Lake Champlain fishing report for the week of October 8, 2026. The foliage is at its peak around the lake, and the fish are feeding well as the water cools. A new moon this weekend should help the dawn and dusk bites.
What’s Hitting
Landlocked Atlantic salmon are running in the tributaries and feeding in the open lake. Lake trout are beginning to move to their spawning reefs, smallmouth bass are moving to deeper water, and northern pike are along the weed edges. Yellow perch and walleye are possible in the shallower bays.
Where to Find Them
The Boquet River, the Saranac and the Winooski tributaries hold salmon. The deep water off Burlington and Plattsburgh holds lake trout. The weed edges in Missisquoi Bay hold pike, and the rocky shores hold smallmouth.
Tides & Conditions
The new moon this weekend can improve the early morning and late evening bite. Weather on Champlain can change quickly, and the wind can build waves in the broad lake. Check the forecast.
Tackle & Tactics
Trolling with spoons and streamer flies works for salmon and trout. Jigging with tube jigs and drop shot rigs catches smallmouth in the deeper water. For pike, use large spinnerbaits and jerkbaits near the weeds.
The lake’s tributaries are the best bet for shore anglers. The Boquet River and the Winooski offer fall runs of landlocked salmon, and a fly angler with a streamer or egg pattern can find fish in the pools below the falls and dams.
Local Intel This Week
Public access includes Perkins Pier in Burlington, the Plattsburgh City Marina launch and the Ticonderoga boat ramp. Fish are concentrating in the river mouths and the deep reefs. Check current Vermont and New York regulations and seasons before keeping any fish, and note the special rules for the lake.
This Week’s Tip
Use light line in the clear water. On Champlain, a lighter fluorocarbon leader can make the difference, particularly for the salmon and the smallmouth.
More Lake Champlain Resources
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