Lake Champlain Fishing Report: Early Spring Bite Heats Up with Salmon, Trout, and Bass

Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for March 23, 2025. First off, let's talk weather. It's a chilly morning with temperatures around 40°F, but we're expecting it to warm up to the mid-50s by afternoon. Winds are light from the southwest at 5-10 mph. Sunrise was at 6:45 AM, and sunset will be at 7:06 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to wet our lines.

Now, onto the fishing action. The ice is finally out, and the early spring bite is heating up. Anglers have been reporting good success with landlocked salmon in the 2-4 pound range, especially near the mouths of tributaries. Lake trout are also active, with some nice catches coming from deeper water around 50-75 feet.

For you bass enthusiasts, smallmouth are starting to move into shallower water. They're not quite in full pre-spawn mode yet, but we're seeing some action in 10-15 feet of water around rocky points and drop-offs.

Walleye fishing has been steady, with reports of fish in the 3-5 pound range being caught in the Inland Sea and Malletts Bay. Yellow perch are also biting well, especially in the southern part of the lake.

As for tides, we've got a low tide at 1:05 PM at 3.58 feet, followed by a high tide at 6:20 PM at 5.11 feet. Remember, these tidal changes can affect fish movement, especially in the northern part of the lake.

For lures, I'd recommend starting with spoons or stick baits for salmon and lake trout. For bass, try soft plastics like tube jigs or drop shot rigs. Walleye are hitting on jigs tipped with nightcrawlers or minnows.

If you're looking for some hot spots, I'd suggest trying the area around Valcour Island for salmon and lake trout. For bass, the rocky shorelines near Charlotte or Shelburne Point have been productive. Walleye anglers might want to check out the deeper channels in the Inland Sea.

Remember to check your local regulations, as some seasons may not be open yet. And as always, practice catch and release when you can to help maintain our fantastic fishery.

That's all for now, folks. This is Artificial Lure, signing off and wishing you tight lines and bent rods on Lake Champlain!