Lake Champlain greeted anglers this Tuesday, October 21st, with brisk north winds and crisp autumn air—low 40s at dawn with highs expected in the upper 50s by late afternoon. Sunrise came at 7:13 AM, casting a warm orange on the water, while sunset will close the day at 6:00 PM. We had a partial cloud cover, but skies cleared as the morning progressed, setting up for a classic Champlain fall bite.
No tidal report here—the lake's not tidal—but water levels remain steady after a summer of erratic rains followed by ongoing regional drought. Phosphorus reduction projects have helped stabilize the water quality this season, but northern reaches still see late algae bloom pockets, so stick to main lake basins or head south for clearer conditions.
Fish activity picked up after first light, with the topwater bite lasting nearly 90 minutes before shutting down as the wind picked up. Reports from local guides say the early morning produced the best numbers. Walleye are moving into traditional haunts near the mouths of the Lamoille and Winooski Rivers, stacking up after cool nights. Smallmouth bass are on the feed in rocky points and breaks off Malletts Bay, while largemouth are sliding deeper into weed beds near the Sand Bar and Missisquoi Bay.
Timothy Page of the Vermont Daily Chronicle covered a record-breaking smallmouth landed this month by a Barnet angler; the unofficial catch tipped the scales well above the previous state mark. Most bass this week have ranged in the 1–3 pound class, but several smallies over 4 pounds were reported near Valcour Island and the Four Brothers. Pike numbers are good—numerous fish in the 28–34 inch range have come from the Colchester Causeway and the southern delta marshes. Occasional perch and white bass schools are showing off Deep Bay and Button Bay, especially midday when the chop settles.
Woods North's YouTube ice fishing preview for 2025 showed healthy catches last week, with stringers of walleye and northern pike pulled from the Grand Isle north end. Anglers are reporting perch and smaller panfish in good numbers along the weed edges in Missisquoi, with a few slab crappie found hugging deeper brush piles.
Right now, the best lures are moving presentations:
- **Green pumpkin tubes** or **smoke grubs** for smallmouth off rock piles.
- **Chartreuse and white spinnerbaits** or **inline spoons** for pike in cabbage beds.
- **Deep-diving crankbaits**—in perch or shad patterns—are producing walleye off river mouths and drop-offs.
- For panfish, **small hair jigs tipped with cut bait** or **live shiners** are working best.
Hot spots to hit today:
- The drop-offs off **Valcour Island**
- **Malletts Bay points** for smallmouth action
- The southern mouth of the **Missisquoi** for walleye and pike
- **Sand Bar Causeway** for mixed species, especially midday
Button Bay State Park always offers steady shoreline action, plus a great spot for families. Ticonderoga’s Festival Guild is ramping up for HalloweenFest this week—so check out their local tips if you want to mix some angling with autumn festivities.
Reminder: Lake Champlain’s fall bite won’t last much longer. Don’t forget your windbreakers, and keep an eye out for floating debris after last week's blustery spells.
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