Lake Champlain Fishing Update: Bass Bonanza, Walleye Woes, and Trout Taming

Artificial Lure here with your Lake Champlain fishing update for Sunday, August 24th, 2025. If you love early mornings on the lake, today’s the day to get out there—a crisp 57°F sunrise painted the water around 6:10 AM, with today’s sunset expected at 7:49 PM. Expect light northwest breezes picking up after breakfast, making for near-ideal late-summer conditions.

No tides to worry about on Champlain, but water levels are steady and clarity’s decent in most coves and along the edges. The Sturgeon Moon is still lingering, which has those fish digging in for late summer feedings. Air temps should climb to the upper 70s with scattered clouds, so bring your layers and your sunscreen—a classic Champlain day.

Let’s talk catching. The word from the local tournaments and guides: bass action is absolutely on fire. The Inland Sea Bass Anglers group just weighed in bags over 22 pounds for five largemouths, all pulled from St. Albans Bay. Bob France and his crew reported a wild first day with heavyweight smallmouth and largemouth before their second day got blown out by wind.

Largemouth are tucked into milfoil beds, especially on the Vermont side near the islands, and classic structure like old dock pilings near Crown Point is giving up bigger fish. If smallmouth are your quest, the southern points by Fort Ticonderoga and along the deeper rocky shelves off Valcour Island are hot—lively action early and then as the sun climbs, they’re stacking in 12-18 feet.

Best baits this week? Chatterbaits in shad or green pumpkin have been a secret weapon according to Woods N Weeds Outdoors, with reports of 23-pound bags on five bass in just a couple of hours. Spinnerbaits are cleaning up as well, especially when the wind picks up or clouds roll in—burn ‘em fast over grass flats for smallies. And don’t overlook a drop shot with a 4-inch green pumpkin worm on those transition rocks for lethargic midday bites.

Natural bait anglers have been doing well drifting nightcrawlers and golden shiners around the mouths of Otter Creek and Missisquoi Bay—pretty mix of perch and the occasional slab crappie. Walleye reports are picking up at twilight; troll stickbaits along the breaklines north of the Champlain Bridge or deep jig with a half crawler after dusk.

Don’t sleep on the lake trout either—if you’ve got the gear, troll deeper water off Converse Bay or Charlotte with chartreuse spoons down 60-80 feet.

For hotspots:
- The Inland Sea, especially St. Albans Bay, is loaded with active largemouths.
- The points and rock piles around Valcour Island and the shoals south of Fort Ticonderoga are teeming with decent smallies.
- The weedlines off North Hero and Grand Isle continue to deliver mixed bags and steady action.
Campsites at Grand Isle State Park are open and quiet, making for a peaceful base for multi-day anglers.

Thanks for tuning in to this Lake Champlain fishing report—tight lines to all, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a bite. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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