Icy Trout & Trophy Salmon Bite on Lake Champlain This Winter

As of today, January 16, 2025, the fishing scene on Lake Champlain is looking promising, despite the winter season. Here’s a rundown of what you can expect:

### Tidal and Weather Conditions
Today's tide times for Lake Champlain are as follows: low tide at 8:46 AM, high tide at 11:58 AM, and another low tide at 8:14 PM. The sunrise is at 7:27 AM, and the sunset will be at 4:31 PM. The weather is expected to be cold, typical of mid-January, but this hasn’t slowed down the fishing.

### Fish Activity
Yesterday saw excellent action for those targeting Lake Trout, Landlocked Salmon, and Steelhead. These species have been active in the deeper sections of the lake, particularly in the middle area from Westport to Cumberland Head. Lake Trout were caught by jigging and trolling over 100 feet below the surface, with active fish often found 1 to 3 feet above the bottom chasing rainbow smelt[4].

### Types and Amounts of Fish Caught
The last few weeks have been exceptional, with trophy Steelhead, numerous beautiful Salmon, and the biggest Lake Trout of the year being landed. Trolling trips have yielded plenty of Lake Trout, Landlocked Salmon, and Steelhead, with some trips seeing over 25 bites in a single evening[1].

### Best Lures and Bait
For Lake Trout, using Downriggers, Slidediver dipsies, and copper long lines has been key. Switching baits regularly has also helped in putting these trophy fish in the box. For Bass, which are now post-spawn and actively feeding, chasing swim baits early in the day and working docks and deep water drop-offs once the sun gets high has been effective[1].

### Hot Spots
Kings Bay at the mouth of the Great Chazy River is a great spot to start, especially for Bass and other species. The middle section of the main lake, from Westport to Cumberland Head, is ideal for Lake Trout. For perch and crappie, areas like Bulwagga Bay and South Bay are popular, especially during the ice fishing season and in the spring when these species move into shallow bays and backwaters[4].

Overall, Lake Champlain continues to offer exciting fishing opportunities even in the winter, with the right tactics and knowledge of the best spots.