"Frosty Fishing Frenzy: Ice Angling Thrives on Lake Champlain's Winter Bounty"

As of January 30, 2025, Lake Champlain is offering some exciting fishing opportunities, despite the cold winter conditions.

### Tidal and Weather Conditions
Today, the first low tide is at 7:47 AM with a height of 0.8 meters (2.62 ft), followed by a high tide at 11:06 AM reaching 1.32 meters (4.33 ft). The second low tide will be at 7:14 PM with a height of 0.79 meters (2.59 ft), and the final high tide of the day at 11:19 PM will be 1.67 meters (5.48 ft)[2].

The sunrise is at 7:14 AM, and the sunset will be at 4:51 PM. The weather is cold, typical for this time of year, with ice cover varying across the lake.

### Fish Activity
During the winter season, Lake Champlain's fish activity is quite vibrant, especially for ice fishing. Yesterday, anglers reported catching a good number of yellow perch, which are abundant in the lake. These perch tend to favor mud and muck-bottomed areas but also school on rock piles and reefs[3].

Smallmouth bass are also active, often grouped tightly to the bottom around rock piles. Blade baits and ice fishing spoons have been effective for catching these bass[1].

### Best Lures and Bait
For perch, ice fishing spoons and jigs tipped with minnows are highly recommended. Schools of perch move in every 30-40 minutes, so patience and frequent repositioning are key[1].

For smallmouth bass, blade baits and hard jerkbaits around submerged vegetation and boulders have been successful. Alewife and minnows are good forage to mimic with your lures[1].

### Hot Spots
Bulwagga Bay near the south end of the lake is a popular spot for perch fishing under the ice. The middle section of the main lake, from Westport to Cumberland Head, is excellent for lake trout, although this requires deeper fishing, often over 100 feet below the surface[3].

For smallmouth bass, areas around Shelburne Bay and Town Farm Bay have been productive, especially around submerged vegetation and rock piles[3].

Overall, Lake Champlain continues to offer great fishing opportunities even in the cold winter months, making it a favorite among local anglers.