"Fishing Lake Champlain: Tides, Trout, and Trophies - A Guide to Today's Promising Conditions"

Today, January 10, 2025, Lake Champlain is offering some promising fishing conditions for those venturing out. Here’s a rundown of what you can expect:

### Tidal and Weather Conditions
The tide times for today are as follows: Low tide at 3:27 AM with a height of 0.75 meters, high tide at 6:42 AM with a height of 1.08 meters, low tide again at 3:07 PM with 0.72 meters, and high tide at 7:22 PM with 1.38 meters. Sunrise is at 7:31 AM, and sunset will be at 4:23 PM. The weather is expected to be relatively calm, making it a good day to be on the water.

### Fish Activity
Fish activity has been steady, particularly for smallmouth bass, which have been active in the deeper waters and structural areas like rock piles and drop-offs. Some catches have reached up to 4 pounds[5].

### Types of Fish and Catches
In recent days, anglers have been catching a variety of fish. For instance, last year saw a new state record longnose gar caught by a bowfishing angler, weighing 18.6 pounds and measuring 54¾ inches[1]. Additionally, walleye and lake trout have been plentiful, with an 11.86-pound walleye and a 25.6-pound lake trout reported in 2023[1].

### Best Lures and Bait
For smallmouth bass, dropshotting, jig fishing, and jerkbait fishing are highly effective. Using lures that mimic the natural forage such as crayfish or shad can be very productive[4].

For lake trout, jigging or trolling over deep structures, often 100 feet below the surface, is recommended. Rainbow smelt imitations work well as these are a primary forage for lake trout[3].

For perch, which are abundant in the lake, using small jigs or live bait like worms or minnows in mud and muck-bottomed areas or around rock piles and reefs can yield good results[3].

### Hot Spots
- **Shelburne Bay**: A great spot for largemouth bass, with plenty of grassy flats and submerged structures[3].
- **Middle Section of the Main Lake**: This area, roughly from Westport to Cumberland Head, is excellent for lake trout due to its deep structure and abundant forage[3].
- **Bulwagga Bay**: A popular spot for perch and crappie, especially during the ice fishing season and early spring when crappies move into shallow bays and backwaters[3].

Overall, Lake Champlain is offering a diverse range of fishing opportunities today, so make sure to choose the right gear and head to the right spots to maximize your catch.