Lake Champlain Fishing Report: Perfect Conditions for Landlocked Salmon, Lake Trout, and More

Good morning anglers! Here’s your up-to-date fishing report for Lake Champlain on Friday, April 4, 2025.

It’s shaping up to be a fine day on the water, with sunrise at 6:22 AM and sunset at 7:22 PM. The tides today set up nicely for fishing: the first high tide occurred at 3:18 AM, followed by a low tide at 11:17 AM, and a second high tide at 3:48 PM. The current weather forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and mild temperatures in the mid-50s, with light winds expected to pick up slightly by the afternoon. Perfect conditions to get out there!

Fish activity has been strong lately. Anglers are reporting good catches of landlocked salmon between 2 to 4 pounds, particularly near tributary mouths. Lake trout are active as well, especially in the middle section of the lake from Westport to Cumberland Head, where jigging or trolling in deeper water (80 to 100 feet) is proving successful. In the southern reaches of Lake Champlain, crappie fishing is picking up in shallow weedy areas like South Bay, as these fish prepare for their spawning season. Northern pike and largemouth bass are also active in weedy bays and warmer flats, while yellow perch are abundant around mud-bottomed areas and rocky reefs.

For tackle, consider trolling with spoons like Little Cleos and using stickbaits such as Smithwicks for salmon and trout. Anglers targeting lake trout should focus on deep jigging setups with white or chartreuse artificial lures. For bass and pike in the shallows, spinnerbaits and soft plastics in natural colors are top choices, while live minnows and nightcrawlers remain excellent bait options for crappies and yellow perch.

If you’re looking for hotspots, head to Shelburne Bay south of Burlington for largemouth bass and northern pike action, or try Bulwagga Bay in the southern end for perch and crappies. Up north, the Missisquoi Bay area and the rock piles near Rouses Point are excellent for targeting both largemouth and smallmouth bass.

Whether you’re drop-shotting for bass or trolling for trout, now’s the time to hit the water. Tight lines, and happy fishing!