Lake Champlain Fishing Report: Ice Breakup, Perch, Pike, Salmon, and Lakers on the Move

Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for March 15, 2025. It's a chilly morning out there, with temperatures hovering around 35°F. We're looking at partly cloudy skies today with a high of 42°F and light winds out of the southwest. Sunrise was at 7:03 AM, and we'll see the sun dip below the horizon at 6:54 PM.

Now, let's talk fishing! The ice is finally breaking up on the big lake, but we've still got some solid ice in the bays and sheltered areas. Water temps are sitting around 34°F, which means the fish are starting to get a bit more active.

Tides aren't a huge factor on Champlain, but there is a slight fluctuation. We've got a low tide at 8:09 AM and a high at 11:31 AM. Another low comes in at 8:16 PM.

As for the bite, it's been picking up lately. Ice anglers have been doing well on perch and crappie in the shallower bays. I've heard reports of some nice pike coming through the ice too. For open water fishing, the salmon bite has been decent near the mouths of tributaries. Trolling with spoons or stick baits has been productive.

Lake trout are starting to move shallower as the water warms up. Jigging with blade baits or tubes in 40-60 feet of water has been the ticket. Bass fishing is still pretty slow, but a few anglers are catching smallmouth on deep drop-offs with jerkbaits or hair jigs.

For bait, live minnows are always a good bet this time of year. But if you're looking to throw artificials, I'd suggest sticking with slower presentations. Blade baits, hair jigs, and suspending jerkbaits have all been producing.

As for hot spots, I'd check out Mallets Bay for some good perch action through the ice. For open water, try trolling near the mouth of the Boquet River for salmon. The Inland Sea area has been producing some nice lakers too.

Remember to be careful out there with the changing ice conditions. Tight lines, everyone!