Updated: Thursday, October 22, 2026 · Next update: Thursday, October 29, 2026
This Lake Champlain fishing report covers late October, when cooler water brings landlocked salmon and lake trout toward the surface and moves smallmouth to deeper structure. Landlocked salmon are the lead target, cruising near river mouths and the main lake. Northern pike are around weed edges, yellow perch are schooled in mid-depths, and walleye are active at night. The main condition to plan around is wind: calm mornings fish best, and a cold front can slow things for a day.
What’s Hitting
Landlocked salmon and lake trout are cruising near river mouths and the main lake, and smallmouth bass are on deeper rocky structure. Northern pike are around weed edges.
Yellow perch are schooled in mid-depths, and walleye are active at night. Expect salmon fishing near the tributaries to improve with rain and falling temperatures.
Where to Find Them
Fish near the mouths of the Boquet, Saranac and Ausable Rivers for landlocked salmon. Cold-water species are drawn toward tributaries in the fall, and river mouths gather baitfish. Inflowing water can differ in temperature from the main lake, and that edge is worth working with a trolled spoon or streamer.
Drop-shot the rocky humps for smallmouth and work weed edges for pike, which use the cover to ambush passing fish.
Tides & Conditions
Lake conditions depend on wind. Calm mornings fish best, and cold fronts can slow the action for a day. On a lake this size, wind direction and strength decide which shorelines are fishable and how comfortable a run across open water is. Check a current marine forecast. Champlain is long and narrow, so a north or south wind can build big waves over open water quickly; plan the run back before heading out.
Tackle & Tactics
- Salmon: trolling spoons and streamers.
- Smallmouth: drop-shot rigs with finesse plastics.
- Pike: large swimbaits or spinnerbaits.
A drop-shot keeps a small plastic just above the bottom on deep rocks, which suits smallmouth less willing to chase in cold water. Trolling covers open water while searching for cruising salmon, and big swimbaits give pike a target worth leaving the weeds for. Cold hands slow reactions, so dress warmly.
Local Intel This Week
Launch at Plattsburgh, Burlington or Grand Isle. Plattsburgh Marina puts New York anglers close to the Saranac and Ausable River mouths, Perkins Pier in Burlington offers Vermont-side access, and the site’s guide also lists Crown Point at the south end. Salmon and bass rules differ between New York and Vermont waters, so check both. Check current state and federal regulations and seasons before keeping fish.
This Week’s Tip
Fish slowly. Cold water means less aggressive strikes. As water temperatures fall, fish metabolism slows, so use slower retrieves, longer pauses and closer attention to the line to detect the lighter strikes typical of fall.
Planning a trip to Lake Champlain?
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