Hitting
What’s hitting this week is smallmouth bass. They are feeding heavily around rocky points and shoals as they fatten up for the winter. Lake trout and landlocked salmon are moving shallower as the lake cools, and northern pike are feeding along the weed edges. Walleye and yellow perch are also active.
Where to Find Them
Smallmouth bass are on the rocky points, shoals, and drop-offs throughout the lake. Lake trout are in the main lake, and they are moving shallower as the water cools. Pike are along the weed edges in the bays, like Missisquoi Bay and the South Lake. Walleye are in the Missisquoi River and in the northern part of the lake.
Tides & Conditions
There are no tides on Lake Champlain, but wind is an important factor. The water temperature is in the low 60s and dropping. Fall winds can make the lake rough, so check the forecast before you go.
Tackle & Tactics
For smallmouth, a drop-shot rig, a tube jig, or a Ned rig fished on the rocky structure is a great choice. Crankbaits and jerkbaits are also effective. For lake trout, troll spoons or stickbaits with downriggers or lead core line. For pike, cast spinnerbaits, spoons, or swimbaits along the weed edges.
Plan your day around the wind. On calm mornings, the smallmouth will push up onto the shallow rock and chase jerkbaits and topwaters, while windy afternoons are the time to slow down and work a tube or Ned rig along the deeper breaks. The lake trout bite is best early, and the pike are most active on overcast days with a light chop along the weed lines.
Local Intel This Week
There are many public boat launches around the lake, including in Burlington, Plattsburgh, and at Sand Bar State Park. Fish are concentrating on the rocky points and weed edges. Lake Champlain borders Vermont, New York, and Quebec, and each has its own license and rules, so check current Vermont Fish and Wildlife and New York DEC regulations before you fish.
This Week’s Tip
When fishing for smallmouth in the fall, look for them to be feeding on crayfish and baitfish around rocky structure. A lure that imitates a crayfish, like a tube jig, can be very effective.
More Lake Champlain Resources
All Lake Champlain fishing reports · Seasonal fishing calendars · Submit your own report
Planning a trip to Lake Champlain?
This report tells you what happened. ReelAI tells you what to do about it — a briefing for your date, your target species and how you're fishing, built from our reports plus live NOAA and USGS data.
Powered by ReelAI — fishing.digital's intelligence layer. Answers are generated from fishing.digital reports and public NOAA, NWS and USGS data, and may be incomplete or out of date. Regulations and marine safety information are summaries only; always confirm with the responsible authority before you fish.