Lake Champlain Fishing Report: Smallmouth Surge, Walleye Steady, Monster Largemouth Landed

Good morning anglers, Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing report for May 7, 2025.

We’ve got a crisp early May start today, with the sunrise at 5:36 AM and sunset at 8:03 PM. Expect temps in the upper 40s early, climbing to the low 60s by mid-afternoon. Skies are mostly clear with a few high clouds, and we’ve got a gentle south wind around 5 to 10 mph. No tidal action to worry about on Champlain, but water levels are stable and clarity’s good after a quiet spell of weather.

Fishing activity is heating up fast. In the last few days, anglers have been pulling in good numbers of smallmouth bass, particularly in the 1 to 3 pound range. They’re stacking up around submerged rock piles, gravel flats, and especially near docks and boat launches. Hot spots include the Ticonderoga stretch on the southern end and the rocky points around the Inland Sea.

If you’re chasing smallmouth, drop shots and Texas rigs have been excellent this week. Bladed jigs like the Z-Man Chatterbait Elite EVO and Missile Baits Baby D Stroyer are getting bit, especially when worked slow along weedy edges and rocks.

Walleye activity is solid in deeper water, especially at first light and dusk. Folks are getting them with jig and minnow combos, and crankbaits that mimic alewife or perch. Deep humps between Port Henry and Chimney Point have been productive, as well as around the Sandbar causeway up north.

Largemouth bass are showing up more, too. Just last week, Vermont local Roy Gangloff landed a monster 7-pound, 13-ounce largemouth on a half-ounce chartreuse black back Rat-L-Trap in the Ticonderoga section. That classic lipless crank is working wonders right now on both bass species, especially in the southern basin and in coves where afternoon sun is warming the water a few degrees.

Lake trout are steady, with the spring rebound continuing strong. Troll with spoons or run vertical jigs near the bottom off Thompson’s Point or the deeper sections near Valcour Island for your best shot.

If you’re looking for a couple red-hot spots today, set your sights on the Ticonderoga area and the rocky shoals near Fish Bladder Island. Both are holding good numbers of active bass and occasional big pike. Live bait is always a winner for walleye, but don’t shy away from artificial lures this week with the water temps on the rise. The bite’s on and the lake’s alive—get your line in the water and see what’s biting.

Tight lines, and see you on the water!