Lake Champlain Fishing Report Mar 31 2025 - Trout, Salmon, Bass & Pike Bites

Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for March 31, 2025. The sun's peeking over the horizon at 6:30 AM today, and we'll see it dip back down around 7:17 PM. Weather-wise, we're looking at partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the mid-40s Fahrenheit. There's a light breeze coming from the northwest at about 10-15 mph.

Now, onto the fishing! The ice is finally off most of the lake, and the fish are starting to get active. Water temps are hovering around 40°F, which means we're seeing some good action, especially for cold-water species.

Tides aren't a huge factor on Champlain, but there is a slight fluctuation. We've got a high tide at 12:29 PM and a low at 9:34 PM.

Lake trout and landlocked salmon have been the stars of the show lately. Anglers are reporting good success trolling with spoons in 40-60 feet of water. The Sutton 71 in copper or silver has been a hot lure. For you salmon chasers, try working the mouths of tributaries with stick baits or small spoons.

Bass fishing is picking up, with some nice smallmouth being caught on drop shots and hair jigs in 15-25 feet of water. The Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm on a drop shot has been killer. Largemouth are starting to move into shallower water, so don't be afraid to throw some spinnerbaits or jigs around emerging weed beds.

Pike fishing has been steady, with some big girls being caught in the shallows. Large spoons and swimbaits are your best bet for these toothy critters.

As for hot spots, I'd check out Mallets Bay for a mix of species, or head up to the Inland Sea area for some good smallmouth action. The Champlain Bridge area has also been producing some nice lake trout.

Remember, folks, the key to success this time of year is to fish slow and deep. Don't be afraid to switch up your presentations if you're not getting any bites. And always keep an eye on the weather – it can change quickly out there.

That's all for now, anglers. Stay safe, have fun, and tight lines!