Late Summer Champs: Smallies, Drum and the Sturgeon Moon on Lake Champlain

Artificial Lure here, reporting from Lake Champlain where late August always means prime action. We’re waking up this morning to classic dog-day weather. AccuWeather is calling for highs around 78, light southwest winds, and mostly sunny skies—ideal conditions for both Vermont and New York sides. Sunrise hit at 6:10 AM today, with sunset coming around 7:40 PM, so there’s plenty of daylight to work the water.

With the Sturgeon Moon on the horizon, there’s a bit of magic in the air. August’s full moon owes its name to this very lake, known for once supporting giant sturgeon. The moon’s pull isn’t making tides here, but it’s got fish feeding early and late—expect another hot dusk bite as the sun dips low, just before moonrise.

The real talk among local anglers right now is about the smallmouth. Just yesterday, pops flew in and wanted to get a piece of the “smallie” action—a wise move. Folks have had fantastic luck on goby-pattern soft plastics, especially the custom poured Bruiserbait MINNR’ 30 and the McMinnow, both fished tight to rocky shorelines and drop-offs. If you hit the weed edges, you can intercept some largemouth lurking for an easy meal. The Big Bite Baits Scentsation Slim Minnow in chartreuse/white laminate has been nailing both species, according to recent trips.

Don’t ignore the freshwater drum—sometimes overlooked, but right now they’re schooling in 10-25 feet of water. Best method? Vertical jig a Berkley Vibrato or Cicada blade bait, silver or gold if you’re in clear water, but I favor bright colors in the deeper holes to get their attention. Drum have poor eyesight, so make it pop. Best natural bait? Live crayfish—if you can get your hands on some, it’s dynamite, but always check Vermont or New York regs before moving bait between waters.

Reports from the south end near the Champlain Bridge are showing multi-species action. Smallmouth are coming in strong, plus drum and the occasional big northern pike. The Inland Sea side is hot with largemouth busting through the milfoil mats, especially around Missisquoi Bay. Topwater frogs early, then switch to a slow-rolled swimbait or a black/blue jig as the sun climbs.

If you’re bank fishing, consider Blumpkin/blue colored baits—the recycled plastics crowd is matching the hatch with weapons-grade colors this week, per anglers sharing on social media.

As for what’s biting, it’s a mixed bag: good numbers of smallmouth in the 2-to-3 pound class, a few largemouth close to 4 pounds, drum to five pounds, and some feisty perch mixed in. No reports of sturgeon—just the namesake moon keeping them on folks’ minds.

A couple hot spots:
- Rocky points near Burlington’s North Beach: Early smallie bite, especially at dawn.
- Fort Cassin reef out from Ferrisburgh: Drum and big perch stacked on the drop.
- Inland Sea’s Missisquoi Bay: Largemouth and bowfin prowling the weeds.

Remember, with tourists thinning out and boat traffic easing, late August is the time to put a pattern together. If you’re looking for a quiet stretch, try north of Plattsburgh, where the bluffs keep the wind calm and the crowds light.

That’s the August 27 Lake Champlain report from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for more local updates and tips. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn